Before diving into an explanation of working capital loans, it’s important to understand working capital basics.

Working capital refers to the money needed to cover everyday operating expenses in your business. Typical expenses covered by working capital include payroll and rent. These are the day-to-day costs of keeping your business running.
A working capital loan gives businesses the cash they need to cover these ongoing, everyday operational costs. A working capital loan can come in various forms, including a short-term working capital loan, merchant cash advance on credit card sales, invoice factoring agreement (on unpaid invoices due), SBA loans, or even a business line of credit.

A working capital loan may also be known as operating capital or cash flow loans.

Why You Need Working Capital for Your Business Cash Flow

Working capital comes from the cash flowing into your business due to your service or product sales in a perfect world. However, not all businesses enjoy a smooth cash flow all the time. Your business could just be starting out and slowly increasing your customer base. Or maybe you operate a seasonal business. In this case, you might have less cash on hand during your off-season. A lack of working capital makes it tough to keep up with bills you must pay each month – bills that are due whether your business is booming or not.

When your business lacks working capital, you need to tap into a different cash injection source. That is where a working capital loan product can come into play.

MAX FUNDING AMOUNT: $1K – $5M
FACTOR RATES: Starting at Prime + 2.75%
TERM: 3 months – 10 years
SPEED: 1-3 Business days

So how does a working capital loan work? Though working capital business loans can come in many forms and from online lenders or a traditional financial institution like the small business administration in a few limited cases, each version has a few things in common. Unlike a more traditional bank loan, small business owners can access even the best working capital loans with a subpar personal and business credit score and less than one year in operation. You don’t need collateral or even a personal guarantee. Due to these loose requirements and the shorter terms, interest rates tend to run higher.

Since working capital financing is more accessible through online lenders rather than a traditional financial institution, companies don’t have to specify how they plan to use the money. Thus, they would recommend the repayment terms that make the most sense for your cash flow and the problem at hand. Some alternative lenders like Kabbage Funding offer multiple types of funding products. For example, a Business Line of Credit might be best for a highly seasonal business looking to cover day-to-day expenses during the slow season. On the other hand, Merchant Cash Advance providers might think that the product might be best for a company that’s looking to bridge a much shorter gap in cash flow. For standard short-term loans, terms can be as little as just four or five months. Other types of working capital loans can have terms as long as several years.

Also, your borrowing amount isn’t just the sum of your monthly business expenses. It must additionally account for your current/short-term liabilities or what your business owes in the near future (loans, accounts payable, taxes, etc.). To run your business, the borrowing amount must exceed your short-term liabilities.

Unsecured Working Capital Loans – Research, Facts & Reports

According to the Voice of Small Business in America 2019 Insights Report, the most common use of new funding for small businesses was to improve cash flow. 54% of respondents borrowed money to help smooth their cash flow gaps or apply to working capital.

The Fed’s 2019 Small Business Credit Survey estimates that the small business financing market is about $1.4 trillion in size.

In 2019, the Small Business Credit Survey also found that medium- and high-credit-risk applicants seeking loans or working capital line of credit financing were almost as likely to apply through online lenders as they were to complete an application with a traditional large bank (54% and 50%, respectively). However, only 41% were likely to apply for credit through a small bank.

Also in In 2019, the SBA reports that they approved 100,495 loans totaling $32.7 billion. The SBA does offer working capital loan programs, even some tied to any real estate owned.

Working capital loans are incredibly accessible and can be approved in as little as 24 hours. You don’t need an excellent credit score, collateral, or more than six months in operation.

This is because working capital financing is designed primarily for businesses that are dealing with unforeseen circumstances. Products with a long term, higher borrowing limits, and lower rates tend to have long application processes. Business owners must also take time to figure out exactly how much funding they need. On the other hand, most small business owners are just looking for enough money to cover their operational expenses and other short-term business liabilities with working capital loans. When a business owner can easily calculate their desired funding amount, the application process goes much quicker.

Another advantage is the availability of multiple repayment structures. With the help of your small business lender, you can choose the repayment structure that most effectively solves the dilemma you’re facing. And though working capital loans are frequently used to fill cash shortages and pay short-term debts. Small businesses can also use them for growth-related investments like ordering inventory or taking on a larger, costly project.

Other types of small business loans aren’t as versatile. Business owners can only use them for a few purposes. For example, you wouldn’t take out a Term Loan or SBA Loan to cover operational expenses.

Loose requirements place a heightened degree of risk on alternative lenders. In other words, business owners with poor credit, cash flow problems, and less than one year in operation are less likely to pay off the loan on time. Thus, online lenders offset this risk by assigning higher interest rates and shorter terms. If your cash flow doesn’t recover, a high interest rate could put your small business in jeopardy. That’s why you should only explore working capital loans if you’re dealing with a temporary issue.

Working capital loans also generally come with lower borrowing amounts than Business Term Loans and SBA Loans. For this reason, you can’t use a working capital loan for expensive initiatives like developing a new product, renovating your physical space, adding a new division, etc. Remember, working capital loans work best for short-term needs instead of long-term investments that may take years to produce results.

Approved businesses generally met the following criteria:

ANNUAL REVENUE: $180K
CREDIT SCORE: 550+
TIME IN BUSINESS: Over 2 years

The application process may be slightly longer or shorter for different types of loans. However, all variations require very little paperwork, and you can get funded in just a few business days. Here’s how to get started:

We usually recommend the loan options that feature the most uncomplicated repayment terms for your cash flow. This depends on the length of your cash flow gap and how quickly you’ll be able to pay off the loan.

The application requires the following documents and information:

• • United States Driver’s license
• • Voided business check
• • Bank account statements (3 Months)

You can begin the application process by calling us or filling out our one-page online application. Either way, you’ll be asked to enter the information from the previous section along with your desired funding amount.

Once you apply, a representative will reach out to you to explain the repayment terms, rates, and terms of your available options. This way, you won’t have to worry about any surprises or hidden fees from lenders during repayment.

For most loan products, it only takes a few days for credit approval. Depending on the type of loan, funds should appear in your bank account anywhere from 1-3 business days for most funding options.

Your loan isn’t just a way to get financing for your business. It’s also an excellent opportunity to start building (or improving) your credit.

Regardless of the type of business loan your company gets, make all of your required payments on time and in full. If you get a business credit line or another form of revolving credit like business credit cards, keep your balance below the credit limit.

Consistently making your business financing payments on time and in full will positively impact your credit. And that means preferred rates and terms when you next need business financing.

If your application gets declined, it might be due to poor personal credit or the conclusion that your company cannot afford to take on more debt at this time. In this case, we might recommend alternative tools for financing your business, like a business credit card or even a personal loan. Both financing options are much easier to qualify for than small business loans from traditional financial institutions.

You might also consider credit unions for working capital financing. Credit unions generally have great terms and are easier to qualify for if you are a member. If you can qualify through credit unions, that might be your best option.

We might also recommend credit repair services, which focus on raising your personal credit score by identifying and eliminating the issues keeping it down. Fixing your credit, in general, will help you pay interest at lower rates for all types of financing.