Amazon Lending is Amazon's program that offers financing to eligible U.S. sellers through third-party providers: term loans, merchant cash advances and lines of credit. You can't just apply: first you need to see an invitation in Seller Central, and eligibility depends on your sales history and customer satisfaction (per its site, checked in October 2026). If you don't have an invitation, you sell outside Amazon too or you need a different amount, Merchant Fund Express is our recommended alternative: it reviews all your sales and deposits and offers Spanish-speaking support.
Below we explain which products exist, who is behind each one, how fast it moves and how it differs from the "Amazon line of credit" that many sellers confuse it with: the Amazon Business Credit Account.
Key takeaways
- Amazon Lending doesn't lend its own money: third-party providers such as Lendistry, Parafin, QuickBooks Capital, Uncapped, iBusiness Funding and Slope do.
- It works by invitation inside Seller Central; there is no open application form.
- Amazon says most decisions come within one business day and applying doesn't affect your personal credit.
- The Business Credit Account (formerly Pay by Invoice) is something else: 30 days to pay for Amazon Business purchases, not cash.
- If you have no invitation or sell across several channels, an option that reviews all your deposits can give you more reach.
- Always compare total cost and repayment structure before accepting any offer, wherever it comes from.
What Amazon Lending is and who actually lends the money
Amazon describes the program this way: Amazon Lending, through third-party financing providers, offers financing to help eligible small and mid-sized U.S. businesses (per its site, checked in October 2026). In other words, Amazon provides the storefront and shares your sales data with the provider you choose; you sign the contract with that provider.
Its page lists these products and providers:
| Product | Provider | What Amazon publishes |
|---|---|---|
| Term loan | Lendistry (CDFI) | Equal monthly payments at a fixed rate; part of the Amazon Community Lending program |
| Term loan | Parafin | Equal biweekly payments with a fixed fee; no interest, no collateral and no late fees |
| Term loan | QuickBooks Capital (issued by WebBank) | $1,500 to $250,000, 6 to 24 month terms, weekly or monthly payments at a fixed rate |
| Term loan and line of credit | Uncapped | Fixed-fee loan; a line whose limit grows with your sales |
| SBA 7(a) loan | iBusiness Funding | Variable rate of prime + 1.5% to 6.5% depending on the amount |
| Merchant cash advance | Parafin | Fixed capital fee; you repay with a percentage of future gross sales |
| Line of credit | Slope | Lines up to $5 million for ecommerce |
The provider list changes over time, and Amazon notes that products vary by region. Check Seller Central to see which ones are offered to you.
Requirements and how to apply
Amazon doesn't publish a minimum credit score or a set sales threshold. What its page does say (per its site, checked in October 2026):
- You must sell on Amazon with a seller account. The Professional plan costs $39.99 a month plus selling fees.
- Your business must be in the U.S. and eligible for the program.
- Providers decide eligibility, and they look for sellers with growing sales history and high customer satisfaction.
- No invitation, no application. The first step is checking whether you have financing invitations in Seller Central.
The process has five steps: see the invitation, review the terms, agree to share your Amazon sales data with the provider, complete the application on the provider's site and get a decision. Amazon says providers may ask for additional documents, which can lengthen the review.
That page doesn't say whether providers accept an ITIN or require an SSN; each provider decides. If you only have an ITIN, ask before you share your data.
Speed and impact on your credit
On speed, Amazon Lending is competitive. According to its page, applying takes minutes for most sellers, most decisions come within one business day (elsewhere it says under three business days) and approved funds are usually deposited within two business days, depending on your bank.
On credit, Amazon says applying within the program doesn't affect your personal credit, and that on-time payments with Lendistry can help you build business credit. What it doesn't say is how each provider reports after approval, so ask if building history matters to you.
A real plus: the provider already sees your Amazon data, so you don't have to explain your business from scratch. A real minus: it only sees what you sell on Amazon. If you also sell on your own site, on Walmart Marketplace, on TikTok Shop or in person, those sales aren't part of the analysis.
What about the "Amazon line of credit"? The Business Credit Account
Plenty of people search for an "Amazon line of credit" expecting cash for their business, but the product with that kind of name on Amazon Business is something different. In May 2026, Amazon renamed Pay by Invoice to the Business Credit Account (per its site, checked in October 2026). Here is how it works:
- It is a way to pay for purchases on Amazon Business, not a deposit into your bank account.
- It is by invitation for approved customers.
- It gives you 30 days to pay for your purchases, with no interest or fees if you pay on time, no upfront fee and no minimum spend.
- With certain Prime Business plans you can request 45 or 60 days, subject to approval.
It's useful for buying inventory, packaging or supplies on Amazon Business and paying later. It doesn't help with payroll, rent or ads off Amazon. If you need cash for those, you need actual financing.
Pros, cons and alternatives
| Option | Best part | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Lending | Fast process with your Amazon data preloaded; several products | Invitation only; only looks at your Amazon sales |
| Merchant Fund Express (recommended) | Reviews sales and deposits from all your channels; FICO 500+; $5,000 to $5,000,000; accepts ITIN; Spanish-speaking support | Cost depends on your profile; compare the offer before you sign |
| SBA loan | Usually costs less if you qualify | Slow; since March 2026, 7(a) requires 100% of owners to be U.S. citizens or nationals |
| Bank line of credit | You pay interest only on what you use | Requires history and financial statements |
Amazon Lending fits: sellers who sell almost entirely on Amazon, have healthy account metrics and already see an invitation for a big enough amount.
Look at alternatives if: you have no invitation, the offer won't cover your seasonal order, you sell on several channels or you want the offer explained in Spanish. For the full picture of seller options, see our guide to business loans for Amazon sellers, and to compare with other ecommerce products, read revenue-based financing for ecommerce.
Tips for Hispanic and immigrant Amazon sellers
Many Hispanic sellers on Amazon run their business from home, import product or sell niche items for their community. These points help with Amazon Lending and with any other option:
- Protect your account metrics. Order defect rate, late shipments and cancellations. Amazon says providers look at customer satisfaction, and an account in good standing opens doors.
- Keep business money separate. Have Amazon disbursements land in a business-only account, not your personal account. That way any funder can read your history clearly.
- Plan Q4 starting in summer. November and December inventory gets paid for months earlier. Line up capital early so you're not buying at a premium in a rush.
- Read the contract in a language you understand. Amazon's seller site has a Spanish version, but each provider's contract may be in English only. Ask for every fee to be explained before you accept.
- Have your paperwork ready: ID, LLC or DBA documents, EIN and recent bank statements.
If you are considering an SBA loan through a program provider, remember the owner citizenship rule in effect since March 2026. This is not immigration advice; if you have questions about your personal situation, talk to an immigration attorney.
How to decide before you accept an offer
- Define the use. Q4 inventory, a big supplier order, ads or product photos. The repayment term should look like the time it takes that money to come back.
- Look at the repayment structure. A percentage of sales rises and falls with your sales; a fixed weekly or monthly payment doesn't. In a slow season, the fixed payment hurts more.
- Get the total cost in writing and compare it with another offer. We show you how in how to compare funding offers.
- Check your Amazon concentration. If an account suspension would freeze your sales, think through how you'd make payments while it gets resolved.
- Don't stack. Taking one financing product to cover another sinks your cash flow.
If you don't have an invitation or want a second offer to compare, you can apply with Merchant Fund Express. It's free, doesn't affect your credit and decisions often come in 2 to 4 hours. Prefer Spanish? Leer en español.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon Lending a loan from Amazon?
Not directly. Per its site, Amazon Lending offers financing through third-party providers such as Lendistry, Parafin, QuickBooks Capital, Uncapped, iBusiness Funding and Slope. Amazon shows the options in Seller Central and you share your sales data with the provider you pick, but you sign the contract with that provider.
How do I get an Amazon Lending invitation?
Amazon doesn't publish a formula. It says providers look for sellers with growing sales history and high customer satisfaction. In practice, keep your account metrics healthy, grow sales steadily and check Seller Central regularly. If an invitation never shows up, there are alternatives that don't require one.
Can I get an Amazon seller loan with an ITIN?
The Amazon Lending page doesn't say which ID each provider accepts; each one decides. Ask before you share your data. As an alternative, Merchant Fund Express accepts applicants with an ITIN (no SSN needed), reviews your sales and deposits and offers Spanish-speaking support.
Does Amazon Lending affect my credit?
According to Amazon, applying within the program doesn't affect your personal credit. It also says on-time payments with Lendistry can help you build business credit. How each provider reports after approval can vary, so ask before you sign if building a credit history is part of your plan.
Does the Amazon Business Credit Account give me cash?
No. The Business Credit Account, formerly called Pay by Invoice, is a way to pay for Amazon Business purchases with 30 days to pay and no interest or fees when paid on time. It's by invitation. Some Prime Business plans can request 45 or 60 days. It covers Amazon purchases, not payroll or rent.
What if I sell on Amazon and other channels?
Amazon Lending only sees your Amazon sales. If you also sell on your own online store, other marketplaces or in person, a funder that reviews all your bank deposits can see your whole business. Deposit everything into the business account and keep sales reports by channel handy.