Short-Term Business Loans

If you’re dealing with a sudden cash-flow gap, you may want to address the issue with short-term business funding.

When you're making a long-term investment, you use traditional-term business funding. However, for unexpected, short-term expenses, short-term funding can be an option. Short-term business financing, or short-term business loans, may be an option for established businesses who need to address a sudden cash-flow shortage.

Defining Short-Term Business Loans

Short-term business loans may be an excellent option to consider during sudden cash flow shortages, such as seasonal slowdowns. These loans can offer growth opportunities or extra investment funding.

A short-term business loan can even be used to create and improve a business's credit profile. This proves to be a valuable asset if a business owner chooses to pursue additional loans in the future.

Keep in mind, borrowing cash may not solve every problem that could come your way. Overall, it would be wise to review the ways your business is currently handling financial management and see if it is necessary to make any changes right now to prevent a problem in the future.

Remember that short-term business financing is meant as temporary support for financial needs. A short-term business loan is expected to be paid back within just a couple of years.

How to Apply For a Short-Term Business Loan

If you receive funding, it might be transferred through a single lump-sum payment. This payment, including any interest acquired, might be expected to be paid back within two years. Traditional lenders will sometimes give the option to receive a line of credit, a predetermined amount of cash provided by a bank loan or credit union. Traditional lenders allow the possibility of only having to make a payment of interest with a principal payment.

Alternatively, suppose you're looking for a different option than traditional lenders. In that case, some companies specialize in a business's specific industry and offer specific and customized funding to a business's needs.

While searching for short-term business loan, consider the current market cost, interest rates, terms, requirements, and waiting period. You may also be asked to provide collateral with a loan application. Collateral can apply to assets such as property, equipment, or even real estate.

An application can be filled out online or in person. The cost of the funding will ultimately depend on the business prospect, the business's credit score, and your credit score.

Short-Term Funding at a Glance

Your lender will set the repayment terms and principal value of your funding for your short-term business loan. This will be based partially on your request, as well as other variables. Here are the main points:

• Your funding amount can vary. Short-term business loans may offer lower amounts, making them a solid option for companies that need small-dollar loans.
• The term will vary by lender and situation. The term loan can be as short as three months or even as long as five years, although short-term funding options usually tend to be on the shorter side.
• The fees for short-term business loans can fluctuate a lot based on the lender and your particular financial situation. We've seen low fees, but they can be high depending on your risk factor.

Short-term business funding is primarily for businesses with at least a two-year financial history. Note that short-term business funding is not the same as startup funding. If you need working capital for your new business, you should apply for startup funding instead, which does not require a long financial history.

The Purpose of a Short-Term Business Loan

Before moving forward on applying for a short-term business loan, it's best to reflect on the purpose of your loan. In other words, why do you feel your business needs a short-term business loan? By reviewing your purpose, not only will you find yourself better prepared for composing a business plan and meeting with lenders, but you will also be able to feel even more confident with growing your business and following a journey towards brand new business opportunities and cash flow.

Reflecting upon your reasons to pursue a short-term loan will allow you to choose the terms that will be the best fit for your loan, estimate the amount of working capital that you will need, and decide on a lender.

Do all the research that you can, look at your options, make observations, outline the significant factors that should absolutely be included in your business plan, and don't be afraid to ask questions at any given point in time.

The Advantages of Short-Term Business Loans

• If you are approved for short-term funding, you may receive the funds between in as little as one week. This type of business financing is funded faster than other business cash advances because acquiring a short-term loan is usually more urgent.
• Traditional-term loan funding requires a lot of paperwork. That's not usually the case with short-term business funding.
• Short-term business funding may help sustain cash flow shortages. Perhaps you've struggled with your business during a slow time of the year, or you're working to meet sudden demands that have popped up in your market.
• Holiday seasons bring a great need for hiring extra help. Occasionally they can even bring a lull in cash flow.
• Your business may require a piece of equipment that is currently heavy on your budget. There could also be a situation where an essential piece of equipment requires emergency repair, and you don't quite have the funds for it.

The Disadvantages of Short-Term Business Loans

• Depending on your credit score and your company's financial history, you might end up with high fees when you apply for short-term business funding. A good way to estimate how high your interest rate will be is to add up the number of alternative options. If that number is low, you will likely be paying higher fees.
• A lender might also ask for collateral to secure the loan. In some cases, the collateral would be your property. However, if the funding amount is worth more than your property, the collateral will probably need to be something else.
• Shorter repayment periods may be difficult to keep up with. The late fees associated with missed payments can drive borrowers into further debt.
• Short-term business loans can be expensive to repay due to the high-interest rates. Therefore, business owners should be careful in approaching loans with high interest rates. If they aren't repaid on time, then they can bring great harm to a new business.

Alternatives to Short-Term Loans for Businesses

We've discussed your basic short-term business loan, but let's touch on other forms of credit that you may find yourself considering.

• Business Line of Credit - With this type of short-term business loan, business owners can retrieve funds at any time (as it is an open line of credit), but there's also the option of setting a limit if the business owner or lender chooses to do so. With a business line of credit, a business owner is charged with a principal interest rate and can choose from a semi-annual or annual renewal.
• Accounts Receivable Financing - Accounts receivable financing, or invoice financing, identifies exclusively as a cash flow loan. Accounts receivable financing allows the company to access the outstanding capital that is tied up in unpaid invoices. The lender will advance the company with the outstanding capital and charge a monthly fee.
• Merchant Cash Advance - With an MCA, you get your money relatively quickly, and then you pay it back over the next several months through a portion of your credit card sales. However, MCAs can be relatively expensive compared to other options.
• Business Credit Cards - Business credit cards can be a good option for expenses that do not exceed $10,000, especially when you can pay back the invoice each month before interest starts accruing. An added benefit of using this type of financing is that it comes with rewards, like miles or cashback, depending on the card. Keep in mind, though, that a credit card can have higher interest rates than a line of credit. That said, the credit card will be much cheaper if you regularly pay off the card in full each month.
• Equipment Financing - Equipment financing is designed for business owners that continuously find themselves needing to buy or lease new and used machinery or equipment. Only the bare minimum of paperwork needs to be done to apply for this loan.
• Shorter Duration Funding - if you need money fast, then you may want to consider something that's not technically a small business loan. You can request up to a $5,000 personal loan through a service like Pheabs.com. Going this route could get you funds in as little as one business day.

Short-Term Business Funding Wrap-Up

Short-term business funding is not just for financial emergencies. A short-term funding option can be a viable solution if you don't want to pass on a great business deal but lack the cash to make it happen. Short-term business funding can work for any company that’s willing to pay higher fees to get relatively fast access to working capital.

Frequently Asked Questions