When a financial emergency strikes, your business might need cash in a pinch. If you do, you need a small business lender with a speedy application process, favorable terms and quick funding.
CNBC Select compared over a dozen lenders to find the best business loans when you need access to cash in two days or less. (See our methodology for more on how we made our selections.)
- Fast Funding: Get a decision as fast as 24 hours.
- Flexible Loans: Term, working capital, or real estate.
- Easy Apply: A simple, secure online application.
- 12 months in business
- $100,000 in Annual Revenue
- FICO 575
Terms apply.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
A *$500 bonus by applying for a Bluevine Business Checking account using the referral code CNBC500 before 9/30/2026. Minimum qualifications must be fulfilled in order to be eligible for this bonus.
Standard $0; Bluevine Plus $30/month (with options to waive); Premier $95/month (with options to waive)
On Bluevine's site
Terms apply. Bluevine accounts are FDIC insured up to $3 million per depositor through Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC
Up to $250,000
6 or 12 months
625
Starting at 7.80%
On Bluevine's site
Best for lower credit scores: OnDeck
Flexible credit and eligibility requirements make OnDeck attractive to businesses that may struggle to qualify elsewhere. But its accessibility and fast funding is countered by higher APRs, frequent (daily or weekly) repayment schedules and the need for a personal guarantee.
- Low minimum credit score requirement
- Can build business credit
- Same-day funding available for loans of up to $100,000
- APRs and origination fees can be high
- Daily/weekly repayment terms can impact daily cash flow
- Doesn't lend in Nevada, North Dakota or South Dakota
Who's this for? OnDeck requires a 625 FICO credit score, making it a more accessible option than many competitors if you have poor credit. Funding between $5,000 and $250,000 is available with repayment terms of up to 24 months.
Standout benefits: OnDeck's online application process only takes a few minutes to complete and, if your loan is for $100,000 or less, you may qualify for same-day funding.
Best for financing options: Credibly
Offers many types of loans including long-term loans, working capital loans, business line of credit and merchant cash advance
- Approval within four hours
- Low minimum credit score
- Loan amounts of up to $600,000
- Funds deposited as soon as the same business day
- Considers overall business health for approval
- Requires average monthly revenue of at least $15,000
Who's this for? Credibly offers many alternatives to traditional term loans, including working capital loans, merchant cash advances, long-term loans, business lines of credit and equipment financing — many of which are available to applicants with weak credit. Depending on the type of financing, you can borrow up to $600,000 and receive same-day funding.
Standout benefits: Borrowers can prequalify online with a soft credit pull and get approved in less than four hours.
Best for a line of credit: Bluevine
Bluevine Business Line of Credit
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Starting at 14%
Loan amounts
Up to $250,000
Terms
6 or 12 months
Minimum credit score needed
625
Early payoff penalty
None
Maintenance fees
$0
Failed payment fee
5% of the missed repayment (minimum of $35)
Terms apply.
Pros
- Open to borrowers with fair credit (minimum 625 score)
- High loan maximum
- Quick funding
- Few fees
- Option to pay monthly or weekly
Cons
- Requires at least 12 months in business which may not suit newer businesses
- Requires at least $10,000 in monthly revenue
- Not available for all industries or in all states
Who's this for? A revolving line of credit can give your business continuous access to capital whenever you need it. With Bluevine's speedy application process, you can qualify for credit lines of up to $250,000 with a credit score as low as 625.
Standout benefits: There are no fees for opening or maintaining your line of credit or closing your account. With the bank wire option, you can get the money within hours of approval.
Best for big loans: Fora Financial
Offers many types of loans including small business loans and revenue advance
- Higher loan limits than many competitors
- Low minimum credit score
- Next-day funding available
- Prepayment discount
- Borrowers can increase their loan amount after repaying at least 60%
- Charges a factor rate rather than a traditional APR
- Daily/weekly repayment schedule
- 3% origination fee
Who's this for? If you need a lot of capital, Fora Financial approves small business loans for as much as $1.5 million within 24 hours. Funds can be used for nearly anything, including renovations, inventory, equipment and managing cash flow.
Standout benefits: If you've paid off at least 60% of your original loan, Fora will let you apply for additional funding.
Best for secured loans: Greenbox Capital
Greenbox Capital
Types of loans
Term loan, business line of credit, invoice factoring, merchant cash advance
Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating
A+
Loan amounts
$3,000 to $500,000
Terms
Not disclosed
Minimum credit score needed
Not disclosed
Minimum requirements
Must be in operation for at least five months
Terms apply.
Pros
- Funding amounts between $3,000 and $500,000
- Borrowers could get funded in as little as one business day
- Applicants get connected with a Funding Advisor to walk through funding options
- Options available for borrowers with lower credit scores
Cons
- Repayment terms for collateral loans may err on the shorter side
Who's this for? If you're considering a secured loan, Greenbox Capital is the best place to start. It has collateralized loans available for up to $250,000. Approval is based on your business's potential, not just your credit score, and you can receive funding in as little as one business day.
Standout benefits: Greenbox Capital issues business loans, merchant cash advances, business lines of credit and more, in all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Types of small business loans
There are a variety of small business loan options to suit different needs.
Term loans
One of the most common types of financing, term loans are a lump sum of cash that you repay over time through fixed monthly payments that include interest.
Term loans can be used for a variety of purposes, from everyday expenses to equipment.
Small Business Administration loans
Small Business Administration (SBA) loans offer low rates and flexible credit requirements, but the lengthy application process means it can take up to three months to get approved.
Business lines of credit
Similar to a credit card, a business line of credit provides borrowers with a revolving credit limit that can generally be accessed through a checking account. You can spend up to the maximum credit limit, repay the balance, then take out more money.
Unlike a term loan, borrowers only incur interest on the amount they withdraw. And many business lines of credit are unsecured, which means you don't need to put anything up as collateral.
Equipment loans
Equipment loans are intended to pay for machinery, vehicles, computers, furniture and other business assets if you are short on capital. In most cases, the equipment you purchase is then used as collateral.
Invoice factoring and invoice financing
Business owners who struggle to get paid on time by clients can sell unpaid invoices to a lender and receive a percentage of their value upfront. The main difference between the two is that invoice factoring puts the responsibility for collecting payment on the lender. With invoice financing, the borrower still has to collect payment to repay the amount borrowed.
Commercial real estate loans
Commercial real estate loans (a.k.a. commercial mortgages) can help you finance the purchase of new property (such as an office, warehouse or retail space), expand a current location or refinance an existing loan.
Microloans
These small loans can provide up to $50,000 in funding, making them a good option for new businesses or ones that don't need a lot of cash. Many microloans are offered through nonprofits or government agencies like the SBA, though you may need to put up collateral to qualify.
Merchant cash advances
Like traditional cash advances, merchant cash advances come at a high premium: The loan is repaid with either a portion of your daily credit card sales or through weekly transfers from your bank account.
While you can often obtain merchant cash advances quickly, their high interest rates make them rather risky.
Franchise loans
Becoming a franchisee can help you own a business faster and easier than starting from the ground up. Franchise loans can provide you with the capital to cover upfront franchise fees. They're available from banks and other lenders, although some franchisors may offer funding to new franchisees.
How to get a business loan
When applying for a business loan, you'll be asked for both personal and business information, including:
- Your name and address
- Your tax ID, typically either your employer identification number (EIN) or Social Security number
- The name of your business, its address and phone number
- The industry type and company structure
- How many years it's been in business
- The number of employees
- The annual revenue
- Your estimated monthly expenditures
During the application process, you may need to submit your business plan, bank statements, receipts and tax returns. It's likely the lender will get your credit score through a hard inquiry in order to gauge your creditworthiness.
Business loans FAQs
What is the quickest way to get a business loan?
The quickest way to get a business loan is to work with an online lender specializing in fast business loans — or loans that can get funded in two business days or less.
How fast can you get a small business loan?
You can get a fast small business loan funded within 24 to 48 hours of approval, depending on the lender.
Can I get a business loan with a 500 credit score?
It may be challenging to get approved for a business if you don't have good credit, but some lenders may be willing to work with borrowers with low credit scores
How long do you have to be in business to qualify for a loan?
Requirements vary by lender, but online lenders typically require borrowers to be in business for at least six months to two years.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every business loan review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of business loan products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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Our methodology
To determine which fast business loan lenders offer the best terms, CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen loans offered by both U.S. brick-and-mortar and online lenders.
We narrowed down our rankings by only considering business loans that offer funding within two business days of approval.
Each lender was rated on a range of features, including:
- Minimum and maximum loan amounts
- Term lengths
- Credit score needed
- Approval requirements
- Application process
- Funding disbursement
- Customer support
- Better Business Bureau rating
- Customer reviews (when available)
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
Based on that criteria, our picks for the best fast business loans are:
- Best for lower credit scores: OnDeck
- Best for financing options: Credibly
- Best for a line of credit: Bluevine
- Best for big loans: Fora Financial
- Best for secured loans: Greenbox Capital
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