Business loans for women-owned businesse, fast.

Apply for financing today to build your business, upgrade your equipment, or fund your next project.

$
Applying is free and won't impact your credit*
$250K loan approved!

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Business owners love that Lendio helps them get funding without the headaches.

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Four simple steps to funding women-owned business.

Tell us about your business.

Answer a few simple questions and complete the application in minutes.

Submit your application.

We’ll present your application to our marketplace 75+ lenders. Applying is free and won’t impact your credit score.

Compare offers.

Find the funding option with the terms that best fit your small business goals.

Get funded.

Once you accept, funding can hit your bank account in as little as 24 hours.

Quickly estimate your funding options.
Time In Business
0 - 6 Months
6 - 12 Months
1 - 3 Years
3+ Years
Monthly revenue
Industry
Credit Score
Business type
Legal partnership
LLC
Corporation
Sole proprietor
Congrats--it looks like you qualify.*

Based on your business information you could qualify for up to $ 52,000 in funding

Funding amount *

$ 36,000 - $ 52,000

*Amount is an estimate only using the information provided Businesses like yours typically receive offers like these.
Compare your funding options today.
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Many businesses don't qualify for funding for all kinds of reasons. A few factors could include:

Not enough revenue
Not enough time in business
Credit score is too low

*Qualification criteria, rates, and other funding terms will vary depending on the type and location of your business, and upon other factors. This is not a guarantee of funding, and it should not be relied upon as an accurate assessment of the availability or terms of the represented funding products.

How much can I qualify for?

Not sure what you need or what funding options are best for you? Use our simple calculator to get a rough idea of your options with no commitment, and apply when you’re ready.

Lendio knows women-owned businesses.

The gender gap in business funding is real. Women-owned businesses are less likely to receive business credit. When they do, their average loan size is 33% smaller than that of men-owned businesses. At Lendio, we’re dedicated to closing this gap and providing equal access to business financing for women business owners, with an online application that connects you to a marketplace of lenders.

Bridge capital during business growth

Purchase supplies, inventory, or equipment

Refinance existing debt

Pay your staff

Invest in marketing

What type of commercial real estate funding is best for your business?

These are the most popular types of funding that other women-based businesses qualify for through Lendio.

Business Line of Credit

Access available funds whenever you need them, and only pay interest on what you draw.

Revenue-Based Financing

Access funding based on your future revenue and repay with regular payments.

SBA Loan

Get low-interest, government-backed funding to expand your business.

What types of business loans are available to women-owned businesses?

Term Loan

A term loan offers a lump sum that is repaid with interest over a fixed term. Online term loans offer fast approval and funding times.

Term Length
6 months-10 years
Max Loan Amount
$2 million

SBA Loans for women

SBA loans for women are backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, which means they come with some pretty sweet perks like lower interest rates and longer repayment terms. The SBA offers several loan programs including 7(a), 504, and microloans.

Term Length
10-30 years
Max Loan Amount
Up to $5 million

Business line of credit

A line of credit (LOC) is another type of financing women can qualify for. Instead of getting a lump sum, you can borrow from your credit line up to your limit—just like a credit card. Repay the funds to replenish the LOC and only pay interest on the outstanding balance.

Term Length
6-24 months
Max Loan Amount
Up to $250,000

Invoice factoring

With invoice factoring, instead of waiting for clients to pay invoices, a funder purchases an invoice from the borrower at a discounted rate.

Term Length
1-12 months
Max Loan Amount
$50 million

Revenue-based financing

Revenue-based financing provides you with a lump sum based on expected future revenue that is repaid along with a factor rate.

Term Length
3-36 months
Max Loan Amount
$2 million

FAQs

Find answers to some commonly asked questions by women-owned businesses.

Are there business loans for minority women?

There are loan programs designed for historically underserved communities including women and minorities. Community Advantage Small Business Lending Companies offer SBA 7(a) loans to underserved communities. Non-profit lenders also offer SBA microloans of up to $50,000. U.S. Bank offers a Business Diversity Lending Program that offers revised credit standards to businesses owned by minorities, women, or veterans. Other regional banks also have Diversity lending programs with relaxed credit criteria for smaller loan amounts.

What are the benefits of an online lending marketplace?

Some of the advantages of getting a loan for your business through an online marketplace include:

  • A streamlined application process – It’s possible to apply for a business loan online and upload your supporting documents in just a few minutes.
  • More options to meet your unique needs – A marketplace is able to provide a host of options to meet the needs of a wide spread of credit profiles.
  • Faster funding – Some online business loans can be funded in as little as 24 hours.
What is an SBA loan and why is it a good option for women business owners?

The Small Business Administration doesn’t loan money directly to small businesses unless they’re eligible for disaster recovery, but it does help small businesses access funding by setting loan guidelines for small businesses and reducing lender risk. As a result, they can be one of the safest, easiest ways to access loans for women-owned small businesses.

What makes SBA loans so beneficial? They offer enviably lower rates, lower down-payment requirements, and larger borrowing allowances than private-sector lenders often offer, especially to newer or smaller businesses. And these benefits can help you to grow your credit and connect you, in the longer term, with other funding opportunities.

What are the different types of SBA loans?

There’s an SBA loan option to cover just about every aspect of your woman-owned small business. Some of the most common SBA loans include the 7(a), 504, and SBA Express—but there are numerous others that may suit a particular need or aspect of your business.

SBA 7(a) loan

The SBA 7(a) standard is one of the most flexible SBA loans. You can use it to:

  • Buy land
  • Cover construction costs
  • Buy or expand an existing business
  • Refinance your existing debt
  • Buy machinery, furniture, supplies, or materials
SBA 504/CDC loan

SBA 504 loans can be a bit more complicated than 7(a)s,. Because you must use a 504 to fund a specific fixed asset, a thorough examination of your project costs will be required. When your loan is funded, the lender will initially cover 50% of your costs, and the SBA will cover 40%—this means that you’re responsible for covering at least 10% right off the bat. You’ll also be required to personally guarantee at least 20% of the loan.

You must use an SBA 504 loan to finance fixed assets, although some soft costs can also be included. Examples of qualifying projects include:

  • Buying an existing building
  • Building a new facility or renovating an existing facility
  • Buying land or making land improvements, such as grading, landscaping, and adding parking lots
  • Buying long-term machinery
  • Refinancing debt incurred through the expansion of your business or the renovation of your facilities or equipment
SBA export loans

Is your woman-owned small business considering exporting goods to other countries? This is often seen by U.S. lenders as a particularly risky option, and it can be harder to access funding as a result.

Check out the SBA’s export finance offerings, which include export loans, export express loans, and export working capital loans.

SBA microloans

If you need a smaller amount of funding quickly to jumpstart your woman-owned small business, the SBA offers microloans—up to $50,000—for this exact purpose.

According to the SBA, microloans can be used for a wide range of purposes in order to rebuild, reopen, repair, enhance, or otherwise improve your small business, including:

  • Working capital
  • Inventory
  • Supplies
  • Furniture
  • Fixtures
  • Machinery
  • Equipment

An SBA microloan, however, cannot be used to purchase real estate or pay down debts.

SBA disaster loans

Hopefully, you’ll never need disaster loan assistance for your small business. However, if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we never know what lies ahead.

Types of SBA disaster loans include:

  • Physical damage loans to cover repairs and replacement of damaged physical assets
  • Mitigation assistance to cover small business operating expenses
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to provide economic relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have suffered damage to their home or personal property
  • Military reservist loans to help eligible small businesses with operating expenses to make up for employees on active duty leave

Whichever type of SBA loan fits best for your small business, make sure to consider your options today—and get help from Lendio.

What grants are available to women business owners?

Grants can be tough to get due to high competition, but don’t underestimate the abundance of options specifically designed for women entrepreneurs. Federal and state government agencies offer some grants; nonprofits and private business organizations offer others.

When it comes to finding grants to help fund your business, the best thing you can do is keep a broad horizon. Here are some of the grant options we’ve found for women entrepreneurs:

What resources are available to female entrepreneurs?

There are several government and nonprofit programs available to women.

  • The SBA provides counseling and training at its local Women’s Business Centers.
  • The Woman-Owned Small Business Federal contract program seeks to award government contracts to women-owned businesses in industries where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. A selection of those contracts are reserved for economically disadvantaged businesses.
  • Ascent is a free learning platform for women entrepreneurs provided by the SBA.
  • The National Association of Women Business Owners represents all female entrepreneurs across all industries with a focus on government advocacy. They also offer the NAWBO Institute, a free resource with articles and webinars.
How to certify as a woman-owned business

With a woman-owned business certification, you’ll be eligible for the Woman-Owned Small Business Federal contract program which awards government contracts to woman-owned businesses.

Qualification requirements include:

  • Business is at least 51% woman-owned and operated
  • Business is for-profit
  • Business meets the definition of a small business
  • The business operates primarily in the United States

To qualify as an economically disadvantaged woman-owned small business you must meet the above-listed requirements and the following:

  • The owner’s personal net worth is less than $750,000
  • Adjusted gross income over three years of $350,000 or less
  • The fair market value of all assets of $6 million or less

To get certified, apply through the Small Business Administration.

Ready for funding?

See what you can qualify for on the Lendio Marketplace.