US funding guides

US Business Funding Guides

Plain-English guides to lenders, eligibility, and costs — so you can walk into a funding decision already knowing the answers.

Business Loans

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Fred helping a US business owner compare Unsecured Business Loans in the US: Costs, Guarantees and Eligibility

Unsecured Business Loans in the US: Costs, Guarantees and Eligibility

Unsecured business loans in the US typically cost 8-35% APR depending on creditworthiness and lender type, with banks offering the lowest rates (8-15%) and alternative lenders charging 15-35% or more. Most require personal guarantees despite being "unsecured," meaning no business assets are pledged as collateral.

16 min read
Fred helping a US business owner compare Working Capital Loans for Small Businesses: Costs, Terms and Eligibility

Working Capital Loans for Small Businesses: Costs, Terms and Eligibility

Working capital loans for small businesses range from 6.75% to 99%+ APR depending on the lender type, with SBA loans at the low end (9-13% APR) and alternative lenders at the high end. Terms vary from 6 months to 10 years, with eligibility based on credit scores (typically 580+), time in business (6+ months), and annual revenue ($50,000+).

15 min read
Fred helping a US business owner compare State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI): State-Backed Funding Explained

State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI): State-Backed Funding Explained

The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) provides nearly $10 billion in federal funding to states, territories, and tribal governments to support local lending and investment programs for small businesses.

15 min read
Fred helping a US business owner compare Business Loan Requirements US: Credit Score, Revenue and Time-in-Business Thresholds

Business Loan Requirements US: Credit Score, Revenue and Time-in-Business Thresholds

Most US business loan requirements center on three key thresholds: personal credit scores of 650+ for traditional banks (580+ for alternative lenders), minimum annual revenue of $100,000-$250,000, and at least two years in business.

9 min read
Fred helping a US business owner compare How Fast Can You Get a Business Loan in the US? Same-Day to SBA Timelines

How Fast Can You Get a Business Loan in the US? Same-Day to SBA Timelines

Business loan funding timelines in the US range from 4-24 hours for same-day fintech products to 120+ days for complex SBA real estate transactions.

15 min read
Fred helping a US business owner compare Revenue-Based Financing in the US: How It Works and What It Costs

Revenue-Based Financing in the US: How It Works and What It Costs

Revenue-based financing in the US provides working capital in exchange for a percentage of future monthly revenue until you repay a predetermined multiple of the original advance. Unlike traditional loans, there's no fixed payment schedule, you pay more when revenue is high and less when it's low.

17 min read
Fred helping a US business owner compare Accounts Receivable Financing vs Business Loans: Which Fits B2B Companies

Accounts Receivable Financing vs Business Loans: Which Fits B2B Companies

Accounts receivable financing converts unpaid B2B invoices into immediate cash, while traditional business loans provide lump-sum funding based on overall creditworthiness. AR financing works faster and focuses on invoice quality, but costs more.

14 min read
Fred helping a US business owner compare Business Credit Scores: What Small Business Owners Need to Know in 2026

Business Credit Scores: What Small Business Owners Need to Know in 2026

Business credit scores use different scales and inputs depending on the bureau. Lenders may review PAYDEX, Experian Intelliscore Plus, FICO SBSS, personal credit and cash flow together, so no single score guarantees approval or a particular rate.

13 min read
Fred helping a US business owner compare Business Loans for Real Estate Investors: Fix-and-Flip, Rental, and Portfolio...

Business Loans for Real Estate Investors: Fix-and-Flip, Rental, and Portfolio Financing

Real-estate investors use different financing for short-term renovation projects, stabilized rentals and multi-property portfolios. Compare total cost, loan-to-value, recourse, collateral, experience requirements and exit strategy rather than choosing on headline rate alone.

11 min read

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US Business Funding Guides | Funding Fred | Page 5