When choosing a private lender, considering a couple key factors can help you close faster and lock in better terms:
- What type of private lender are they? Different types of private lenders have varying paperwork requirements, closing timelines, and eligibility criteria. In our experience, revenue-based financing is typically the best option because it only requires a few months of bank statements. Therefore, they can fund within 24 to 48 hours of your initial application.
- Are they a broker or direct lender? Partnering with a revenue-based financing broker allows you to get better terms than if you applied directly. Top brokers generate a large number of loan applications for lenders, so lenders offer them wholesale rates, preferred pricing, and discounts that wouldn’t be available to direct applicants.
We’ve compiled this guide to review the best private business lenders on the market, considering their paperwork requirements, closing speed, and the competitiveness of their offers.
We begin by discussing how we designed Redline Capital to close faster than most private lenders and offer some of the lowest rates available.
At the end, we cover a few alternative types of private lenders, such as collateral-based financing, credit score-based lenders, and invoice factoring companies, so you can see how they compare to revenue-based financing.
Enter some basic information into this form, and we’ll send multiple offers tailored to your business needs.
| Funding Features | Redline Capital Terms |
| Loan amounts | $30K to $2MM |
| Loan terms | 6 months to 3 years |
| Repayment terms | Monthly and weekly |
| Minimum credit score | 600 |
| Minimum time in business | 12 months |
| Minimum monthly revenue | $30K |
| Type of loans | Term loans, working capital loans, business line of credit, and SBA loans. |
1. Redline Capital: Revenue-Based Financing
Secure Business Funding on the Same Day or the Next
Redline Capital is a revenue-based financing company. We focus primarily on your monthly recurring revenue when evaluating your application and only require four months of bank statements.
Unlike banks and some other types of private lenders, we don’t ask for or consider tax returns, profit and loss statements, outstanding invoices, debt-to-income ratios, official business plans, or personal collateral. Fewer documents mean quicker underwriting and funding, typically on the same day or the next.
To be eligible, businesses must:
- Earn at least $30K gross revenue per month.
- Have been in operation for 12 months or more.
- Be located in the U.S.
Businesses can apply for our revenue-based financing products by submitting four months of bank statements and completing a half-page application with details like your desired loan amount, business type, intended use of funds, credit score, and gross monthly revenue.
We return with multiple revenue-based financing options — like working capital loans, term loans, and lines of credit. Each details your funding amount, total repayment, payment structure, and term length.
Pick the one that works best for you, and the funds hit your account within hours.
Let’s break down some factors that set us apart from other financing companies on the market.
We Can Help You Secure Better Terms Than Applying Direct
As a broker with over 15 years of experience, we can offer you better terms than if you were to apply directly to a lender. This is because:
- We generate a lot of deal volume for lenders, so they are willing to offer us better terms than direct applicants. Borrowers who apply through us typically receive preferred pricing, discounts, and wholesale rates that are not available if they apply on their own. We can also negotiate on your behalf by showing competing offers and asking if they can beat them.
- We shop the market for you and match you with an offer and financing product tailored to your situation. If borrowers apply directly to lenders, they only see the offers from lenders they applied with; they don’t know what else is out there or how fair those offers are.
- We can reduce the burden of applying to multiple lenders. Applying directly means submitting an individual application to each lender, which slows things down and involves a significant amount of paperwork. With Redline Capital, you submit one application and receive multiple offers.
We Only Work with Premium Private Lenders
A good way to tell the quality of offers a broker can give you is by evaluating the quality of their lending partners.
Thanks to the strong reputation we’ve built at Redline Capital, we can exclusively work with top private business lenders like OnDeck, Credibly, Rapid Finance, Kapitus, and BriteCap. These lenders are well-known for offering the lowest rates, so you can count on us to get you the best possible offers.
Many newer brokers can’t work with premium private lenders because these lenders have strict criteria (e.g., online reviews, years in business, referral track record, volume of deals closed) for their broker program. As a result, newer brokers work with subprime lenders known for expensive terms.
In addition, many newer brokers tend to lack professionalism, often bombarding you with calls to push you into accepting an offer. At Redline Capital, we take a more respectful approach, presenting you with multiple financing options and giving you the space to choose what’s best for your business, with zero pressure.
Types of Revenue-Based Financing Products
When you complete an application form, we’ll come back to you with each of these types of offers, so you can compare and choose the one that works best for you.
- Merchant cash advance: This is a form of short-term financing, typically with a term of under 9 months, that is deposited into your business bank account. We can fund these loans in 24 to 48 hours, making them a practical option for businesses looking to settle payroll or start a new job while waiting for accounts receivable.
- Business line of credit: This is a revolving loan, similar to a credit card, that a business can use to pay expenses. Unlike regular cash advances and term loans, businesses only pay interest on what they use. As they repay the debt, it becomes available for them to use again until the end of the loan term. They don’t have to apply for a new loan every time they need funds.
- Term loan: This is a longer-term form of financing, typically ranging from 1 to 5 years, that is paid in a lump sum upfront. The business then makes monthly principal and interest payments until the end of the term. Businesses can use this financing to expand operations, hire new staff, refinance existing debt, and more.
What Clients Say
Check out our case studies page to hear what past clients have said:
Secure Business Funding Within 24 to 48 Hours with Redline Capital
With over 15 years of experience, Redline Capital has funded hundreds of businesses, providing over $100 million in total financing.
You can see what rates, terms, and financing options you qualify for by completing this short application form and submitting four months of bank statements.
Other Types of Private Lenders for Business Loans
Here’s how revenue-based financing compares to alternative private lenders:
Collateral-based Lenders
Collateral-based business lending is a type of financing where the borrower provides an asset that the lender can seize in the event of default, and the lender offers a loan based on a percentage of the asset’s value.
In most cases, the collateral is company assets, such as machinery, equipment, or commercial real estate; however, it can also include personal bank accounts or down payments.
The primary benefit of collateral-based funding is that it provides borrowers with the opportunity to secure lower rates than those offered by unsecured loans, as the collateral reduces the lender’s risk.
However, collateral-based loans typically take multiple weeks or even months to close, as lenders must send appraisers to assess the value of the collateral before wiring the loan.
Private banks and credit unions like Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and America First Credit Union offer various collateral-based loan products.
Credit Score Lenders
Credit score lending refers to loan options where the lender’s primary consideration is a business’s credit score and repayment history. This makes credit score funding a suitable option for businesses with a strong track record of paying debts and bills on time.
The advantage of credit score funding is that it has a high approval rate for businesses with strong credit, even if they are lacking in other areas such as revenue, collateral, time in business, or profitability.
However, the drawback is that if you have a subpar credit score, it’ll be challenging to qualify. With revenue-based financing, businesses and startups can often qualify even if they have bad credit or judgments and liens, but good credit can help them qualify for lower rates and higher financing amounts.
Some of the most popular credit score lenders include OnDeck, Bluevine, and Fundbox.
Invoice Factoring Companies
Invoice factoring is a cash advance where the borrower sells unpaid invoices, also known as accounts receivable, at a discounted rate for upfront cash.
For example, if a company has $20K in unpaid invoices, it may sell those to the factoring company for $15K and use those funds to pay expenses or start a new job.
This makes invoice factoring a popular option for construction companies, who are often waiting on payments for completed work while needing cash to begin their next project.
The main drawback of invoice factoring is that it’s only an option for B2B companies. There’s also substantial underwriting involved, not just of your credit history and business financials, but also your customers’, which can delay closing.
Below, we highlight additional private lenders that provide the above-mentioned business financing products.
2. OnDeck
OnDeck is an alternative, non-bank lender that provides various short and medium-term private business loans, including regular term loans, working capital loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, SBA loans, and credit score funding.
One of OnDeck’s main strengths is the speed at which they can fund your loan. They can reliably close within 24 to 48 hours, which is perfect for businesses in need of fast working capital.
To qualify, business owners typically need to have been operating for at least one year, generate $100K or more in annual revenue, and have a credit score of 625 or above. Approved businesses can access funding ranging from $5K to $250K.
However, because OnDeck is a direct lender, you’re limited to their offer alone. If you’re looking to compare multiple business financing options side by side to find the best possible terms, using a good-quality broker such as Redline Capital may be more practical.
Additionally, OnDeck’s loan programs are primarily designed for small businesses seeking financing of under $250K. While this limit may be insufficient for larger companies, Redline Capital fills that gap with loan amounts up to $2MM, making us a strong partner for businesses of any size.
3. Bluevine
Bluevine is a private lender and invoice factoring company that offers small business loans. Qualified businesses can secure working capital and term loans up to $500K, and lines of credit up to $250K.
If you have unpaid invoices, you can sell them to Bluevine for upfront capital. However, this invoice factoring product can take longer to close as there’s more documentation to underwrite.
To be eligible for working capital loans or lines of credit, businesses must be operational for at least 6 months, generate $40K or more in monthly revenue, and have a credit score of 625+.
One limitation to note: Bluevine is a direct lender, like OnDeck, meaning you’ll only receive their offer. You won’t be able to compare offers with just one application like you would with Redline Capital.
In addition, Bluevine’s term loans cap at $500K, whereas we at Redline Capital can fund loans up to $2MM.
4. Headway Capital
Headway Capital is a line of credit lender whose flagship product is a revolving loan ranging from $5K to $100K. This makes them a practical option for small business owners that need flexible funding without wanting to apply for a new loan every time they have cash flow shortages.
Headway Capital gives you access to an online portal where your funds are held, and you can withdraw and only pay interest on what you withdraw. As you repay, the credit becomes available again for future use.
One of its biggest advantages is speed as funds are often available within one business day after approval. The application process is straightforward, and the eligibility requirements are accessible for many small businesses, even those with less-than-perfect credit.
However, interest rates on lines of credit are typically higher than those on term loans and working capital loans, and a draw fee may be applicable in some states.
Because Headway Capital is a direct lender, you’d need to apply individually to multiple online lenders to compare offers, something that takes time and increases the risk of accepting a deal that isn’t the most competitive available.
5. Fora Financial
Fora Financial is an FDIC-insured financial institution designed for businesses seeking fast, short-term funding without the hassle of traditional bank loans. It offers two main funding options: revenue advances and short-term loans, with amounts ranging from $5K up to $1.4MM.
The application process is straightforward, and funds can be received in as little as 24 to 72 hours.
Minimum requirements include six months in business and good credit, making Fora Financial accessible to newer companies with limited revenue or profitability. Fora Financial also doesn’t require collateral, and offers prepayment discounts that can reduce the total cost if paid early.
We also like that Fora Financial offers larger loan amounts than some of the other options on our list, such as OnDeck and Bluevine.
However, interest rates can be relatively high due to factor-based pricing, and repayment terms are typically short, resulting in larger weekly or monthly payments.
Qualify for Fast Funding with Just Four Months of Bank Statements with Redline Capital
Fill out this short application form and we’ll send you multiple offers that can close on the same-day or the next.