Small Business Startup Loans With No Money Down (2026)

Q: Can I really get a startup business loan with no money down?

Yes, but the term "no money down" usually means no down payment — not no costs. Kiva 0% microloans, SBA Microloans, and unsecured online business loans require no down payment. SBA 7(a) loans typically require 10% equity injection, but SBA Express and Microloans often waive this.

Q: How can I get a business loan with bad credit?

Options for bad credit (under 600) include: Kiva (no credit check, 0% interest, up to $15,000), revenue-based financing from lenders like Credibly and Fundbox if you have $10K+/month in revenue, merchant cash advances (high cost — last resort), CDFI loans, and microlenders that prioritize relationship lending over credit scores.

Q: Are there business loans with no credit check?

True no-credit-check business loans are rare and usually predatory. The legitimate options: Kiva (verifies identity but does not pull credit), SBA Microloans through some intermediaries that prioritize character-based lending, invoice factoring (based on customer credit, not yours), and equipment financing where the equipment itself secures the loan.

Q: What is the easiest startup loan to get?

Kiva is the easiest legitimate startup loan: 0% interest, no credit check, up to $15,000, and decisions in 30–60 days. After Kiva, the easiest options are SBA Microloans through nonprofit intermediaries, online lenders like Lendio that match you to multiple lenders at once, and 0% APR business credit cards if your personal credit is good.

Q: Should I get a loan or apply for grants first?

Apply for grants in parallel — never wait. Grants take 2–6 months and have under-10% approval rates, so they cannot be your only plan. Use loans for immediate capital and continue applying for grants as a parallel free-money strategy. See our grants vs loans guide for the full framework.

"How do I get a startup business loan with no money down?" is one of the most-searched questions among new entrepreneurs in 2026 — and for good reason. Banks want collateral, established lenders want revenue history, and most loan officers will not even take your meeting until you have been operating for two years. This guide cuts through the noise and shows you exactly which lenders fund startups with no money down, no revenue, and even bad credit — including the few legitimate no-credit-check options that exist.

What "No Money Down" Actually Means for Business Loans

"No money down" is a marketing phrase, not a loan product. In practice, it means one of two things: no down payment requirement (the most common interpretation), or no equity injection (the SBA's term for the founder's required cash contribution).

Most online business loans, lines of credit, and microloans require no down payment in the traditional sense. SBA loans typically require an equity injection of 10–15% for startups — but the SBA Microloan program and SBA Express loans often waive this for qualified borrowers, and several nonprofit lenders provide programs to help cover the equity injection itself.

The takeaway: no-money-down startup loans absolutely exist. You just need to know which lenders to approach, and what tradeoffs come with each option.

Best Startup Loans With No Money Down

Kiva U.S. — 0% Interest, Up to $15,000, No Credit Check

Kiva is the closest thing to free money in the lending world. They offer microloans up to $15,000 at 0% interest with no fees and no credit check. Repayment terms are flexible (up to 36 months), and decisions typically come in 30–60 days.

How it works: You apply through Kiva.org, get vetted by Kiva trustees, then crowdfund your loan from individual lenders on the platform. Once funded, you repay Kiva monthly with no interest.

Best for: Pre-revenue founders, founders with bad credit, founders without collateral, and anyone who needs $1,000–$15,000 in startup capital.

SBA Microloans — Up to $50,000

The SBA Microloan program provides loans up to $50,000 through nonprofit intermediary lenders, with a focus on underserved entrepreneurs (women, minorities, veterans, low-income founders). Average loan size is around $13,000.

Down payment: Typically none required, depending on intermediary.
Interest rates: 8–13% (favorable compared to most online lenders).
Credit requirements: Vary by intermediary — many prioritize character-based lending.
How to apply: Find an SBA-approved microlender in your state through sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/microloans.

Lendio — Marketplace Comparison

Lendio is not a direct lender but a marketplace connecting you with 75+ lenders through one application. Many lenders in their network offer no-down-payment startup loans, with funding in 1–14 days. Pre-qualification does not affect your credit score.

BlueVine Line of Credit — Up to $250,000

BlueVine specializes in business lines of credit with no down payment, no prepayment penalties, and same-day approval for qualified borrowers. You only pay interest on what you draw.

Requirements: 24+ months in business and $40K+ in monthly revenue typically required, so this is best for founders who have been operating informally before formalizing.

OnDeck Term Loans — Up to $250,000

OnDeck offers term loans and lines of credit with no down payment, fast funding (often next business day), and acceptance of credit scores as low as 625. Higher rates than SBA but dramatically faster.

Business Credit Cards With 0% Intro APR

Often overlooked: a 0% intro APR business credit card gives you 12–18 months of interest-free capital with no down payment. Chase Ink, Amex Blue Business Plus, and Capital One Spark all offer 0% introductory periods. Pay off the balance before the intro period ends to avoid retroactive interest.

Business Loans for Bad Credit

If your personal credit score is under 650, traditional lenders will reject you. Your options narrow but still exist:

Revenue-based financing. Lenders like Credibly, Fundbox, and Shopify Capital fund based on your monthly revenue rather than credit score. If you have $10,000+/month in revenue, you can typically qualify regardless of personal credit.

Merchant cash advances (MCAs). An advance against future credit card sales. Approval is fast and based on sales volume, not credit. The catch: effective APRs of 40–150%. Use only for short-term emergencies and pay off as quickly as possible.

Invoice factoring. If you invoice business customers, factoring companies will advance you 80–90% of unpaid invoices regardless of your credit. They evaluate your customers' credit, not yours.

CDFI loans. Community Development Financial Institutions are mission-driven lenders that serve underserved entrepreneurs. They prioritize character, business viability, and community impact over credit scores. Find a CDFI near you at the CDFI Fund website.

Personal loans for business use. If your personal credit is bad, a co-signer with good credit can dramatically expand your options. Some lenders explicitly allow personal loans to be used for business purposes.

No-Credit-Check Business Loans: What's Real and What's a Scam

Search results for "no credit check business loans" are flooded with scams. Here is the honest truth: legitimate no-credit-check business loans are extremely rare. The few real options:

Kiva U.S. — Verifies identity but does not pull credit.
Some SBA Microlenders — Several nonprofit intermediaries prioritize character-based lending.
Invoice factoring — Based on your customers' credit, not yours.
Equipment financing — The equipment itself serves as collateral; some lenders skip personal credit checks.
Some MCA providers — Approve based on sales volume only, but rates are punishing.

Red flags that indicate a scam: upfront fees, "guaranteed approval," requirements to wire money to a specific person, lenders that pressure you to sign immediately. Legitimate lenders never charge upfront fees.

EIN-Only Loans: Can You Get a Business Loan With Just an EIN?

"EIN-only loans" or "EIN business loans no SSN required" are heavily marketed but mostly mythical for new businesses. Established businesses with strong business credit profiles (Dun & Bradstreet PAYDEX scores of 80+) can qualify for credit lines based purely on business credit. New businesses cannot — your personal credit will be evaluated.

The path to true EIN-only borrowing: form your LLC, get your EIN, open a business bank account, get a DUNS number, open net-30 vendor accounts (Uline, Quill, Grainger), pay them on time for 6–12 months, then apply for business credit cards and lines of credit based on your established business credit.

Combining Loans With Free Money (Grants)

The smartest startup funding strategy is not loans or grants — it is both. Apply for grants in parallel with your loan search. Grants take 2–6 months and have under-10% approval rates, so they cannot be your only plan. But every grant dollar you win is a dollar you do not have to borrow.

Pre-revenue founders should focus on the grants in our no-revenue startup grants guide. Founders who fit specific demographics should also check our women's grants guide, minority grants guide, and veteran grants guide.

For a deeper comparison of when to use grants vs loans, see our grants vs loans framework.

How to Choose the Right Startup Loan

If you need money in 1–3 days: Online lenders (Lendio, OnDeck, Fundbox), business credit cards.

If you have bad credit: Kiva, CDFI loans, revenue-based financing, MCAs (last resort).

If you have no revenue: Kiva, SBA Microloans, business credit cards, grants in parallel.

If you need the lowest rate: SBA Microloans, then SBA 7(a) loans, then bank-issued business credit cards. Wait if you can — better rates come with better credit and revenue history.

If you need $50K+: SBA 7(a) loans (best rates, slow), Lendio marketplace (faster, mixed rates), Biz2Credit (fast, larger amounts).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really get a startup business loan with no money down?
Yes. Kiva 0% microloans, SBA Microloans, and unsecured online business loans typically require no down payment. SBA 7(a) loans usually require a 10% equity injection, but Express and Microloan programs often waive this.

How can I get a business loan with bad credit?
Use Kiva, revenue-based financing, CDFI loans, or microlenders that prioritize relationship over credit. Avoid MCAs unless you have no other option.

Are there business loans with no credit check?
True no-credit-check loans are rare. Kiva, some SBA Microlenders, invoice factoring, and equipment financing are the main legitimate options.

What is the easiest startup loan to get?
Kiva — 0% interest, no credit check, up to $15,000.

Should I get a loan or apply for grants first?
Both, in parallel. See our grants vs loans guide.

Open Grant Data may receive compensation from lenders mentioned in this article, which helps fund our free grant directory. All information is for educational purposes — verify rates and terms directly with lenders.