Business financing questions, answered plainly

Most lenders look at three things: time in business, monthly revenue, and credit. Requirements vary widely by product and lender — online working-capital lenders may accept 6–12 months in business and steady deposits, while banks and SBA lenders want longer track records, financial statements, and stronger credit. See business loan requirements for the full breakdown.

Often yes, but the options change. Revenue-based products weigh bank deposits more heavily than personal credit, and some funders work with scores in the 500s. Expect higher costs and shorter terms, and compare offers carefully. Start with bad credit business loans.

It depends on the program. Many online lenders look for roughly $10,000+ in monthly deposits; our funding partner’s core programs generally fit businesses with $35,000+ in monthly deposits. Lenders work backward from the payment — they want your cash flow to cover it with a cushion. More in loans based on monthly revenue.

Brand-new businesses rarely qualify for revenue-based funding, because there’s no deposit history to underwrite. Startup paths are different: personal-credit-based products, business credit cards, equipment financing with a down payment, SBA microloans, or building business credit first — see startup business loans and our start-a-business hub.

Online working-capital products can move from application to decision in as little as one business day when your documents are complete — recent bank statements are usually the gating item. Bank term loans and SBA loans typically take weeks. See fast business funding.

For most online applications: 3–4 months of business bank statements, basic business identity details, and owner information. Larger or bank/SBA requests add tax returns, financial statements, and debt schedules. Full checklist: documents required for a business loan.

Cost depends on product, term, and risk. Compare offers using APR where available, or total payback for short-term products — and check for prepayment discounts, origination fees, and daily vs. weekly payment schedules. Use our calculators and the guide to comparing loan offers.

No. A merchant cash advance is a purchase of future receivables, not a loan. It’s typically faster to get but more expensive, with daily or weekly remittances. Read working capital loan vs. merchant cash advance before signing anything.

No — BluLoans is not a direct lender. We’re an education and comparison platform and a referral partner of Advance Funds Network (AFN). Funding partners make all credit decisions and set all terms. See how our funding partnership works and how we make money.

Our funding partner serves businesses across the United States and Canada — all provinces. The application asks for your country and routes your file accordingly.

The pre-qualification questions on BluLoans have no credit impact — nothing is submitted to a lender at that step. If you go on to submit a full application, the initial review for US businesses is generally a soft credit pull (no score impact), while for Canadian businesses it involves a hard credit pull, which can affect your score. The authorization shown in full on the application covers both, and financing partners may perform their own credit reviews.

Your application is transmitted securely to the funding partner for review. BluLoans does not retain your Social Security number, signature, or banking documents. Lead contact details are recorded in our customer-relationship system so we can follow up, as described in our Privacy Policy.