From $5,000
1-10 years
Varies according to product, lender and your business profile (usually more expensive than an unsecured loan)
Varies according to product
Broad range
Any business with a trading history
An unsecured business loan is a loan that doesn’t require you to offer security (in contrast to a secured business loan). As loans these are not secured by collateral (assets to be sold in forfeiture of debt), these are likely to charge interest rates as the lender assumes a higher degree of risk. Also, the borrower is required to show an excellent credit history and cash flow projection.
The loan amount could be from as little as $1000 to $2500 and the term rates up to 5 years.
Here are three scenarios where you might look at taking out an unsecured business loan:
You might want to consider an unsecured loan if you want to borrow more than the value of your assets, if you would prefer not to offer security, or if you’re a fast-growing business that needs finance quickly.
On the plus side, unsecured business loans are usually simpler and quicker to arrange than secured loans because there is no need for the lender to inspect or value any assets.
However, in the absence of any security, the lender cares much more about your business’s profile – and may also look at your personal credit history and personal assets. After all, they will need assurance that you can repay the loan if things don’t go to plan. Unsecured lending is usually more expensive than secured lending because there’s more risk for the lender.
For an unsecured loan the lender may look at:
Unsecured lending for SME’s may be an attractive option especially for smaller amounts as it is straight forward and quick access to funding.
The flexibility of repayment periods which can be up to five years allows smaller businesses to respond quickly to cash-flow or liquidity problems. As you are already trading, the lender will assess against your business prospects.
However, for larger amounts (over $25,000) the rates offered on an un-secured loan may be un-competitive as it reflects the higher risk taken by the lender. You may find short to medium term loans at lower rates.
An unsecured loan is ideal for the SME that needs to borrow money without providing security. If you are just starting up or you don’t have any assets to use as collateral, raising capital can be tricky. A business loan which is not secured may be the optimal option for your business.
Unsecured lending is a broad term. As well as short-term loans and ‘term’ loans (i.e. medium-term and long-term loans), it includes, for example, merchant cash advances, revolving credit lines, overdrafts and credit cards.
You might also want to consider the different types of working capital finance.
We work with world class partners to help us support businesses with finance