What Are Business Credit Lines All About?

Business credit lines are not out of reach. But do you know what a business credit line truly is, and why you might want one for your company?

A credit line, or line of credit (LOC), is an arrangement between your company and a bank or a private investor which sets a maximum loan balance which a borrower can access.

A borrower can gain access to funds from their line of credit anytime, so long as they don’t go over the maximum set in the arrangement, and so long as they meet all other requirements of the bank or investor including making timely payments.

Business Credit Lines: Benefits

Credit lines furnish many distinct advantages to borrowers which include versatility. Borrowers can apply their line of credit and merely pay interest on what they use, compared with loans where they pay interest on the total borrowed. Credit lines can be reused, so as you acquire a balance and pay that balance off, you can use that accessible credit again, and again.

Credit lines are revolving accounts similar to credit cards, and are comparable to other types of financing such as installment loans. Frequently, lines of credit are unsecured, much the same as credit cards are. There are some credit lines which are secured, and thus easier to get approval.

Credit lines are the most commonly requested loan type in the business world although they are preferred, true credit lines are unusual, and hard to find. Many are also very challenging to get approval for requiring good credit, good time in business, and good financials. But there are various other credit cards and lines that few know about that are available for startup companies, bad credit, and even if you have absolutely no financials.

Bank Business Credit Lines

A lot of credit line types that most entrepreneurs imagine come from standard banks and standard banks use SBA loans as their foremost loan product for small business owners. This is due to the fact that SBA assures as much as 90% of the loan in the event of a default. These credit lines are the hardest to get approval for because you must qualify with SBA and the bank.

There are two fundamental types of SBA loans you can commonly obtain. One type is called CAPLines. There are actually a few kinds of CAPLines that can work for your small business.

SBA CapLines

You can also get a smaller loan amount more rapidly with the SBA Express program. The majority of these programs offer BOTH loans and revolving lines of credit. According to the SBA: “CAPLines is the umbrella program under which SBA helps business owners meet short-term and cyclical working capital needs”. Loan amounts are offered up to $5 million. Loan qualification criteria are the same as with other SBA programs.

Seasonal

Seasonal Line: This one advances against expected inventory and accounts receivables. It was designed to help seasonal businesses. Loan or revolving are available. Contract Line- Finances the direct labor and material cost associated with executing assignable contracts. Loan or revolving are offered.

Builders

Builders Line: Created for general contractors or builders constructing or renovating business or residential buildings. It is used to pay for direct labor-and material costs, where the building project functions as the collateral. Loan or revolving are offered.

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Standard Asset-Based

Standard Asset-Based Line: For businesses unable to meet credit standards associated with long-term credit. Financing for cyclical growth, repeating and/or short-term needs. Repayment comes from transforming short-term assets into money. Businesses continually draw from the LOC, based on preexisting assets, and repay as their cash cycle dictates. This line normally is utilized by businesses that provide credit to other companies.

Small Asset-Based

Small Asset-Based Line: This asset-based revolving line of credit of up to and including $200,000. This line works like a standard asset-based line except that some of the more stringent servicing requirements are waived, providing the business can consistently show repayment ability from available resources for the sum total.

The SBA Express Program Offers Access to a Credit Line for Well-Qualified Borrowers

You can get approval for as much as $350,000. Interest rates vary, with SBA enabling banks to charge as high as 6.5% over their base rate. Loans above $25,000 will require collateral.

Qualification Specifics

To get approval you’ll need great personal and business credit. Plus the SBA says you should not have any blemishes on your report. You will need good bank credit; an acceptable bank score demands you have at least $10,000 in your account over the last 90 days. You’ll also need a resume showing you have business sector experience and a well put together business plan. You will need three years of business and personal tax returns, and your business returns should show a profit. And, you’ll need a current balance sheet and income statement, thus showing you have the finances to repay the loan.

To get approval you’ll need account receivables, but just if you have them. As for the collateral to balance out the risk, generally all company assets will be taken as collateral, and some personal assets which also include your residence. It’s not uncommon to need collateral equivalent to 50% or more of the loan amount. You also need articles of incorporation, business licenses, contracts with all third parties, and your lease.

Private Investors and Alternative Lenders

Private investors and alternative lenders also offer credit lines. These are less complicated to qualify for than conventional SBA loans. They also necessitate much less documentation for approval. These alternative SBA credit lines frequently call for good personal credit for approval.

Unlike with SBA, many of them don’t require good bank or business credit approval. Most of these sorts of programs call for two years’ of tax returns. Tax returns have to show a profit. Rates can vary from 7% or more and loan amounts range from $25,000 into the millions.

Loan amounts are generally based on the revenues and/or profits reflected on the tax returns. In some cases lenders may ask for other financials including a profit and loss statement, balance sheets, and income statements.

Merchant Cash Advances

Merchant cash advances have rapidly turned into the most popular way to get financing, in large part because of the effortless qualification process. Companies with $10,000 in earnings can get approval, with the business owner having scores as low as 500. Some sources have now even started to offer credit lines that go with their loans. You will have to have at least $10,000 in revenue for approval. You should be in business for at least one year, however three years is preferred. Lenders commonly want to see a credit score of 650 or higher for approval.

Loan amounts are commonly about $20,000. Lenders normally will pull your business credit, so you should have some credit already established and in some cases lenders will want to see tax returns. Rates vary based upon risk for this program, and there usually are not a lot of funding sources who offer it.

Stocks and Bonds

You can get financing regardless of personal credit if you have some type of stocks or bonds. You can also get approval if you have somebody wishing to use their stocks or bonds as collateral for your financing. Personal credit quality doesn’t matter as there are no consumer credit criteria for approval. You can get approval for as much as 90% of the value of your stocks or bonds. Rates are typically below 2%, making this one of the lowest rate credit lines you’ll ever see. You can nevertheless earn interest as you commonly do on your stocks and bonds.

Business Credit Cards and Lines are Very Similar

Credit cards often offer 0% intro rates for up to two years. This is rather handy for startups especially. Credit lines allow you to take out more cash at a much cheaper rate than do cards. These are the primary two differences which will affect you between credit cards and credit line. Investopedia even says that, “lines of credit are potentially useful hybrids of credit cards.”

Both cards and lines are revolving credit. Credit lines are more difficult to qualify for as card approvals are commonly very fast, many times automated, while at the same time line require an in-depth underwriting review. Lines usually offer lower rates, according to Bankrate card rates average 13% while lines average 4%.

Many Banks Offer Unsecured Business Credit Cards

Many of them report to the consumer credit reporting agencies. They all require a personal guarantee from you. You can get approval generally for one card max as they stop approving you when you have two or more inquiries on your report.

Most credit card providers furnish business credit cards including Capital One, Chase, and American Express. These have rates similar to consumer rates and limits are also similar. Some report to the consumer reporting agencies, some report to the business bureaus. Approval requirements resemble consumer credit card accounts.

Inquiries

Ordinarily, when you apply for a credit card you put an inquiry on your consumer report. When other lenders see these, they won’t approve you for more credit due to the fact that they don’t know how much other new credit you have recently obtain. So they’ll only approve you if you have less than two inquiries on your report within the most recent six months. Any more will get you refused.

Our Credit Line Hybrid

With our Credit Line Hybrid, you work with a lender who focuses on getting business credit cards. This is a very unusual; very few know about program which few lending sources offer. They can usually get you more approvals than you can get on your own. This is because they know the sources to apply for, the order to apply, and can time their applications so the card issuers won’t refuse you for the other card inquiries. 

Multiple cards generate competition, and this means you can get your limits raised ordinarily within 6 months or fewer of initial approval. 

Not only will you get cash, but you build your business credit also so within three to four months, you can then use your newly established business credit to get even more money.

Approvals

You have to have excellent personal credit right now.

You can get approval with a guarantor and you can even use various guarantors to get even more money. There are other cards you can get with the same program but they only report to the consumer reporting agencies, not the business reporting agencies. They are consumer credit cards versus business credit cards.

Benefits

They supply similar benefits including 0% intro APRs but they are a lot easier to get approval. 

Business Credit

With all previous cards herein, you ought to have good consumer credit to get approval but what happens if your personal credit is not good, and you do not have a guarantor? This is the time when building business credit makes a ton of sense even though you have good personal credit, improving your company credit helps you get even more money, and without having a personal guarantee.

The Specifics

Company credit is credit in a business name, that’s linked to the business’s EIN number. You can get three types of company credit cards.

Vendor credit often offers net 30 terms used to kick off a business credit profile. With retail credit, get credit cards with high limits at most shops. With business credit cards and Fleet credit, get cards you can use anywhere. Limits are often higher than for personal credit.

Business Credit Lines, On Balance

Your company can get business credit lines and financing, if you know where to look.