The most common question we get from business owners is some version of: "My credit score is X — can I get funded?" And the frustrating answer is: it depends on who you're asking.
Banks set the bar high. Alternative lenders don't. Revenue-based lenders sometimes don't care about your credit at all. Here's the real breakdown.
| Lender Type | Minimum Score | What They Really Want |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Bank / SBA | 680+ | Strong credit, 2+ years, collateral |
| Online Business Lenders | 620–650 | Revenue history + stable deposits |
| Merchant Cash Advance | 550+ | Card/ACH volume — credit secondary |
| Revenue-Based Finance | 500+ | Monthly revenue is the main factor |
| Startup / New Business | 650+ (personal) | Business plan + personal guarantee |
💡 Key insight: If your credit is under 600 but your monthly revenue is $50K+, you have more options than you think. Revenue-based lenders routinely fund businesses with credit scores in the 530s.
Lenders don't just pull your score and make a decision. They're underwriting a file — and that file includes:
A business owner with a 580 score, $80K/month in revenue, and 3 years in business will get funded faster than someone with a 700 score, $8K/month, and 8 months in business. Every time.
In the alternative lending world, 600 is a meaningful threshold. Below it, you're mostly looking at MCAs and revenue-based products with higher factor rates. Above 600, you start accessing term loans, business lines of credit, and SBA-backed products — which have lower cost of capital.
If you're sitting between 580–599, a 3-month credit repair program can often move you over that line. That one move can cut your borrowing cost by 20–40%.
Then your move isn't to apply for a loan — it's to fix the underlying issue first. Credit repair isn't a scam or a delay tactic. Done right, it's the fastest path to fundable.
We work with ASAP Credit Repair and can get you into a program that specifically targets the tradelines lenders flag during underwriting. Most clients see meaningful movement in 60–90 days.
Stop fixating on a single number. If you have revenue, time in business, and clean bank statements, you have a shot — even if your credit isn't perfect. The key is knowing which lender to approach and how to position your file.
That's exactly what we do at Caply. One application, 50+ lenders, and we match you to the right product for where you actually are — not where a bank wishes you were.
No credit impact. Takes 3 minutes. We'll tell you exactly where you stand.
Apply Now →Andrew Dillard is the founder & CEO of Caply Smart Business Funding — a lending marketplace connecting small businesses with 50+ lenders across the country. We work with entrepreneurs, restaurants, contractors, healthcare providers, trucking companies, dental offices, landscapers, retailers, and startups.
Caply Smart Funding works with 50+ lending partners to connect small business owners and founders with the right capital at the right time — including those who need to build toward fundability first.
Apply at caplylending.com