How to get a small business loan?
Getting a small business loan comes down to five steps: know what you qualify for, pick the right product, gather your documents, apply to lenders that actually fund businesses like yours, and compare offers before you sign. Most owners get stuck on step four: they apply to one bank, get declined, and assume the answer is no everywhere. It isn't. Different lenders want different borrowers, and applying to the wrong ones wastes weeks you could spend growing. Quordx Capital solves the matching problem: one application, and our platform identifies the lenders in our 50+ lender network most likely to approve you.
Last updated · Reviewed by Cody Dreis
50+ Lenders|Funding in as little as 24 hours
The 5 Steps to Getting a Small Business Loan
Step 1: Know your numbers.: Lenders weigh three things: time in business, monthly revenue, and credit. Banks typically want 2+ years in business and strong credit; alternative lenders fund businesses with as little as 3–6 months of history, ~$10K+ in monthly revenue, and credit scores down to the 500s.
Step 2: Pick the product.: A term loan for a one-time investment, a line of credit for flexibility, equipment financing for machinery, an SBA loan for the lowest long-term cost.
Step 3: Gather documents.: Typically 3–6 months of business bank statements, your most recent business tax return, government-issued ID, entity documents, and a voided business check.
Step 4: Apply where you'll be approved.: This is where most borrowers lose time. Lender appetite varies enormously.
Step 5: Compare offers.: Look at total cost of repayment, not just the rate.
Funding Options to Consider
Business term loans:: $10K–$500K+, typically 1–5 year terms with fixed payments. Best for a defined investment like expansion or a large purchase.
Business lines of credit:: $10K–$250K+, revolving, and you pay interest only on what you draw. Best for cash flow swings and recurring needs.
SBA loans:: up to $5M through the 7(a) program, with current variable rates roughly 10.5%–14%. Best for established businesses that can wait a few weeks for the lowest-cost capital.
Equipment financing:: $5K–$5M+, where the equipment itself is the collateral. Best when the loan's purpose is the gear.
How Quordx Capital Works
You fill out one application, it takes about 5 minutes, and upload your documents digitally. Our AI analyzes your profile and matches you to 3–7 best-fit lenders from a vetted network of 50+, ranked by approval probability. Most lender decisions come back in 24–48 hours, and funding typically lands in 3–7 business days. No cold calls, no branch visits.
What to Expect
If you have 6+ months in business and steady revenue, you'll likely see multiple options. If you're earlier-stage, we'll tell you honestly what's realistic, including "not yet" if that's the truth. Quordx Capital is always free to borrowers: no application fees, no broker fees, ever. Lenders pay us when a deal funds, so checking your options costs you nothing and obligates you to nothing.
Apply for Funding
No obligation · Takes about 10 minutes
Apply for Funding
No obligation · Initial inquiry doesn't impact credit · Takes about 10 minutes
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Important Disclosures
Quordx Capital is a business funding broker, not a lender. We facilitate introductions between U.S. small and medium-sized businesses and lenders or capital providers in our network. All credit decisions, funding amounts, rates, fees, repayment terms, and timelines are determined solely by individual lenders based on their own underwriting criteria.
Funding figures and timelines shown on this page are illustrative and represent ranges within our lender network, they are not guarantees and individual outcomes may vary based on business profile, industry, time in business, revenue, credit history, and lender availability. Not all applicants qualify for every product.
The initial inquiry does not impact your personal credit score. Some lenders may perform a hard credit pull during underwriting; Quordx only authorizes such checks with your specific consent for the lender presenting an offer. Applicants are protected under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because all or part of an applicant's income derives from any public-assistance program.
This Site is intended for commercial, business-purpose financing for U.S. businesses only. Not available for consumer loans, residential mortgages, or owner-occupied real estate. Quordx may receive compensation from lenders when applications result in funded transactions. This does not change the rate, fee, or terms offered to you. See our Advertiser Disclosure for details.
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