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Best working capital business loans in July 2025

Updated July 10, 2025

What to know first: Small business working capital loans can help you cover operating expenses when times get tough, allowing you to cover payroll, pay rent and keep utilities going while you work on your cash flow.

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National Funding: Best for unsecured working capital loans
4.4
Interest rate
Factor Rates Starting at 1.10
Max loan amount$5k-$500K
Fastest funding1 business day
Term length4 - 24 months
Customer score
4.3
Apply nowArrow Right

on partner site

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OnDeck: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best lender for startups
4.5
Interest rate
Starting at 27.30% APR
Max loan amount$5k-$250K
Fastest funding1 business day
Term length3 - 24 months
Customer score
4.1
Apply nowArrow Right

on BusinessLoans.com

QuickBridge: Best for flexible funding
4.3
Interest rate
Varies
Max loan amountN/A
Fastest funding1 business day
Term length4 - 24 months
Customer score
4.5
Apply nowArrow Right

on partner site

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SMB Compass: Best for bridge loan
4.6
Interest rate
Starting at 6.99%
Max loan amount$25k-$5M
Fastest funding1 business day
Term length6 - 300 months
Customer score
4.3
Fora Financial: Best for fast approval
4.4
Interest rate
Starting at 1.10 factor rate
Max loan amount$5k-$1.5M
Fastest funding1 business day
Term length6 - 18 months
Customer score
4.2
Apply nowArrow Right

on BusinessLoans.com

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American Express: Best for fair credit
4.2
Interest rate
N/A
Max loan amount$2k-$250K
Fastest fundingN/A
Term lengthN/A
Customer score
4.6
Apply nowArrow Right

on BusinessLoans.com

Jump to details
Wells Fargo Business: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best small business lender for good-to-excellent credit
4.2
Interest rate
Starting at 10.00%
Max loan amount$10k-$150K
Fastest funding1 business day
Term length3 - 24 months
Customer score
4.3
Accion Opportunity Fund: Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best CDFI for small business loans
4.1
Interest rate
Starting at 8.49%
Max loan amount$5k-$250K
Fastest fundingN/A
Term length12 - 60 months
Customer score
4.4
SmallBusinessLoans.com: Best for personalized funding
4.4
Interest rate
8.49%+
Max loan amount$5k-$500K
Fastest funding1 business day
Term length3 - 24 months
Customer score
3.8
Apply nowArrow Right

on partner site

Lendzi: Best for merchant cash advance
4.3
Interest rate
1.1 - 1.5 factor rate
Max loan amount$5k-$5M
Fastest funding1 business day
Term length3 - 15 months
Customer score
4.1
Apply nowArrow Right

on BusinessLoans.com

Jump to details

How Banrkate works

Woman looking for rates
01

Compare working capital loans

Bankrate gathers top lenders and compares their offerings. You can use this information to browse pros and cons, loan amounts, terms and other details that are important to you.

02

Get personalized offers

When you've found a lender you're interested in, click "get personalized rates" to fill out some information and get potential offers.

03

Apply for a loan

Apply for a loan from your personalized offers page and get funded if you qualify for the working capital loan you choose.

A closer look at our top working capital business loans

Get more detail on Bankrate’s lender here with highlights and unique features. Bankrate’s expert insights include each lender's loan offerings and what we like about them.

Badge Icon

Best for unsecured working capital loans: National Funding

National Funding offers high loans with favorable terms to businesses that don’t want to put up any assets as collateral. Additionally, borrowers can get funding in as little as 24 hours.

Fast funding
Info Icon
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Interest rate
Factor Rates Starting at 1.10
Max loan amount
$5k–$500k
Min credit score
660
Time in business
6+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Fast funding
  • Early payoff discount
× Cons
  • Limited monthly payment option
  • Potentially high interest rates
  • $250,000 minimum annual revenue required
Badge Icon

Best for flexible funding: QuickBridge

QuickBridge offers a wide range of loans to meet the needs of businesses of different sizes and industries.. And repayment terms are available on a daily or weekly repayment schedule, making it highly flexible.

Fast funding
Info Icon
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Interest rate
Varies
Max loan amount
Not specified
Min credit score
660
Time in business
Not specified

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Streamlined application process
  • Fast funding times
  • Early payoff discount
× Cons
  • Interest rates and fees not stated online
  • $250,000 minimum annual revenue requirement
Badge Icon

Best for fast approval: Fora Financial

Fora Financial can approve loans in as fast as 24 hours and provide cash shortly thereafter. That, combined with loans ranging from $5,000 to $1.5 million, make Fora Financial a great lender for startups.

Fast funding
Info Icon
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Interest rate
Starting at 1.10 factor rate
Max loan amount
$5k–$1500k
Min credit score
570
Time in business
6+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Possible early repayment discount
  • Soft credit check at application
  • Minimum FICO score of 570
× Cons
  • Maximum factor rate is fairly high
  • Few types of loans
  • Steep annual revenue requirement
Badge Icon

Best for merchant cash advance: Lendzi

Lendzi doesn’t have high requirements when it comes to personal credit score and revenue. While Lendzi is not a direct lender, the company works with many partners to connect borrowers with loan options that suit their needs, and their merchant cash advance options can help companies that can get approved for a traditional loan.

Fast funding
Info Icon
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Interest rate
1.1 - 1.5 factor rate
Max loan amount
$5k–$5000k
Min credit score
550
Time in business
6+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Fast funding
  • High lending amounts
× Cons
  • Potentially high interest rates and fees
  • Mixed loan details from representatives
Badge Icon

Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best lender for startups: OnDeck

OnDeck can provide fast funding with reasonable terms to businesses that have only been active for one full year. As such, it is our 2025 award winner for best lender for startups.

Fast funding
Info Icon
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
4.5
Interest rate
Starting at 27.30% APR
Max loan amount
$5k–$250k
Min credit score
625
Time in business
12+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Same-day funding
  • Early repayment incentives
  • Helps build business credit
× Cons
  • High APRs
  • Loan origination fees
  • Requires personal guarantees
Badge Icon

Best for bridge loan: SMB Compass

In addition to traditional business loans, SMB Compass offers bridge loans of up to $5 million for eligible businesses. Additionally, these loans can show up in borrower’s accounts in as little as 24 hours.

Fast funding
Info Icon
Low interest rate
Info Icon
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Interest rate
Starting at 6.99%
Max loan amount
$25k–$5000k
Min credit score
680
Time in business
6+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Fast funding
  • Competitive interest rates
× Cons
  • Not available to sole proprietorships
  • Not available in all 50 states
Badge Icon

Best for personalized funding: SmallBusinessLoans.com

SmallBusinessLoans.com is a platform that matches borrowers with lenders based on their size, revenue, credit and other factors. As a result, SmallBusinessLoans.com can give business owners a highly personalized experience that meets their needs perfectly.

Fast funding
Info Icon
Low interest rate
Info Icon
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Interest rate
8.49%+
Max loan amount
$5k–$500k
Min credit score
660
Time in business
6+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Low minimum annual revenue requirement
  • Variety of lending partners
  • Personalized funding options
× Cons
  • Must fill out an application to know what you qualify for
  • May not be eligible for every product
  • Limited information online
Badge Icon

Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best lender for good-to-excellent credit: Wells Fargo Business

Wells Fargo is our 2025 Bankrate award winner for best lender for good-to-excellent credit. For those who qualify, Wells Fargo offers large loan amounts at attractive rates.

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Interest rate
Starting at 10.00%
Max loan amount
Up to $150k
Min credit score
680
Time in business
24+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Competitive rates
  • Rewards program
  • Multiple lines of credit
× Cons
  • High credit score requirements
  • Personal guarantee or collateral required
  • Annual fee for some products
Badge Icon

Bankrate 2025 Award Winner Best CDFI for small business loans: Accion Opportunity Fund

Accion Opportunity Fund is an organization with a mission to help fund businesses in historically underserved communities. Their fair terms and resources offered to entrepreneurs helped Accion Opportunity Fund win our 2025 Bankrate Award for best CDFI for small business loans.

Low interest rate
Info Icon
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
Interest rate
Starting at 8.49%
Max loan amount
$5k–$250k
Min credit score
Not specified
Time in business
12+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Low interest rates
  • Help minority businesses
  • Mentoring and educational support
× Cons
  • Only offers two loan options
  • Only offers loan amounts up to $250,000
Badge Icon

Best for fair credit: American Express Business Blueprint

American Express is a well-known financial institution that offers many financial services for consumers and businesses alike. And with a business line of credit available to applicants with a FICO score of just 660, American Express could be a good fit for business owners that need capital but only have fair credit.

Rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
4.2
Interest rate
N/A
Max loan amount
$2k–$250k
Min credit score
660
Time in business
12+ months

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Online application
  • Flexible access to funds
  • Multiple term options
× Cons
  • High fees on longer terms
  • Personal guarantee required
  • Minimum draw amounts

How Bankrate chooses our best working capital business loan lenders

Bankrate's trusted small business loan industry expertise

57

years in business

30

lenders reviewed

22

loan features weighed

770

data points collected

To choose the best fast business loans, Bankrate ensured all loans featured are broadly available across the United States, have a funding time of three days or less and offer an online application process. We then considered features that make loans affordable and accessible to businesses with different characteristics and needs, including interest rates, credit score requirements, minimum annual revenue and fees.

How to get a working capital business loan through Bankrate

Working capital loans can help get the funds to keep your business up and operating, even when times are tough. Let Bankrate walk you through the process. 

Determine if a working capital loan is right for your business

A working capital loan is designed to infuse cash into the business for everyday operations, such as marketing, inventory or payroll. These loans boost your business’s working capital, which is your current assets minus liabilities. The positive amount left over is the amount you can use for day-to-day purchases or to expand your business.

Working capital business loans can help bolster your cash reserves when your cash flow gets low, or help weather a period of slow sales. You don’t have to limit yourself to a working capital loan. You can use other loans to boost your business’s working capital, including short-term loans and business lines of credit.

Depending on the type of loan, working capital loans may be easier to qualify for than standard term loans. They may require only a year in business and a personal FICO score of 500 to 600.

Most working capital loans will have a set repayment schedule with fixed payments. If you open a business line of credit, your credit limit will reset as you pay off the loan, allowing you to borrow more funds as needed.

In general, working capital loans can be a good idea for your business if:

  • If you need cash on a short-term basis.
  • You plan to use funding for operational expenses.
  • You have a lower credit score or time in business.
  • You can handle a shorter, more aggressive repayment period. 
Bankrate logo
BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

When is it a good idea to get a working capital loan instead of a fast loan or using a business credit card?


Expert Reviewer

"Fast loans and business credit cards are known for their quick approval processes and widespread accessibility. They can be sensible when you need to quickly access a relatively small amount of money on a short-term basis. However, they have relatively high interest rates and unfavorable terms. If you require a more significant amount of money and anticipate needing several months to repay the debt, working capital loans are more cost-effective. These loans have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment schedules than fast loans and business credit cards."

Pros and cons of a working capital loan

Working capital loans work well for small businesses needing fast funding to cover everyday expenses and gaps in cash flow. But you might pay for the convenience. Make sure to consider the pros and cons of working capital loans before you apply for one.

Green circle with a checkmark inside

Pros

  • Get cash fast. Many lenders fund working capital loans fast — usually within a few days — though it depends on the type of loan and how much you need.
  • Typically used as needed. Unless you go with a term loan, your business can typically use the funds for any expenses. You may have to state the reason you need the funds for a term loan.
  • Relaxed eligibility requirements. Businesses with bad credit can find loans to increase working capital, including alternative loan options tied to accounts receivable.
Red circle with an X inside

Cons

  • Short, aggressive repayment terms. Most working capital loans require repayment within a few months, such as six or 18 months. They may also require daily or weekly payments, an aggressive schedule that cuts into profits.
  • Potentially high interest or fees. Some working capital loans come with high interest rates, upwards of 75.00 percent, while others charge factor rates and additional fees like processing fees. Factor rates are known for converting to a high interest rate since they’re often used with risky types of loans.
  • Low loan amounts. The loan amount that you qualify for may be lower than a standard business loan. This may be due to aggressive repayments or a risky credit profile.

What is a working capital loan

Working capital loans can help you cover short-term operating expenses. Here’s what you need to know.

Learn more

Calculate how much debt your business can take on

How much you’ll pay for a working capital loan will depend on your credit history, revenue, loan amount and the type of loan in question. As of March 2025, average loan rates for standard loans are between 6 and 75 percent APR, between 6 and 8 percent APR for lines of credit and 1.04 to 1.32 factor rates for merchant cash advances. 

As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t borrow more than 36 percent of your business’ annual revenue when taking out a loan. If your business makes $250,000 annually, for example, you shouldn’t borrow more than $90,000.

Your monthly, weekly or daily payment will also be an important factor in determining how much you can afford, as missing a payment due to lack of funds can result in fees and the possibility of default. Using a loan calculator can help you calculate how much your monthly payment will be based on your loan amount. 

For example, if you want to cap your monthly payment at $1,000 with a 1.1 factor rate, monthly-paid, 12-month loan, then your maximum loan amount would be $10,849.

Make sure you meet requirements

Every lender sets its own standards for granting working capital loans to small businesses. In general, these loans have lenient eligibility criteria since they’re meant for small, everyday purchases.

Requirements you can expect include:

  • Annual revenue: Lenders require your business to make a specific amount monthly or annually to show steady cash flow. For working capital loans, these can range from $36,000 to $250,000 annually.
  • Time in business: Most lenders prefer businesses to show they have several years in the market. But working capital loans can offer loans to businesses with three months to two years in business.
  • Credit score: The minimum credit score is based on how much risk individual lenders are willing to take on. It’s typically set between a 625 and 680 FICO score, but some lenders go as low as 500.
  • Industry: Lenders evaluate your business’s financial statements and risks for your industry. In some cases, the lender posts a list of industries it won’t work with, such as consulting or financial services.

Lenders often use your personal credit score to determine creditworthiness, though a business credit score may be weighed for more established businesses.

Prequalify through Bankrate

When shopping for loans, consider prequalifying with us. Bankrate offers multiple benefits if you decide to prequalify on our site, including:

  • Instant prequalification based on your credit profile
  • Compare multiple lenders at once instead of one lender at a time
  • No hard checks
  • Get expert insights based on unbiased reviews and analyses 
  • Access loan information and applications in one place
  • Build a profile you can access later in the process

How to compare working capital business loans

Working capital loans can differ in their borrowing costs, lender terms and other factors that impact how the loan works for you. Which loan works best for you will depend on your priorities. Check out Bankrate’s rate cards for a one on one look at different factors and interest rates for a detailed comparison. 

Most importatn factor What to consider
Borrowing costs
  • Lower-interest loans can come from online lenders or alternative lenders.
  • SBA loans have a fixed interest rate, though they can be competitive.
  • Having a good credit score and high annual revenue can snag you a lower interest/factor rate.
Speed of approval
  • Online lenders tend to offer speedy approvals and disbursements after you apply.
Repayment terms
  • Weekly and daily repayments offer a fast and aggressive repayment schedule, and are common for working capital loans.
  • Some lenders offer a variety of repayment options when you apply.
Requirements
  • Most lending options will come with minimum revenue, credit score and time-in-business requirements of varying amounts.
  • Some lenders offer relaxed requirements for qualifying minority-owned businesses.
Approval odds
  • Some lenders will relax credit requirements if you have a high annual revenue.
  • You can boost your odds of approval by increasing your revenue or credit score.
  • Backing your loan with collateral can improve your approval chances.
Funding amounts
  • How much you can borrow will depend on your revenue, credit score and collateral.
  • Make sure to only borrow as much as you can handle for the daily/weekly/monthly payment.
Industry
  • Some lenders will work with specific types of industries, like restaurants or shipping, and offer terms favorable to industry-based needs.
  • Certain lenders won’t work with high-risk businesses, such as gambling.

Types of working capital business loans

From SBA loans to invoice factoring, here’s what you have to pick from.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions about working capital loans