5 Best Small-Business Loans in 2026

At some point, most small businesses need more money — whether it’s to stock shelves, buy new equipment or expand their footprint. A business loan can help, but figuring out where to start isn’t always simple.

Below, we’ve identified small-business loans that can serve a range of needs, from short-term working capital to longer-term growth. Although the products vary, every option on this list meets criteria we think matter most to business owners:

If a loan checks these boxes, it’s likely a solid choice. The right option for you, however, will depend on why you need the money and what you qualify for.

Here are our top picks and what each one does best.

I’ve been covering small-business loans for seven years, and I always tell business owners to try to get a bank loan first. Bank loans, like this Wells Fargo line of credit, are almost always the most affordable option, and when you’re running a small business, saving money on interest costs can go a long way.

Why I like Wells Fargo

Flexible line of credit. This credit line is revolving, meaning it operates similarly to a credit card. You only pay interest on what you borrow, and can pull from it as needed. This flexibility makes it a great choice for a range of business needs — including keeping it in your back pocket as an emergency fund (as long as you can avoid the inactivity fee, more on that later).

Startup-friendly. Most banks ask you to have at least two years in business before you can qualify for financing. This Wells Fargo product is much more lenient; it only requires a minimum of six months in business. I like that Wells Fargo is making affordable financing available to newer businesses, since they often have limited options.

Where Wells Fargo falls short

As I mentioned earlier, banks usually want you to have strong credit, and Wells Fargo is no exception. So, if you have a credit score under 680, you’ll want to jump down to some of the other lines of credit on our list.

You should also keep in mind that after the first year, Wells Fargo charges an annual fee ($95 for lines up to $25,000 and $175 for lines over $25,000) and may charge an inactivity fee if you don’t meet a certain threshold of use. These fees are not uncommon for bank credit lines, but online lenders don’t typically charge them (though interest rates will be higher with an online lender).

Finally, it may take a while to get approval and funding from Wells Fargo. The bank doesn’t provide a specific timeline on its website (most don’t), but it will likely be slower than an online alternative. This is something to consider if you need funding as soon as possible.

U.S. Small Business Administration SBA 7(a) loan

Max Loan Amount

$5,000,000

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Why I like SBA 7(a)

Competitive rates. SBA lenders have to follow SBA guidelines when setting interest rates. In other words, lenders can’t charge interest rates above the SBA’s maximums. Right now, the maximum for variable rate loans is 13.25% and 14.75% for fixed rate loans. These are much lower rates than you’ll find with most online lenders.

Long terms. Terms on SBA 7(a) loans can be as long as 25 years. This can be useful if you’re making a big purchase and want to repay it slowly over time. Although you’ll pay more interest over the life of the loan, these long terms can offer low monthly payments that make it easier to manage your cash flow.

Where SBA 7(a) falls short

Even though SBA 7(a) loans can be easier to get than bank loans, most lenders will still want to see good credit and multiple years in business in order to approve you. You may also have to provide collateral (like your business assets) to secure your loan. A personal guarantee — which states that you, the borrower, will repay the loan if your business can’t — is nearly always required.

It’s also important to understand that while you may be able to get an SBA 7(a) loan in as little as two weeks, the process is known to take anywhere from 60 to 90 days. You’ll need to provide a lot of paperwork as part of your application. Plus, many lenders don’t offer an option to apply online (you’ll have to visit a branch location). Similar to bank loans, if speed is your priority, an online lender will be a better fit.

Bluevine Bluevine – Line of credit

5.0

NerdWallet rating How is this rating determined?

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That said, Bluevine’s qualification requirements are much more lenient than bank or SBA lenders — meaning newer businesses or borrowers with lower credit scores might start their search here.

Why I like Bluevine

Fast and easy application. If you’re looking for speed, Bluevine is a good choice. It took me less than three minutes to fill out the online application (you will have to create an account first, but this is also really easy). Once you submit your application, Bluevine can approve you in as little as five minutes. And once you request to draw funds, you may see them in your account within a few hours (if you pay the $15 wire transfer fee) or as fast as the next day.

Flexible qualification requirements. Compared with bank and SBA loans, you’ll find Bluevine’s qualification requirements are much easier to meet. You’ll need at least 12 months in business, a credit score of 625 and $120,000 in annual revenue. This makes Bluevine a solid option for newer businesses (but not brand new) that are already generating decent revenue.

Where Bluevine falls short

As I mentioned earlier, the downside of Bluevine’s speed and flexibility is cost. Bluevine’s line of credit rates are higher than a bank or SBA loan, and rates can vary widely based on your qualifications. While the lender’s minimum APR of 14% seems reasonable, you’ll likely need strong credentials to access it. Other businesses can expect APRs that go all the way up to 95%. I’d also keep in mind that Bluevine requires weekly payments over 26 or 52 weeks, which may not be ideal if you have unpredictable cash flow.

Headway Capital Headway Capital – Line of credit

4.8

NerdWallet rating How is this rating determined?

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As you might expect, Headway’s rates are higher than traditional options, but what’s more noteworthy is its draw fee (which you may not find with other online competitors). A draw fee, as the name implies, is charged every time you use money from your line of credit.

Why I like Headway

Flexible repayment terms. If you’re a new business that’s just starting out, it’s very possible that your revenue is inconsistent — making it difficult to keep up with frequent payments over a short period of time. Headway offers a lot of flexibility in this department, with term options of 12, 18 or 24 months, and a choice of weekly or monthly payments. With all of these options, it’s much easier to find something that works well for your business’s needs.

Where Headway falls short

Finally, Headway doesn’t offer financing in nine states — Arkansas, Connecticut, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont — which decreases its overall level of accessibility.

Fora Financial Fora Financial – Online term loan

4.7

NerdWallet rating How is this rating determined?

Max Loan Amount

$1,500,000

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I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Fora to new or smaller businesses, however. The lender has a high annual revenue requirement — higher than many other online lenders — which can make it difficult to access if you’re just starting out and have inconsistent sales.

This lender also offers a larger maximum loan amount than many competitors, although you’ll likely need stronger credentials to access those bigger amounts.

Why I like Fora

Low credit score requirement. If your credit score is holding you back, Fora Financial is worth exploring. This lender considers more than your credit history when evaluating your application, accepting scores as low as 570.

Fast funding. Fora can also be a good choice if you need money quickly. It took me less than five minutes to fill out the application, and Fora can approve you in as little as four hours. Once you’re approved, you may see funds in your account within 24 hours (but up to 72 hours).

Large loan amounts. As I mentioned earlier, Fora’s loan maximum is much higher than competitors. If you’re looking to fund a large project quickly, Fora may be able to help, provided you can meet more than the minimum requirements. In my experience, lenders want to see stronger credentials for larger funding requests.

Where Fora falls short

I should also point out that Fora’s terms only go up to 24 months and payments are daily or weekly. Frequent payments over a short period of time can put a strain on cash flow, so you’ll want to make sure this type of schedule is manageable for your business before opting in.

Business lending marketplaces allow you to submit one application and compare loan offers from multiple lenders through their online platform. Fundera by NerdWallet offers dedicated representatives to walk you through the process and provide personalized support.

Why work with a business lending marketplace?

Free to use and funding usually available quickly.

Receive multiple loan offers through a single application.

Get information from several lenders in one place.

Access to a dedicated lending representative for personalized support.

NerdWallet’s review process evaluates and rates small-business loan products from traditional banks and online lenders. We collect over 30 data points on each lender using company websites and public documents. We may also go through a lender’s initial application flow and reach out to company representatives. NerdWallet writers and editors conduct a full fact check and update annually, but also make updates throughout the year as necessary.

Our star ratings award points to lenders that offer small-business friendly features. We weigh these factors based on our assessment of which are the most important to small-business owners and how meaningfully they impact borrowers’ experiences. Here’s how we evaluate each lender and the approximate weights we place on each category: