Powered by LevrHow to get a business loan
The step by step: what lenders check, how much you can borrow, and how to apply once.
Learn moreBusiness loan requirements
Time in business, revenue, credit and cash flow bars by lender type.
Learn moreBusiness loan document checklist
Every document lenders ask for, and the extras each loan type needs.
Learn moreHow long does it take to get a business loan?
Typical funding times by product, from one day to three months.
Learn moreBusiness loan rates explained
Typical rates by product, what moves them, and how to compare offers.
Learn moreAPR versus factor rate: how to compare them
The math that turns a 1.3 factor rate into an APR.
Learn moreHow to read a business loan term sheet
What each line means, and the clauses that cost you money.
Learn morePersonal guarantees on business loans
What you are agreeing to when you sign one, and how to limit it.
Learn moreDSCR explained: the cash flow test lenders use
The cash flow ratio lenders use, with a worked example.
Learn moreBusiness credit scores explained
PAYDEX, Intelliscore and FICO SBSS, and why personal credit still matters.
Learn moreWhy business loans get denied and what to fix
The real reasons lenders say no, and the fix for each.
Learn moreHow business loan brokers get paid
How broker commissions work, and how to spot junk fees.
Learn moreBusiness loans for first time borrowers
What to expect, what to avoid, and which products are friendliest.
Learn moreUsing AI to get a business loan
How Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok can prepare and submit your application.
Learn moreWhat happens after you submit a business loan application
Underwriting, stips, offers, closing and funding, in order.
Learn moreBusiness loan scams and how to avoid them
Advance fee scams, fake lenders and how to verify who you are dealing with.
Learn moreKey facts
- Who these are for
- Owners deciding what to apply for and whether they will qualify
- What they cover
- Qualifying, documents, cost, timing, denials, scams and applying with an AI assistant
- Cost to apply here
- Free for your business; lenders pay us when a loan funds
Where should you start?
Start with the guide that matches where you are. If you have never borrowed for the business, read first time borrower and then business loan requirements. If you have an offer in hand, go to how to read a term sheet and APR versus factor rate so you know what it really costs. If a bank already said no, why loans get denied explains the real reasons and what to fix.
Apply once and reach a lender in every category. Free for your business.Or ask your AI assistant to apply for you through our MCP server.
Apply nowHow are these guides written?
Each guide answers the question in the first two sentences, gives typical ranges rather than promises, and names the downside when there is one. Numbers are labeled as typical because every lender sets its own bars. Where a comparison helps, there is a table. Where a calculation helps, we show the math and link to the calculators. Nothing here is legal, tax or accounting advice; check anything that affects your taxes with your accountant.
Can your AI assistant use these guides?
Yes. Every section is written so an assistant can lift it as a correct standalone answer. If you want your assistant to do more than read, it can apply for you: connect Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Grok to our MCP server and it can collect your documents, fill the application, match lenders and submit with your approval. Using AI to get a business loan explains how it works in plain terms, and the agents hub has the setup for each assistant.