Picture these scenarios: You run a busy clothing store and your only cash register just broke. Or the warm weather is coming up, and you need to hire servers for the patio. But you don’t have the cash to fix the register or hire the workers. In both cases, a short-term business loan can help. Is a short term business loan right for your business? You get money you need now and, with the profits you make, repay it over a short period of time – usually anywhere from 3 months to 18 months.
In contrast, long-term business loans are typically much larger and have a repayment period of five to 15 years or longer, making them better suited to a real estate purchase, a business acquisition or major equipment purchases.
Short-term business loans typically come in smaller amounts ($5,000 to $100,000), carry repayment terms of a few months to a year or two, have looser qualifications and can provide quick cash – usually 1-2 days – at a much-needed time. However, short-term business loans generally have higher borrowing costs — something to keep in mind when you’re shopping around.
There are several situations when a short-term business loan may be appropriate for your small business. Here’s the top three:
To manage cash flow gaps: Uneven cash flow is a common issue for seasonal businesses. Instead of running up expensive credit card debt or taking out a home equity loan to pay the bills, a short-term business loan or line of credit can help manage the slowdown.
For emergencies: What if your clothing store doesn’t have the cash in the bank to fix the broken register? What if you run a pizzeria and your only oven breaks down? Short-term business loans make sense in these types of emergencies. You can get quick cash for repairs, then repay the loan over a short time period — that way, you’re not still paying for a cash register or oven five years from now.
No. Like other forms of financing, obtaining a small business loan is all about preparation. Ensuring your books are transparent and you maintain the reserve liquidity to encourage the lender that you’ll be able to service your debt consistently on time will lead to success. And experts agree the best way to avoid unnecessary snags is to prepare for the application process.
No. A low credit score is a concern for some lenders, but banks aren’t the only lenders out there. In fact, it’s far from impossible to get a business loan with bad credit. Alternative and private lenders are often able to offer more flexible terms, including which level of creditworthiness they can approve.
Not always. Entrepreneurs have more than one option for obtaining financing; banks are not the only game in town. There are alternative and private lenders, as well as creative types of lending like invoice factoring, which can help business owners shore up their capital without going through the lengthy and restrictive application process required by conventional lenders.
There is no “worst” type of financing; it depends on your business’s circumstances and your ability to reliably service any debt you take on. Just because you can obtain financing elsewhere doesn’t mean conventional lenders and bank loans are not for you.
Sometimes, a bank offers exactly the funding option you need. In fact, for established businesses looking to grow at a moderate rate, traditional bank funding is generally a great option, Adam said. It’s when a business doesn’t fit those criteria that business owners should consider shopping around.
No, the requested principal amount of the loan should not have an adverse impact on whether or not you get approved. Lending institutions are generally prepared to fulfill large financing requests for the right borrower; it’s more lucrative for them in the long run anyway. Don’t be afraid to ask for the amount of money that you really need!
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