Business loans can be a valuable source of working capital or a tool to help grow your business. In general, the best business loans of 2024 — including business instalment loans and lines of credit — offer competitive interest rates, a wide range of loan amounts, reasonably long repayment terms, lenient credit score requirements and fast funding. They also have shorter minimum requirements for how long your business has operated.
What is a business loan?
A business loan is a type of financing that’s reserved for qualified businesses seeking to improve upon their operations or grow their companies. These loans are offered by a variety of lenders, including online lenders as well as traditional banks and credit unions.
There are several types of business loans available, such as standard term loans (short and long term) and lines of credit as well as loans backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Certain kinds of business financing are also designated for specific purposes, like paying for new equipment or funding working capital.
Favorable business loans in UAE
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB)
ADCB offers one of the best business loans in UAE to cater to various needs of the clients, such as; Business insta-loan, commercial assets, and equipment finance, working capital and commercial real estate.
Features/benefits of ADCB business loan are:
- Approval time 7 days
- Processing fee 2%
- Interest rate 17%
- High finance up to 3.5 Million AED
- Flexible repayment option i.e. up to 48 months
RAK Bank
RAKBANK offers business loans to small and medium-sized companies to meet their short to medium-term business requirements with flexible repayment options, and minimal and hassle-free documentation. They also provide Asset-based finance and business accounts.
Features/benefits of RAKBANK business loan are:
- Collateral free.
- High loan amounts of up to AED 3 million.
- Flexible repayment periods of up to 60 months.
- Less documentation
Emirates NBD
It offers various business financing products to cater to every specific requirement. Emirates NBD issues up to AED 1.5 Million with competitive interest rates and flexible repayment options.
Features/benefits of Emirates NBD business loan are:
- Flexible repayment terms of up to 48 months
- Low premiums on Credit and Term Insurance
- No collateral required
- Top-up facility within 6 months
- Interest rate 15-20%
United Arab Bank (UAB)
UAB offers corporate finance that is tailor-made. They assign an exclusive relationship manager to understand the business customer’s needs and provide the right solutions from the available options from UAB business loans.
Features/benefits of UAB business loan are:
- Interest rate 16%
- High finance amount
- Processing fee 2%
- The maximum repayment period is 36 months
- Hassle-free documentation
Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD)
CBD aims to offer a comprehensive range of cost-effective and flexible financing facilities. No collateral up to AED 2 million high. Also, provides a business credit card with high credits for easy access to money.
Features/benefits of CBD business loan are:
- Interest rate 11-13%
- Processing fee 1-3%
- Early settlement fee of 1.5%
- Quick decision within 2 days
How small business loans work
Like other types of loans, small business loans allow you to access the funds you need, which you’ll pay back to the lender along with interest and fees (if applicable). These loans can be term loans that are paid out as a lump sum and repaid in instalments over time, or they can be revolving credit lines that you can repeatedly draw on and pay off.
In many cases, business loans come with shorter repayment terms compared to what you could get on a personal loan. While personal loan terms can range from one to 12 years (depending on the lender), terms on business loans are often limited to a maximum of a few years. One exception is SBA loans, which can sometimes come with terms as long as 25 years.
As with other loans, borrowers receive a lump-sum amount with business loans, and these loans typically have a fixed rate and a set repayment term. Repayment terms on business loans are often shorter than repayment terms on loans you’d get for personal purposes. It’s common to see business loans with 24- or 36-month terms, though the SBA does offer some loans with terms of up to 25 years.
Business Loan Rates Forecast for 2024
Business loan interest rates have steadily increased since early 2022. The prime rate — which many business lenders use as a benchmark to determine loan rates — has more than doubled from 3.5% in March 2022 to 8.5% in July 2023. It has remained there as of December 2023. This rate is directly influenced by the federal funds rate, which the Federal Reserve manipulates to manage inflation. Since March 2022, the Fed has hiked this rate 11 times.
Rates on business loans are anticipated to remain high through 2024. However, economists generally expect interest rates to start to decline toward the latter half of the year, albeit slowly.
Small business loan requirements
Eligibility criteria for small business loans can vary based on the type of loan as well as the individual lender. Some common elements of a successful application include:
Personal and business credit history
Lenders might look at both your credit score as well as your business’s credit score to determine your creditworthiness. You’ll typically need a good personal credit score (usually considered to be 670 or higher) or excellent business credit to qualify. Some lenders accept lower credit scores — for example, Fora Financial accepts scores as low as 500. However, bad credit business loans will likely also come with higher interest rates and fees.
Minimum time in business
How much time your business must have been in operation will vary by lender. Some lenders accept a minimum of six months while others require at least two years or more.
Collateral
While some business loans are unsecured, others could require collateral to secure the loan. In general, securing a loan with collateral lowers the risk for the lender and can result in better terms, but it also means you could lose your property if you fail to make your payments.
In many cases, collateral will be your business assets, such as inventory or equipment. A personal guarantee is also often required — this is your promise as a borrower that if your business defaults, you’ll repay the loan from your assets.
Also Read: How to Start a Business from Scratch
How to apply for a small business loan
If you’re ready to apply for a small business loan, follow these steps:
1. Check your credit
When you apply for a loan, the lender will review your credit — including your personal credit history and possibly your business’s credit history — to determine your creditworthiness. So it’s a good idea to review your credit beforehand to see where you stand.
You can visit a site like AnnualCreditReport.com to review your credit reports for free. Additionally, you can check your FICO credit score for free through Experian, a credit-monitoring service or possibly through your bank or credit card issuer.
Several third-party companies allow you to review your business credit report, such as Dun & Bradstreet as well as the credit bureaus Experian and Equifax. Be sure to report any errors to the appropriate credit bureaus to potentially boost your scores.
2. Determine how you’ll use the funds
Business loans are available for a variety of purposes, including working capital and equipment purchases. Determine how you plan to use the funds so you can apply for the right type of loan for your needs.
3. Compare lenders and pick your loan option
Be sure to compare your options with as many lenders as possible to find the best business loan for your needs. Consider rates as well as loan amounts, terms, fees and eligibility requirements as you shop around. Several lenders allow you to prequalify with only a soft credit check that won’t hurt your credit, which can help you narrow your choices down.
After you’ve compared lenders, choose the option that works best for you.
4. Gather documentation and apply
You’ll need to provide both personal and business documentation when you apply for a business loan, including business licenses, financial statements, tax returns, debt schedules (if any) and information regarding any collateral you’re using to secure the loan. Some lenders might also ask for a business plan or proposal to see how you plan to use the loan and verify your ability to repay it.
Once you have your documentation ready, you’ll need to complete a full loan application. Many lenders offer an online application process, though you might still need to discuss your options with one of the company’s loan specialists to proceed.
5. Get your funds
If you’re approved, the lender will have you sign for the loan so the funds can be disbursed. While some traditional banks and credit unions can take weeks or even months to process and fund loans, online lenders can be a faster option — several offer funding as soon as the same or the next business day after approval.
Also Read: Business Insurance – Types, Benefits, And Coverage
Alternatives to private business loans
If a private business term loan or line of credit doesn’t seem like the right solution for your needs, you could also explore other financing options. Here are some alternatives to consider:
Business credit cards
Like a business line of credit, a credit card gives you access to a revolving credit line that you can repeatedly draw on and pay off. You’ll also only pay interest on what you borrow.
Business credit cards generally can’t be used for some business expenses, such as payroll, leases, inventory or vendors’ bills. But a credit card could come in handy for covering smaller, routine expenses, such as purchasing supplies, paying for travel or buying a small piece of equipment.
SBA loans
SBA loans are less risky for lenders as the Small Business Administration will reimburse them for a percentage of the debt if a borrower defaults. This means you could have an easier time getting approved for this type of loan compared to a private business loan, and you might also get a better interest rate.
There are several kinds of SBA loans available depending on your needs and business profile, and they often provide a variety of loan amounts, lengthy repayment terms and capped interest rates.
Note that you’ll typically need to provide collateral as well as a down payment. The approval process for an SBA loan also tends to be slower compared to getting a private loan.
Invoice factoring
If your business is paid by invoices, another alternative to a traditional business loan could be invoice factoring. This type of short-term funding lets you give the responsibility for collecting payments over to an invoice-factoring company in return for a fee. You’ll then get 70% to 90% of the invoice amount from that company within just a few days, which you can use however you wish and can help improve your cash flow.
This can get you access to the funds from your invoices faster than waiting the typical 30 to 90 days to get paid. However, you’ll also lose some of the money to interest and fees, which can vary depending on the invoice-factoring company you work with. This can make invoice factoring a more costly option compared to other types of business financing.