What is an SBA microloan?
An SBA microloan is a small business loan of up to $50,000 issued through nonprofit intermediary lenders, with the SBA providing the funds those nonprofits lend out. Average loan sizes run much smaller than the $50K cap, and the program is aimed at startups, underserved entrepreneurs, and businesses that need modest amounts of capital. If you only need $5K-$50K, picking the wrong vehicle, or waiting months on a slow process, can stall a real opportunity. It's worth knowing how microloans compare to the faster small-dollar products Quordx Capital can match you with.
Last updated · Reviewed by Cody Dreis
50+ Lenders|Funding in as little as 24 hours
How SBA microloans work
Unlike 7(a) loans, you don't get a microloan from a bank. The SBA funds nonprofit community lenders, and those intermediaries underwrite and service the loans, often pairing them with required training or technical assistance. Maximum loan size is $50,000; typical loans are considerably smaller. Microloans generally can't be used to buy real estate or refinance existing debt. Because the lenders are mission-driven nonprofits, they're often more flexible on credit and time in business than banks, but the process can be slower and more paperwork-heavy than online alternatives, and you'll need to find an intermediary serving your area.
Other ways to get $5K-$50K
Quordx Capital doesn't broker microloans (those flow through nonprofit intermediaries), but its 50+ lender network covers several small-dollar products that fund much faster:
Working capital loans: $5K-$500K, short-term, built for operational expenses. Best for covering a gap or grabbing an opportunity quickly.
Business lines of credit: Starting at $10K, revolving, with interest only on what you draw. Best for recurring or unpredictable small expenses.
Equipment financing: From $5K, with the equipment serving as collateral. Best when the money is going toward a specific machine, vehicle, or tool.
How Quordx Capital Works
One 5-minute application covers the whole network. Quordx Capital's matching process reviews your revenue, credit profile, and time in business, then surfaces 3-7 lenders ranked by how likely each is to approve you. Most decisions land within 24-48 hours; funding typically follows in 3-7 business days, with some products as fast as 1-3.
What to Expect
If a nonprofit microloan is genuinely your best path, say, you're very early-stage with thin credit, Quordx Capital will say so rather than push a costlier product. If you qualify for conventional small-dollar financing, you'll see real options side by side with every fee and term disclosed. There's no cost to you at any point; lenders pay Quordx Capital only when a deal funds.
Apply for Funding
No obligation · Initial inquiry doesn't impact credit · Takes about 10 minutes
Written by
Cody Dreis
Founder, Quordx Capital
Read full bio
Related articles
More on this topic from the Quordx Capital library.
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.
By submitting an application or contact information, you consent to be contacted by Quordx and its lending partners via phone, text, and email, including by automated means, regarding your funding inquiry. Consent is not a condition of receiving funding. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.