Robert Gloer — April 6, 2017 If you’ve ever had a bad experience applying for a bank loan, you understand how demeaning it can feel to be turned down. Regulation and low-interest rates have made it tougher for banks to lend to small business. The tight-fistedness of the banks after the 2008 mortgage debacle created a vacuum which was filled by online business lending companies of varying quality. The best are a pleasure to work with, the worst are disappointing. Here are nine things to look for to distinguish the good from the bad:
Direct lender:
A direct online lender is a company that actually supplies the money it lends to borrowers. Many business-lending websites are mere matching services that send out your application to a network of lenders. That might sound good, but it’s not, because you end up paying much more for you capital. You see, the matching broker collects a fee from network lenders, who pass that fee onto you in the form of higher loan cost.
Ease of application:
Some lenders want extensive paperwork and documentation. A few operate over the phone, which is tedious. Look for a lender with a streamlined, paperless online application process that can be completed in minutes. And, perhaps it should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: Never pay an upfront fee to apply or qualify for a small business loan!
Quick approval:
There are two aspects to this. The first is that you’d like to be approved, so you will want to borrow from a direct lender with a high rate of loan approvals, say 85 percent. Secondly, you want the decision, and the money, quickly. A good lender looks beyond your credit score, makes a decision in minutes and gets you your money the next business day. A good lender will not do a hard pull on your credit. A bad lender may require extensive underwriting, which can waste days and still end up in a denial.
Sufficient amounts:
A business lender with a maximum loan limit of $ 25K or $ 50K won’t satisfy many small business borrowers who need more. Look for a direct lender who is willing to lend up to $ 150K.
Affordable rates:
A lean, efficient online business lender isn’t saddled with large overhead expenses that can drive up the cost of loans. Look for an interest rate well below the cost of a merchant cash advance. Merchant cash advance are not loans and can be very expensive.
Convenient repayment terms:
Hate that big monthly repayment that always seems to leave a gaping hole in your working capital? The best lenders take fixed daily loan payments directly from your bank account. It’s amazing how much more comfortable it is to spread the repayment over 20 daily installments rather than to pay it once a month. Only use lenders who offer fixed pay-back loans, so that you aren’t surprised by suddenly higher repayments.
Renewals:
Cash management is dynamic, and sometimes you need to renew a loan before the old one is paid off. Bad lenders won’t do this, but good ones will approve renewals after a certain portion, say 40 percent, of the original loan is repaid. This gives you the flexibility to take advantage of opportunities as they occur.
No prepayment fees:
Avoid a lender who soaks you with a prepayment fee or who charges you compound interest on your loan. Compound interest means you pay interest on your interest. Ouch! Go with a direct online lender who charges simple interest on your unpaid principal balance, and who never penalizes you for paying off your loan early.
Ratings:
Check a potential lender’s score from the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot. If the score isn’t great, keep looking.
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