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EQ FUNDING · BLOG

How businesses
actually get funded.

Practical guides to business loans, SBA financing, lines of credit, and equipment financing — how qualification actually works, what each option costs, and how to get funded faster.

Getting Funded
How to Compare Business Loan Offers Side by Side
Got multiple business loan offers? Learn how to normalize APR vs. factor rates, total payback, and payment terms — plus fine-print red flags to catch.
7 min readRead →
Documents Needed for a Business Loan: Complete Checklist
A product-by-product checklist of the documents lenders actually require — bank statements, tax returns, P&L, debt schedule, AR aging — and why each matters.
6 min readRead →
How Long Does It Take to Get a Business Loan?
Realistic business loan funding timelines by product — from same-day revenue-based financing to weeks-long SBA loans — plus what causes delays and how to speed it up.
6 min readRead →
Business Loans for Bad Credit: What Actually Gets Approved in 2026
Business loans for bad credit explained — which products underwrite on cash flow and assets, not just your score, plus rates and ways to boost approval odds.
7 min readRead →
One Bank vs. a Whole Network: Why a Funding Marketplace Gets You Funded
Applying to one bank is a single shot at yes or no. A funding marketplace flips it — one application, lenders compete, side-by-side offers. Here's how it works.
7 min readRead →
How to Get a Business Loan in 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to get a business loan — what lenders check, which loan type fits your need, the documents you'll need, and how to apply once instead of a dozen times.
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Types of Business Loans: The Complete Comparison (and How to Choose)
Every major business loan type compared — term loans, lines of credit, SBA, revenue-based, equipment, factoring, and more — on cost, speed, credit, and best use.
7 min readRead →
What Is Working Capital — and the Fastest Ways to Get It
What working capital is — the formula, a worked example, the cash-flow cycle behind it, and the fastest funding when you need it: a line of credit, RBF, or factoring.
7 min readRead →
Loan Types
Purchase Order Financing: Fund Big Orders You Can't Fill
Purchase order financing pays your suppliers so you can fulfill large orders you'd otherwise turn down. Learn the mechanics, costs, and who qualifies.
6 min readRead →
SBA Microloans: Up to $50K for Startups & Small Firms
How SBA microloans work: up to $50,000 through nonprofit intermediary lenders, typical rates and terms, who qualifies, and when they beat a bank loan.
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Business Line of Credit: How It Works, Costs & Qualifying
A complete guide to how a business line of credit works—draw and repay mechanics, revolving vs. non-revolving, costs, limits, and how to qualify.
6 min readRead →
Revenue-Based Financing Explained: Costs & When It Fits
How revenue-based financing works, what it really costs versus fixed-payment loans, who it fits best, and the red flags that signal a predatory MCA in disguise.
7 min readRead →
Commercial Real Estate Financing: SBA 504, Bridge & Beyond
How to finance commercial property — owner-occupied CRE term loans, the low-rate SBA 504, bridge and hard-money loans, and how to compare them on rate and LTV.
7 min readRead →
Equipment Financing: How to Fund Equipment Without Draining Cash
How equipment financing works — why the asset is the collateral, financing vs. leasing, the Section 179 tax angle, and which industries it fits best.
8 min readRead →
Invoice Factoring: How to Turn Unpaid Invoices into Same-Day Cash
How invoice factoring works — the advance, fee, and rebate explained, factoring vs. invoice financing, recourse vs. non-recourse, and why your customer's credit matters.
7 min readRead →
Business Line of Credit vs. Term Loan: Which Is Right for You?
Line of credit vs. term loan — how each works, how they differ on structure, interest, and flexibility, when each one wins, and whether you should have both.
6 min readRead →
Costs & Comparisons
Section 179 + Equipment Financing: Deduct It All This Year
Financed equipment can still qualify for the full Section 179 deduction. Limits, lease vs. loan treatment, timing rules, and a worked example.
7 min readRead →
Business Loan Monthly Payments: Real Numbers, $50K to $1M
See actual monthly payments on $50K–$1M business loans across SBA, term, and short-term structures — plus how to calculate what your revenue can support.
7 min readRead →
Leasing vs. Financing Equipment: Which Saves You More?
Equipment lease vs. finance compared: $1 buyout vs. FMV leases, Section 179 tax treatment, obsolescence risk, and a decision checklist by equipment type.
7 min readRead →
How Business Loan Payments Work: Amortization & Factor Math
A hands-on guide to how business loan payments work: amortized monthly payments, daily/weekly remittances, factor-rate holdbacks, and prepayment math with worked examples.
5 min readRead →
Factor Rate vs. APR: Decode the True Cost of Financing
Learn how to convert factor rates, fees, and holdbacks into real annualized cost — with worked examples so you can compare financing offers apples-to-apples.
6 min readRead →
Business Loan Interest Rates (August 2026): What's a Good Rate?
Current business loan interest rates for August 2026 — realistic APR ranges by product, the APR-vs-factor-rate distinction, what drives your rate, and how to lock in a lower one.
7 min readRead →
Business Loan vs. Business Credit Card: When to Use Each
Business loan vs. business credit card — how they differ in cost, amount, and repayment, plus which to use for small purchases, large needs, rewards, and building credit.
7 min readRead →
How Much Can My Business Borrow? Loan Amounts Explained
How much can I borrow with a business loan? A clear guide to loan amount ranges by product, the rule of thumb tied to revenue, and what raises your ceiling.
6 min readRead →
By Use Case
Buy vs. Lease Commercial Property: The Rent-vs-Own Math
A side-by-side 10-year cost comparison of leasing vs. buying your building with an SBA 504 loan, plus the break-even scenarios where buying wins or loses.
8 min readRead →
Business Acquisition Loans: How to Finance Buying a Business
How to finance buying a business — SBA 7(a) acquisition loans, down payments, seller financing, what lenders check, and realistic timelines.
7 min readRead →
Financing a Business Expansion: New Locations, Build-Outs & Hiring
How to finance a business expansion — a new location, build-out, or hiring push. Match a term loan, SBA loan, or line of credit to your growth move.
7 min readRead →
Business Debt Consolidation & Refinancing: Escape High-Cost Debt
Stacked merchant cash advances draining your cash? See how business debt consolidation rolls high-cost debt into one lower, longer payment — and how to qualify.
6 min readRead →
Inventory Financing: How to Fund Stock Without Tying Up Cash
How inventory financing works, and how to fund stock without draining your cash. Compare inventory loans, lines of credit, and purchase-order financing for your business.
7 min readRead →
Partner Buyout Financing: How to Buy Out a Business Partner
How to finance a partner buyout — why these deals are fundable, why SBA 7(a) is the go-to, the valuation step, deal structure, and timeline to close.
8 min readRead →
Payroll Financing: How to Cover Payroll When Cash Is Tight
How to make payroll when cash is tight — compare a line of credit, revenue-based financing, and invoice factoring, and fund in as little as a day.
7 min readRead →
By Industry
Daycare Business Loans: Licensing, Build-Outs, Buses & Payroll
How to finance a daycare or childcare center — licensing costs, facility build-outs, buses, payroll gaps, and why SBA 504 often fits real estate.
8 min readRead →
Salon & Spa Financing: Chairs, Build-Outs & Slow Seasons
How salons, spas, and barbershops finance build-outs, equipment, and slow-season cash — and how booth-rental vs. commission models change what lenders count.
8 min readRead →
Hotel Financing: Acquisition, PIP Renovations & Working Capital
How hotel, motel, and B&B owners finance acquisitions, brand-mandated PIPs, and seasonal cash flow — SBA 504, 7(a), bridge loans, and more.
7 min readRead →
HVAC & Contractor Financing: Trucks, Equipment & Cash Flow
How HVAC and trade contractors finance service vans, tools, and equipment — plus bridge progress billing gaps and cover payroll between jobs.
7 min readRead →
Agriculture Business Loans: Equipment, Lines & Land
How farms and ranches in the US & Canada finance equipment, seasonal operating lines, and land — with repayment timed to harvest and how ag revenue is evaluated.
6 min readRead →
Gym & Fitness Studio Financing: A Practical Guide
How gym, CrossFit, yoga, and boutique-studio owners finance equipment, build-outs, and new locations — and use membership revenue to strengthen an application.
6 min readRead →
Landscaping & Lawn Care Business Loans: Equipment & Cash Flow
How landscapers finance mowers, trucks, and trailers, bridge the winter off-season, and fund spring crew expansion. Real numbers and honest trade-offs.
6 min readRead →
Auto Repair Shop Loans: Equipment, Working Capital & Expansion
Auto repair shop loans for equipment, working capital, and shop expansion — which loan fits each need, and why the trade is surprisingly credit-flexible.
7 min readRead →
By Situation
Business Loans After Bankruptcy: What's Realistic and When
An honest, timeline-based guide to getting a business loan after bankruptcy — what's fundable at 0-2, 2-4, and 4+ years, and which products actually approve.
7 min readRead →
Business Grants vs. Loans: Free Money or Faster Money?
A realistic look at business grants vs loans: where grants actually exist in the US and Canada, how competitive they are, and when borrowing is the smarter path.
7 min readRead →
How to Get Out of a Merchant Cash Advance: Escape Guide
Trapped in daily MCA debits or stacked positions? Learn how to calculate your real payoff cost and the refinance and consolidation paths that buy out an MCA.
7 min readRead →
Seasonal Business Financing: Fund Slow Months & Peak Inventory
How seasonal businesses size a credit line to the off-season, time inventory buys, and match repayment to revenue cycles. Includes a cash-flow timing worksheet.
6 min readRead →
Franchise Financing: How to Fund a Franchise (SBA, Startup & Beyond)
What opening a franchise really costs — franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital — and which funding covers each, from SBA 7(a) to startup capital.
7 min readRead →
Small Business Loans for Women & Veteran-Owned Businesses
Funding a women-owned or veteran-owned business — the myth of a separate 'women's rate,' the real SBA programs, grants vs. debt, and which products actually fit.
7 min readRead →
Startup Capital: How New Businesses Get Funded (Even Pre-Revenue)
How new and pre-revenue businesses get funded — debt vs. equity, what underwriters look at before you have revenue, and realistic products and amounts by stage.
7 min readRead →
Credit & Strategy
The 5 Cs of Credit: How Business Lenders Underwrite You
Capacity, capital, collateral, conditions, and character — how business lenders actually weigh each C, with DSCR math and a self-audit checklist.
7 min readRead →
How Big Should Your Business Line of Credit Be?
A practical framework for sizing a business line of credit: cash conversion cycle math, worst-90-days gap analysis, and how lenders set limits.
8 min readRead →
Collateral for Business Loans: What Counts & How It's Valued
Learn which assets qualify as collateral, how lenders discount their value, what UCC and blanket liens mean, and options if you have nothing to pledge.
6 min readRead →
Personal Guarantees on Business Loans: What You Sign
A plain-English guide to personal guarantees on business loans: limited vs. unlimited vs. joint-and-several, when lenders require them, and how to negotiate.
6 min readRead →
What Credit Score Do You Need for a Business Loan?
Minimum FICO and business credit score ranges by loan type—SBA, bank, online term loans, lines of credit, equipment, and factoring—plus how lenders weigh score vs. revenue.
6 min readRead →
Personal vs. Business Credit: What Lenders Actually Check
When lenders pull your personal FICO vs. business credit (Paydex, Intelliscore), why personal guarantees still apply, and how to build both for cheaper financing.
6 min readRead →
How to Build Business Credit: A Step-by-Step Playbook
A practical playbook for building business credit from scratch — separating it from personal credit, the setup steps, the bureaus that matter, and why it pays off.
7 min readRead →
Guides
Small Business Loans in Canada: A Complete Guide
How small business financing works in Canada — CSBFP vs. SBA, Canadian credit bureaus, typical lender rates and terms, and cross-border gotchas.
8 min readRead →
CalculatorsAll calculators →
Business loan calculator
Estimate what your business could qualify for across term loans, lines of credit, SBA, and revenue-based financing — then compare firm offers from 50 lenders in one application.
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SBA loan payment calculator
Estimate your SBA 7(a) or 504 monthly payment, including the one-time guaranty fee, then compare firm offers from approved SBA lenders in one application.
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Business term loan calculator
Estimate your monthly payment and total interest on a business term loan, then compare fixed-rate offers from 50 lenders in one application.
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Business line of credit calculator
Estimate the cost to draw on a business line of credit — you only pay interest on what you use — then compare offers from 50 lenders.
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Factor rate to APR calculator
Convert a factor rate into the true effective APR and total payback on revenue-based financing or an MCA — then compare firm offers from 50 lenders.
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Invoice factoring calculator
Estimate your cash advance and the factoring fee on your outstanding invoices, then compare offers from 50 lenders.
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Startup funding calculator
Estimate the startup capital you could qualify for on founder credit and projections — without giving up equity — then compare offers from 50 lenders.
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Commercial real estate financing calculator
Estimate your maximum financing by loan-to-value on a commercial property, then compare CRE, SBA 504, and bridge offers from 50 lenders.
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ComparisonsAll comparisons →
Term loan vs. line of credit
Both fund a business — but one is a lump sum with fixed payments, the other is revolving capital you draw as needed. Here is how to choose.
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Invoice factoring vs. revenue-based financing
Both turn future money into cash today, but they underwrite completely differently. One advances your unpaid invoices; the other advances against your sales.
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SBA loan vs. conventional term loan
SBA loans offer the lowest rates and longest terms in commercial lending — but they take longer to fund. A conventional term loan trades a higher rate for speed.
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Line of credit vs. revenue-based financing
Both flex with your business, but a line of credit is reusable revolving capital, while revenue-based financing is a lump sum repaid as a share of sales.
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Equipment financing vs. equipment leasing
Both put equipment in your hands without paying cash upfront — but one builds ownership while the other keeps payments low and flexible.
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SBA 7(a) vs. SBA 504
Both are government-backed and low-rate, but 7(a) is the flexible all-purpose loan while 504 is built specifically for major fixed assets.
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Financing marketplace vs. going to a bank
Applying to one bank means one set of criteria and one answer. A marketplace puts your application in front of 50 lenders that compete for it.
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Financing marketplace vs. a loan broker
A broker shops your deal manually, often to a handful of relationships. A marketplace routes it to 50 lenders instantly and shows you every offer.
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By Industry
Equipment financing for Trucking & Freight
How trucking companies compare equipment financing from 50 lenders in one application.
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Equipment financing for Construction & Contracting
How construction companies compare equipment financing from 50 lenders in one application.
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Equipment financing for Medical & Dental Practices
How medical and dental practices compare equipment financing from 50 lenders in one application.
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Invoice factoring for Staffing & Recruiting
How staffing agencies compare invoice factoring from 50 lenders in one application.
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Invoice factoring for Trucking & Freight
How trucking companies compare invoice factoring from 50 lenders in one application.
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SBA loans for Franchises
How franchisees compare an SBA loan from 50 lenders in one application.
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SBA loans for Restaurants & Food Service
How restaurants compare an SBA loan from 50 lenders in one application.
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Business term loans for Construction & Contracting
How construction companies compare a business term loan from 50 lenders in one application.
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Reference
Business Financing Glossary
130+ loan and lending terms explained in plain English — searchable, with each term linked to the right product, calculator, or guide.
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NAICS Code Lookup
Find your NAICS code by industry or number — the code lenders and the SBA ask for when you apply. Searchable, with official Census links.
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