rewrite this title Best Short-Term Business Loans of 2025 – NerdWallet

If you need a fast injection of capital to buy inventory or make payroll, a short-term business loan can be a good option. Unlike long-term loans, which are used for large purchases or expansion, short-term business loans allow you to address immediate expenses and repay over a brief period of time.

A short-term business loan is a small-business loan that typically has a shorter repayment period, ranging from three to 12 months — although some terms may go up to 24 months.

Short-term business loans can be useful for covering working capital needs and short-term expenses, paying for emergency expenses or taking advantage of an unexpected business opportunity.

Short-term business loans are generally structured as lump sums of capital that you pay back over a set period of time, or term. These loans are usually repaid on a daily or weekly basis, meaning you’ll make larger, more frequent payments than you would with a long-term business loan.

Short-term loans are most often issued by online lenders, which offer fast funding and streamlined applications. Compared with bank or Small Business Administration lenders, short-term lenders typically have more flexible qualification requirements and may work with startups or businesses with bad credit.

Short-term business loans generally have higher interest rates than longer-term loans or more traditional financing options. Interest rates can range anywhere from 10% to 99% APR.

And although some short-term lenders use an annual percentage rate, others might offer a simple interest rate, or even a factor rate. You should always calculate these rates (and fees) into an APR, as this makes it easier to compare products and is the best way to understand how much the loan costs.

Here are some of the most common types of short-term business loans:

A business term loan provides a one-time lump sum of cash that you repay over a set period of time, with interest, to the lender. Term loans can be used for a variety of purposes such as paying short-term expenses, investing in specific projects or making large purchases.

A business line of credit allows you to access capital as it’s needed for your business. After a lender approves you for a set limit, you have the flexibility to determine how much money to withdraw and when. You’ll make regular payments and pay interest on the funds you draw. Lines of credit can be a good option for working capital, cash flow gaps, seasonal slowdowns and emergency funding.

For business-to-business companies, invoice factoring can be an option for short-term funding. Invoice factoring involves selling unpaid invoices to a factoring company at a discount in exchange for a cash advance. The factoring company then assumes responsibility for collecting payment from your customers. It can be a good option if your business has a large amount of cash tied up in unpaid invoices.

A merchant cash advance (MCA) can be an option for a business that has substantial debit and credit card sales. MCA companies give you an upfront sum of capital that you repay using a percentage of your debit and credit card sales, plus a fee. MCAs can have extremely high APRs, however, so they should be used as a last resort option.

Here are situations when a short-term business loan may be the right fit for your needs:

Follow these steps to get a short-term business loan:

Think about how much funding you need and what you want to use it for. You’ll also want to consider what type of business loan is right for you. Since short-term business loans have more frequent payments and higher interest rates, make sure your business can afford any debt you take on.

Although short-term lenders often have flexible business loan requirements, you’ll want to know where your company stands before applying. Know your time in business and annual revenue, and check your credit score — as many lenders use these three criteria to evaluate your loan application.

Once you have an understanding of your funding needs and qualifications, you can explore lenders to find the best choice for your business. As you compare different options, consider factors such as interest rates, additional fees, repayment terms, funding speed and lender reputation.

Short-term lenders typically offer a streamlined, online application that can be completed fairly quickly with minimal documentation. Although business loan application requirements vary by lender, you may be asked to provide business and personal tax returns and bank statements as well as business financial documents, such as a profit and loss statement. Short-term lenders don’t usually require physical collateral to secure your loan, but you’ll likely have to sign a personal guarantee. Your lender may also take out a general lien on your business assets.

Before you sign a business loan agreement, you should compare all loan offers you receive to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your business. You’ll also want to thoroughly review the agreement and make sure you understand the repayment terms, interest rate and additional fees. If you have any questions, ask the lender for clarification before signing.