Four top lenders for business loans that don't require a credit check.

Four top lenders for business loans that don't require a credit check.
Four top lenders for business loans that don't require a credit check.

Business loan lenders often take into account both personal and business credit scores, along with other factors such as annual revenue and years in business, when evaluating eligibility. Although business credit reports are publicly available, some borrowers may choose not to have their personal credit checked during the application process due to concerns about disqualification or a temporary lower credit score resulting from a hard pull.

Four top small business loans without credit checks or low credit score requirements were identified by CNBC Select. Factors such as loan amounts, repayment periods, fees, Better Business Bureau ratings, and business application requirements were considered. While some lenders may still request credit history, it may not be used to determine eligibility. (See our methodology for more details.)

Best for microloans

Kiva offers crowdfunding loans to small business owners without a minimum credit score requirement, making it accessible to those who may not qualify for loans with higher credit score requirements. The maximum amount of funding it offers is $15,000, making it suitable for businesses with low start-up costs.

Best for low credit scores

While credibly requires a credit check for its small business loans, the minimum credit score needed is low at 500. This makes it a more accessible option for borrowers who may be concerned about getting approved through a lender with traditional credit check requirements. However, applying with a lower credit score could result in higher interest rates.

Best for PayPal Business users

PayPal provides a distinctive repayment plan for working capital loans by automatically deducting a portion of your sales from your PayPal account until the balance is fully paid off. Eligibility is determined by your business's PayPal sales history, so a credit check isn't necessary.

Best for Square users

Square loans automatically repay loan balances by deducting a small portion of daily sales made through Square accounts. To be eligible for a Square loan, borrowers must use Square to process payments and do not need to request an eligibility review. Square considers factors such as account history, processing volume, and payment frequency in determining eligibility, rather than credit scores.

More on our picks for best no credit check business loans

Kiva

Kiva is a lending platform that provides small business loans through crowdfunding. After applying, you have 15 days to invite friends and family to participate in lending money to your business. After that period, Kiva opens your campaign to its network of lenders to help you raise funds. The outcome is a microloan that entrepreneurs can use for business expenses.

Kiva's website states that lenders do not receive explicit information about your business credit report, and this information is not publicly displayed on your Kiva loan profile.

Eligible borrowers

To be eligible for the funds, you must be at least 18 years old, reside and operate a business in the U.S., and use the funds solely for business purposes. Unfortunately, residents of Nevada and North Dakota are not eligible.

Loan amounts

Up to $15,000

Loan terms

Up to 3 years

Credibly

This lender allows borrowers to apply for loans ranging from $5,000 to $400,000. While a minimum credit score of 500 is required, the lender also takes into account the overall health of the business when approving applications. To qualify, businesses must earn at least $15,000 in average monthly revenue.

Eligible borrowers

The business must be located in the U.S., have a credit score of 500+, and generate an average monthly income of $15,000 or more.

Loan amounts

$5,000 to $400,000

Loan terms

3–15 months

PayPal

PayPal Working Capital Loans require borrowers to repay at least 5% or 10% of their total loan amount plus the fixed fee every 90 days. These repayments are automatically deducted from your business's PayPal account as a portion of your sales, and you can make additional payments as needed. There are no prepayment penalties for paying off your balance early. Funds are automatically deposited into your PayPal account once your application has been approved and you agree to the lender's terms and conditions.

In order to qualify for this loan, you must maintain a PayPal Premier or Business account for at least 90 days and process a minimum of $20,000 in annual PayPal sales if you have a Premier account or $15,000 in annual PayPal sales if you have a Business PayPal account.

Eligible borrowers

Must have a PayPal business or Premier account for at least 90 days

Loan amounts

$1,000 to $150,000 (up to $250,000 for repeat borrowers)

Loan terms

Payments are made until the loan is completely paid off

Square

Small businesses that use Square for payment processing can obtain square loans ranging from $300 to $250,000. Unlike traditional loans, these loans come with a flat fee instead of ongoing interest payments. There are no late fees or any other additional fees to pay.

Eligible borrowers

Must be a Square seller

Loan amounts

$300 to $250,000

Loan terms

Full repayment is required within 18 months

Bottom line

While having a high credit score can lead to better loan rates and terms when shopping for a small business loan, there are still options available for those with low credit scores who prefer not to undergo credit checks.

Why trust CNBC Select?

Our mission at CNBC Select is to deliver top-notch service journalism and in-depth consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make well-informed decisions when it comes to their finances. Each small business loan review we publish is the result of thorough reporting by our team of expert writers and editors, who possess extensive knowledge of small business products. At CNBC Select, we take pride in our journalistic standards and ethics, and we earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links. However, our content is created independently by our team, without any input from our commercial team or external third parties. To learn more about our methodology and how we select the best no credit check business loan lenders, please refer to our website.

Our methodology

To identify the best financing terms for small businesses, CNBC Select analyzed a variety of U.S. loans offered by both online and brick-and-mortar lenders. We focused on traditional loans, including term loans, equipment loans, commercial real estate loans, microloans, and franchise loans. In this roundup, we did not evaluate business lines of credit, invoice factoring/financing, or merchant cash advances since they either have a lengthy application process (like SBA loans) or operate differently than traditional term loans, which provide a lump sum that is repaid over a fixed period.

We compared each small business loan on a range of features, including:

  • Minimum and maximum loan amounts
  • Length of term
  • Eligibility criteria
  • Application requirements
  • Streamlined application process
  • Fund disbursement
  • Customer support
  • Better Business Bureau rating
  • Customer reviews, when available

The interest rate and monthly payment for small business loans may fluctuate based on changes in the prime rate, but once you accept your loan agreement, a fixed-rate APR will ensure consistency throughout the loan term. Your APR, monthly payment, and loan amount are determined by your credit history and creditworthiness.

To secure a small business loan, lenders typically require a hard credit check, a comprehensive application, and various forms of identification, proof of income, and address verification. Additionally, you may need to provide collateral, such as business equipment, real estate, or personal assets.

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by Jasmin Suknanan

Select