Average Small Business Loan Interest Rates in 2018
The average interest rate for a small business loan varies depending on your qualification as a borrower, the type of loan you’re applying for, and which lender you select. Loans from traditional lenders, such as banks or credit unions, can have annual percentage rates (APRs) ranging from 4% to 13%, while alternative or online loans can have APRs ranging from 7% to over 100%.
Average Rates by Lender
Average Rates by Loan Product
Other Factors That Affect Your Rate
Average Small Business Loan Interest Rates by Lender
The average interest rate on a conventional small business loan is around 4% to 6%. That said, interest rates will vary across lenders, with banks typically offering lower rates than alternative or online lenders. Loans backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) will also offer competitive rates, even when compared to conventional bank loans.
Type of Lender
Average Annual Interest Rate (AIR)
AIR for SBA Loans
Large National Banks
2.55% - 5.14%
6.24%
Small National and Regional Banks
2.48% - 5.40%
5.96%
Foreign Banks (made by U.S. branches)
1.45% - 5.66%
-
Online or Alternative Lenders
13.00% - 71.00%
4.39% - 7.01%
The data on traditional lenders, obtained from the Federal Reserve, was taken for commercial and industrial loans and serves as a comparison point when shopping for a loan. The rates presented above are effective annual interest rates that factor in compounding annual interest from the stated interest rate, the length of the term, and the loan amount. Unlike an APR, the effective annual interest rate does not include any closing, origination or other fees, which will increase the cost of the loan. This data tracks all types of commercial and industrial loans, so these rates may be lower than what you would receive on a loan. When compared to banks, online and alternative lenders have higher interest rates because they have fewer eligibility requirements and faster underwriting processes. For example, some alternative lenders may only require six months in business and a stated annual revenue of $100,000 to qualify for a loan. These lenders may also return a credit decision within a few hours. Due to the reduced eligibility criteria, online lenders are generally a better option for businesses or borrowers that are unbankable—such as startups, low revenue businesses, or applicants with lower credit scores. In the table below, we compare APRs of online business loans from alternative lenders and banks.
Lender
Annual Percentage Rates (APRs)
American Express (business loan)
6.98% - 19.97%
American Express (merchant financing)
11.50% - 25.90%
Balboa Capital
3.00% - 30.00%
BlueVine (invoice financing)
15.00% - 68.00%
BlueVine (line of credit)
15.00% - 78.00%
Credibility Capital
8.00% - 25.00%
Credibly
9.99% - 36.00%
Currency
8.00% - 36.00%
Fundation
7.99% - 29.99%
Fundbox (invoice financing)
13.00% - 60.00%
Fundbox (line of credit)
15.00% - 59.00%
Funding Circle
7.35% - 33.00%
Guidant Financial (SBA loan)
0.065
Kabbage (line of credit)
20.00% - 80.00%
Lending Club
7.77% - 35.11%
OnDeck
9.30% - 99.70%
PayPal Working Capital
15.00% - 30.00%
QuarterSpot
20.00% - 48.00%
SmartBiz (SBA loan)
5.85% - 8.95%
SnapCap
19.99% - 49.99%
StreetShares
8.00% - 39.99%
Wells Fargo (unsecured business loan)
6.75% - 22.99%
Average Small Business Loan Interest Rates by Loan Product
The type of loan you apply for will affect your interest rate. Some alternative products—merchant cash advances or invoice factoring, etc.—will have higher APRs than traditional options, such as bank or SBA loans. We recommend borrowers consider conventional financing options before turning to specialty products. In the table below, we compare APRs for various types of loan products from data we gathered directly from lenders.
Type of Loan Product
Average APRs
Bank Loans
4.00% - 13.00%
SBA 7(a) Loans
6.30% - 10.00%
Online Term Loans
7.00% - 99.70%
Lines of Credit
8.00% - 80.00%
Merchant Cash Advances
20.00% - 250.00%
Invoice Factoring
13.00% - 60.00%
Alternative lenders offer a wider variety of loan products than banks. Most banks will offer term loans and lines of credit, but many alternative lenders offer these products in addition to specialty financing—such as accounts receivable financing, merchant cash advances or invoice factoring. Specialty financing products will generally carry higher interest rates than regular term loans and lines of credit.
Other Factors That Affect Your Small Business Loan Interest Rate
Most small business lenders will evaluate both your personal and business credit score during the loan application process. Lenders want to see that you can repay your other debt obligations on time, whether they are personal or business-related. Most lenders have credit score minimums to qualify for their loan products. These can vary greatly, with banks sometimes requiring FICO credit scores of 680 and above, while some alternative lenders accept scores as low as 500. Your credit score will be a determinant in what interest rate you receive, with higher scores generally translating to lower interest rates. Lenders will also consider your current and projected business finances as part of the application process. Most lenders make requirements regarding your time in business and the minimum amount of annual revenue your business must generate. While specific requirements for cash flow or profitability are less common, you should be prepared to show relevant documentation if asked. You'll need to demonstrate how you plan to use the loan proceeds and how they will benefit the business in the long run. This should be outlined in a business plan. Another factor that affects your interest rate is your relationship with the lender. Some lenders will offer lower interest rates or reduced fees for applicants who have a deposit account with the institution or who have taken out loans in the past. This is true for both banks and alternative lenders, so it may be a smart idea to do all of your borrowing and/or banking in one place.
