Long-term business loans*

Long-term small business loans are available through a number of financial institutions. Traditional banks, credit unions and online alternative lenders are among the most popular options.

While your local bank or credit union likely offers business loans, bank loans are notorious for having very high qualifying standards and taking a long time to actually provide funding.

Applying for a long-term small business loan online offers both time and eligibility advantages, providing loans to business owners who want to move quickly on an opportunity or don’t meet bank eligibility standards.

Many financial institutions refer to long-term and short-term loans as simply “term loans.” Long-term loans are any term loan that has a relatively long repayment term, usually three or more years.

Many long-term business loans are flexible, which means that you can use them to fund your most valuable business opportunities (and you make that determination as the business owner).

However, you may find that your business loan comes with strings attached in some situations. For example, some long-term loans like commercial mortgages or truck financing must be used to fund a specific purpose, such as real estate.

Be sure that you understand any loan terms before signing the loan agreement.

Whether a long-term loan or short-term loan is right for your business depends more on your specific business need than on your business industry or size.

Short-term business loans typically have lower qualifying standards and shorter repayment periods, so they are great for short-term needs like seasonal fluctuation in revenue or a sudden need for an infusion of capital. Shorter-term loans may have higher interest rates, but less time for interest to accrue.

Long-term business loans have stricter borrowing requirements, lower interest rates and longer term lengths, so they are great for long-lasting initiatives and growth plans. While long-term loans usually have comparatively low rates, lenders may have fees that guarantee you pay enough interest.

Both types of loans have unique advantages, so it is important to find the right-sized funding for your business. Talk to a Credibly business consultant today to find the best funding option for your business needs.

When you apply for a long-term business loan, a lender will look at a variety of factors to determine your “creditworthiness,” which is basically a measure of how likely it is that you will pay back the loan.

During the application process for a small business loan, business lenders will ask for your credit history, such as your personal credit score, and your business financial documents, such as your tax returns, to establish whether you will be able to add a loan payment without breaking the bank.

If you meet certain requirements for qualified borrowers, such as the minimum credit score and adequate cash flow, a lender will typically make you a loan offer. Depending on how qualified you are, your interest rate may vary.

Be sure to read the full loan offer before accepting to ensure you are happy with the terms and can repay the loan.

Business expansion helps expose your products or services to a broader audience in new markets, which increases your customer base, revenue, and profits.

Ultimately, if you want your business to grow, you will need to expand to find or accommodate new customers who want your product or service.

Let’s say you have one auto repair shop. You may be knocking it out of the park every month and have service appointments booked weeks in advance, but the amount of revenue you can draw from that single location has a ceiling.

To keep growing, you will physically need more space, more staff and more resources. But to get a bigger space, more staff and more equipment, you need cash upfront to get started. A long-term loan is ideal to help you make this leap.

Because business expansion is a large-scale project that requires significant investment, long-term financing and equity financing are typically the best financing options.

SBA loan programs, crowdfunding, and angel investors can be an alternative to expansion loans, depending on your unique needs.

There are other business funding options that you could use to expand your business, such as applying for a business line of credit or putting a bunch of expenses on your business credit card. However, these options are likely to cost you big time in accrued interest in the long run.

If you want to expand responsibly and sustainably, finding a long-term loan is preferable.