Written by Janet Gershen-Siegel

We’ve Got Your Business Line of Credit Decoded

A business line of credit decoded – we take the mystery out of LOCs and show you how this particular kind of funding works, and how you can make it work for you.

What is a Line of Credit?

A credit line, or line of credit (LOC), is an agreement between a borrower and a bank or private investor that establishes a maximum loan balance that a borrower can access.

A borrower can get access to funds from their line of credit anytime, as long as they don’t exceed the maximum set in the arrangement, and so long as they meet all other conditions of the financial institution or investor including making on time payments.

What are their Benefits?

Credit lines deliver many one of a kind benefits to borrowers including flexibility. Borrowers can apply their line of credit and only pay interest on what they use, compared to loans where they pay interest on the full amount 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 contrast various other forms of funding including installment loans. Often, lines of credit are unsecured, much the same as credit cards are. There are some credit lines that are secured, and for this reason easier to be granted

How Popular Are They?

Credit lines are the most typically sought after loan type in the business world despite the fact that they are very popular, legitimate credit lines are uncommon, and tricky to find. Many are also very tough to qualify for calling for good credit, good time in business, and good financials.

But there are various other credit cards and lines which few know about that are attainable for startups, bad credit, and even if you have absolutely no financials. This is what a business line of credit, decoded, is all about.

The SBA

Most credit line varieties that most business owners imagine come from conventional banks and conventional banks use SBA loans as their key loan product for small business owners. This is due to the fact that SBA guarantees as much as 90% of the loan in the event of a default. These credit lines are the most difficult to qualify for because you must qualify with SBA and the bank.

CAPLines

There are two fundamental sorts of SBA loans you can commonly secure. One type is called CAPLines. There are really 5 types of CAPLines that can work for your small business.

You can also get a lesser loan amount faster using the SBA Express program. Most of these programs offer BOTH loans and revolving lines of credit. From SBA … “CAPLines is the umbrella program under which SBA helps business owners meet short-term and cyclical working capital needs”. Loan amounts are available right up to $5 million. Loan qualification requirements are the same as for other SBA programs.

Seasonal Line

This credit line advances against future inventory and accounts receivables. It was meant to help seasonal businesses. Loan or revolving are on offer.

Contract Line

This credit line finances the direct labor and material cost associated with performing assignable contracts. Loan or revolving are available.

Builders Line

This credit line is for general contractors or builders constructing or renovating business or residential buildings. They can use it to fund direct labor-and material costs, where the building project serves as the collateral. Loan or revolving are available.

Standard Asset-Based Line

For businesses unable to meet credit standards connected with long-term credit. Funding for cyclical growth, repeating and/or short-term needs.

Repayment stems from converting short-term assets into money. Businesses continually draw from the LOC, based upon extant assets, and repay as their cash cycle dictates. This line normally is for businesses that supply credit to other businesses.

Small Asset-Based Line

This is a revolving line of credit for as much as $200,000. This line works like a standard asset-based line save that some of the stricter servicing requirements are foregone, so long as the business can regularly show repayment ability from available resources for the total.

SBA Express

This program provides access to a credit line for well-qualified borrowers. You can get approval for as much as $350,000. Interest rates vary, with SBA allowing banks to charge as much as 6.5% over their base rate. Loans above $25,000 will call for collateral.

To get approval you’ll need great personal and company credit. Plus the SBA states you should not have any blemishes on your report.

An acceptable bank score demands you have at least $10,000 in your account over the very last 90 days. You’ll also need a resume showing you have business sector practical experience and a well put together business plan.

Also, you need to provide three years of company and personal tax returns. In addition, your business returns should show a profit. And, you’ll need a recent balance sheet and income statement, therefore showing you have the funds to pay back the loan.

Requirements

To get approval you’ll need account receivables, but just if you have them. When it comes to the collateral to offset the risk, ordinarily all business assets will work as collateral, and some personal assets which include your residence. It’s not unusual to need collateral equal 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 a lot easier to qualify for than conventional SBA loans. They also need much less documentation for approval. These alternative SBA credit lines typically call for good personal credit for approval.

Unlike with SBA, many of them don’t necessitate good bank or business credit approval. Many of these kinds of programs require two years’ of tax returns. Tax returns must show a profit.

Rates can vary from 7% or greater and loan amounts extend from $25,000 into the millions. Loan amounts are generally based on the revenues and/or profits shown on the tax returns. At times lenders may want other financials such as a profit and loss statement, balance sheets, and income statements.

Merchant Cash Advances

Merchant cash advances have rapidly become the most popular way to get financing, in large part due to the effortless qualification process. Businesses with $10,000 in revenue 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 need to be in business for at least one year, although three years is preferred. Lenders regularly want to see a credit score of 650 or higher for approval.

Specifics

Loan amounts are generally approximately $20,000. Lenders generally pull your business credit, so you need to have some credit already, and sometimes lenders will want to see tax returns. Rates vary based on risk for this program, and there typically aren’t a lot of funding sources who offer it.

You can get financing irrespective of personal credit if you have some type of stocks or bonds. You can also get approval if you have somebody wanting to use their stocks or bonds as collateral for 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 usually less than 2%, making this one of the lowest rate credit lines you’ll ever see. You can still earn interest as you normally do on your stocks and bonds.

Credit Cards and Lines are Very Similar

Credit cards frequently offer 0% intro rates for up to two years. So this is extremely handy for startups in particular. Credit lines allow you to take out more cash at a more affordable rate than do cards. These are the main two differences which will have an effect on 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 harder to get approval for as card approvals are ordinarily very quick, many times automated, while 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 demand a personal guarantee from you. You can get approval usually for one card at the most as they stop approving you when you have two or more inquiries on your report.

Providers

Most credit card providers feature 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

Usually, when you apply for a credit card you put an inquiry on your consumer report. When other lenders see these, they will not approve you for more credit because they do not know how much other new credit you have recently obtained. So they’ll only approve you if you have fewer than two inquiries on your report within the last six months. Any more than that will get you refused.

Unsecured Business Financing

With unsecured business financing, you partner with a lender who specializes in securing business credit cards. This is a very unusual, very few know about program that few lending sources offer.

They can generally get you three to five times the approvals that 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. Individual approvals typically range from $2,000 – 50,000.

Results

The result of their services is that you often get up to five cards with the same credit limits of your highest limit accounts now. Multiple cards generate competition, and this means you can get your limits raised generally within 6 months or fewer of your first approval. Approvals can go up to $150,000 per entity for example, a corporation.

With UBF they actually get you three to five business credit cards that report just to the business credit reporting agencies. This is significant, something the majority of lenders don’t offer or promote. Not only will you get cash, but you build your business credit as well so within three to four months, you can then use your recently established business credit to get even more money.

Rates

The lender can also get you very low introductory rates, typically 0% for 6-18 months. You’ll then pay normal rates after that, typically 5-21% APR with 20-25% APR for cash advances. And they’ll also get you the best cards for points, meaning you get the best rewards.

Like with anything, there are substantial benefits in dealing with a source who concentrates on this area. So the results will be better than if you attempt to go at it by yourself.

Qualifications

You must have excellent personal credit right now, ideally 685 or better scores, the same as with all business credit cards. You shouldn’t have any negative credit reporting to get approval, you must also have open revolving credit on your consumer reports now and you’ll have to have five inquiries or less in the most recent six months reported.

Fees

All lenders in this space charge a 9-15% success based fee and you only pay the cost off of what you secure.

Keep in mind, you get a ton of extra rewards and about three to five times more cash through this program than you would get on your own, which is why there’s a fee, the same as all other lending programs.

Guarantors

You can get approval making use of a guarantor and you can even use a number of guarantors to get even more money. There are additionally other cards you can get making use of this very same program but these cards only report to the consumer reporting agencies, not the business reporting agencies. They are consumer credit cards as opposed to business credit cards.

They supply similar benefits such as 0% intro annual percentage rates and five times the amount of approval of a single card but they are a lot easier to get approval for. You can get approval with a 650 score and seven inquiries (or fewer) in the most recent six months and you can have a bankruptcy on your credit, and other negative items. These are a lot easier to get approval for than UBF corporate credit cards.

With all preceding cards, you will need to have good consumer credit for approval but what if your personal credit isn’t really good, and you do not have a guarantor? This is when building business credit makes a lot of sense even if you have good personal credit, developing your corporate credit helps you get even more money, and in the absence of a personal guarantee.

Takeaways for Business Line of Credit Decoded

Business credit is credit in a company name, connected to the company’s EIN number, and not the owner’s Social Security Number. When carried out properly, you can get company credit with no personal credit check and no personal guarantee. So this is something all other cards brought up can’t deliver. You can get three types of business credit cards.

Vendor credit offers net 20 terms and kicks off a business credit profile. With store credit, get credit cards with high limits at most establishments. So with cash and Fleet credit, get Visa, MasterCard, American Express cards you can use anywhere. Get these with no credit check or guarantee. Limits are typically $5,000 – $10,000 to start, and can exceed $50,000. Learn more here and get started with a business line credit, decoded.