U.S. Small Business Administration, through intermediary lenders
LOANA LOAN of up to $50,000, though the average is about $13,000, made by SBA-designated intermediary lenders — usually community non-profits. Interest generally runs 8% to 13%, with up to seven years to repay. It is genuinely easier to get than a bank loan and the intermediaries often provide business training alongside it. Two limits to know before you plan around it: microloan money cannot be used to pay existing debts and cannot buy real estate. So it will not refinance the credit card you used to keep the business alive, which is the most common reason people come looking.
The intermediary lender makes all credit decisions and sets the terms, so eligibility varies by lender and by region — a refusal from one intermediary is not a refusal from the programme. Expect collateral and a personal guarantee even at small amounts. Many intermediaries require you to complete their business training as a condition, which is free and worth doing.
Apply at the official source →← more like this · all programmes
Not financial or legal advice. Program terms change — verify eligibility, amounts, and deadlines with the administering agency before acting.