Business funding FAQs

Common uses include expansion, renovations, hiring, inventory, marketing, acquisitions, technology, vehicles, and other legitimate business expenses. The permitted use depends on the specific program and agreement. Read the Business Loans guide.

Available amounts vary widely based on revenue, time in business, credit, cash flow, industry, documentation, collateral, and provider criteria. Request the amount supported by a real budget rather than the largest possible number. Read the Business Loans guide.

A participating lender generally underwrites and originates the loan under SBA program requirements. The exact approval process depends on the lender's authority and the transaction. Read the SBA Loans guide.

Timing ranges from weeks to months depending on the program, lender, transaction complexity, required reports, and completeness of the file. Read the SBA Loans guide.

Often yes, subject to provider rules concerning age, condition, remaining useful life, vendor, valuation, and equipment type. Read the Equipment Financing guide.

It depends on the asset, borrower profile, provider, and structure. Some transactions can finance a large portion of cost, while others require meaningful equity. Read the Equipment Financing guide.

Some products can be reviewed quickly when the file is complete, but timing varies and no funding date should be assumed before final approval and closing. Read the Working Capital guide.

Typical uses include payroll, inventory, vendors, marketing, repairs, seasonal preparation, and temporary receivables gaps, subject to the agreement. Read the Working Capital guide.

It is commonly structured as a purchase of future receivables, but contract language, law, and actual operation matter. Review the specific agreement with counsel. Read the Merchant Cash Advance guide.

A factor is multiplied by the funded amount to estimate the purchased or repayment amount before fees. It is not directly equivalent to an interest rate. Read the Merchant Cash Advance guide.

Some factoring programs require notice or direct payment to a lockbox; other structures may be less visible. Confirm the exact process before signing. Read the Invoice Financing guide.

Completed, undisputed business-to-business invoices owed by creditworthy customers are common candidates. Rules vary by provider and industry. Read the Invoice Financing guide.

Some programs consider startups, but owner credit, equity, experience, collateral, projections, licenses, and a credible repayment plan usually matter more without operating history. Read the Startup Funding guide.

A plan is particularly useful for startup, acquisition, SBA, and investor requests. It should explain the customer, offering, competition, operations, management, budget, and financial assumptions. Read the Startup Funding guide.

Some corporate products use business underwriting, but many small-business cards require the owner's Social Security number and personal guarantee. Read the Business Credit Cards guide.

Some issuers report activity to commercial bureaus and others report selectively. Confirm current reporting directly with the issuer. Read the Business Credit Cards guide.

It varies by property, occupancy, program, cash flow, borrower, and lender. Include closing costs and reserves in addition to the equity requirement. Read the Commercial Real Estate Loans guide.

Eligible owner-occupied transactions may qualify under SBA programs when occupancy, borrower, project, and lender requirements are met. Read the Commercial Real Estate Loans guide.

Generally, accurate current information cannot be removed simply because it is negative. Errors should be disputed with evidence, and legal advice may be appropriate for serious issues. Read the Business Credit and Credit Repair guide.

It depends on the starting profile, accuracy issues, payment cycles, creditor reporting, public records, utilization, and the actions taken. No legitimate service can guarantee a fixed score by a fixed date. Read the Business Credit and Credit Repair guide.

Timing depends on strategy, content, integrations, approvals, and migration complexity. A focused site can take weeks; larger systems can require phased delivery. Read the Website Development guide.

Technical foundations, metadata, structured data, internal links, accessibility, performance, and content architecture can be included. Rankings are never guaranteed. Read the Website Development guide.

Common candidates include document extraction, summarization, knowledge search, lead classification, drafting, quality checks, and recommendations with human approval. Read the AI Automation guide.

The goal is usually to reduce repetitive work and improve consistency. Roles, approvals, and customer judgment still require people, especially in high-impact workflows. Read the AI Automation guide.