Seven Things to Look for in an Unsecured Business Loan

Different businesses have different attitudes towards business loans, lending, and finance. You may have already borrowed money successfully before to reach your current position, maybe you feel like the time to borrow is now. Although a loan can be a risk for your business, sometimes it’s one worth taking. Using a small business loan for the right reasons, at the right time, can help fuel some serious business growth. Common reasons for business loans include to:

• Gain more space or a second site: Your business may have outgrown your original site, shop or office. Maybe your current location works well but it’s time to expand into a second or third site, and you need extra capital to do so.
• Improve your credit record: If you borrow once, and borrow well, this can open the door for larger loans in the future. It can improve your credit rating if you’ve proven you can pay off a loan – even a small one. In a few years, you might want to borrow a lot more and it may be harder to secure funding without a good repayment record.
• Get new or specialist equipment or inventory: Nearly every business needs new equipment, stock or gear at some point. Sometimes the only way to increase productivity or profitability is with newer, more efficient technology. Whether you’re a manufacturer or a services business, the equipment you use today will almost certainly be different in a few years. This is where equipment finance comes into the picture.
• Take advantage of an opportunity: Sometimes a new opportunity comes along that surprises you. A new market opens up, a new business relationship forms or a new discovery means you have to move fast. When opportunity knocks a loan can help you make the most of it.
• Hire new or better staff: Most business owners agree that their people are their greatest asset. And it’s hard to find and retain good employees. Don’t lose your best people because you can’t afford to keep them. That could be a very big investment walking out the door!
• Cashflow: Sometimes it’s not a lack of profit, but cashflow that tips small businesses over. Your debtor repayment periods may not line up – so you have money coming in, just not soon enough. You can take a loan to cover overheads in the interim and pay off your loan comfortably when the payments come through.

Until recently, the traditional sources for business loans were the high street banks. But banks are often slow, bureaucratic and difficult to deal with – especially for small businesses. Based on a recent survey, it can take up to 20 days for a bank to approve a small business loan and 80 percent of applications are rejected.

Because it’s difficult for small businesses to access working capital, several alternative lending solutions have emerged in the market. They offer you a smarter online application processes, quickly analyse your business data, and can approve your loan within 24 hours. This gives you immediate access to the capital you need.

There are many online lending options to consider but you need to proceed with caution – the wrong loan might be too costly. If the loan amount is too much, or the repayments are structured the wrong way, it could be fatal for your business.

One of the modern lending options to consider is an unsecured business loan.

Unsecured business loans don’t require any collateral as security from you or your business. Getting this type of financing, and how much, depends on your business’s revenue or creditworthiness.

If you were taking out a normal bank loan, you’d need collateral – a business asset you could ‘borrow against’. This means if you couldn’t pay the loan back, the bank could take your asset(s) instead of payment.

Unsecured business loans aren’t guaranteed by any type of property, so they’re a bigger risk for lenders. They normally have slightly higher interest rates than secured loans. But they can also provide bigger loan amounts and much more flexibility.

Unsecured business loans can range from $5,000 to more than $250,000 depending on the size of your business and your credit rating. Here are the important things to look out for:

Pricing is one of the most crucial factors to consider as many lenders charge more than most businesses can afford to pay. Beware of lenders who don’t disclose their rates or give you pricing you can’t understand. Look for a simple, transparent agreement which clearly shows the interest rate that applies to your loan balance. Also, check out our business loan calculator for an estimate of loan repayments.

Look for a platform which can automatically review your business data and give you a decision in real-time. Traditional business lenders might use online forms to capture your details but this information is still processed manually. You could be waiting weeks for an answer. Find yourself an online business loan provider who uses smart technology to make decisions. You won’t waste time waiting for approval.

Small business loans can be tricky to apply for and you don’t want to waste your valuable time. Look for a loan provider who is informed and always available to answer your questions. You should be able to pick up the phone and have someone guide you through the process.

You might need an injection of capital to buy inventory before a busy season. Or you might just need a loan for a couple of months and be ready to pay it back straight afterwards. But many loan providers will charge you a penalty for early repayment. Look for companies who don’t penalise you for being responsible and aren’t out to punish you with sneaky fine print.

When comparing loans, interest rates are important, but they’re not the only factor. Beware of hidden fees such as establishment fees and direct debit fees. These are just extra costs. Choose loan providers who charge for what you owe plus the interest, and nothing else. And look for loan comparison calculators to help you see which lenders come out cheapest.

Make sure that your loan provider will get in touch with you before running a credit check. You must give your consent. And make sure they only run a credit check when you’re ready to borrow.

Don’t become stuck in a process which lasts weeks, only to end up being denied funding. Here’s what you need to find out about the application process:

• How long will it take?
• What you’re going to need?
• Who to talk to? (get a regular contact – not a new person each time)
• How long will it take for the money to come in?

In the past, it was hard for a business to borrow money. Banks called all the shots. You had to complete lots of documents to prove your worthiness. And even then there were no guarantees. Other lenders emerged on the market, but they often hid behind unreasonable terms and conditions. And they hid the real cost of borrowing behind extra fees.

But things have changed. Unsecured business loans from lending specialists like Moula mean you can get quick, easy access to capital to help you grow. So you can focus on what you do best – running your business.

Learn more about unsecured business loans from Moula.