The best bridge loan for your business depends on how long the gap lasts and on your track record. Merchant Fund Express is best for a fast, sales-based bridge from FICO 500; OnDeck for a bridge of up to 24 months if you have a year in business and a 625 FICO; Bluevine for bridges that keep recurring; Credibly for large amounts with 6 months of history; National Funding for a fixed lump sum; and SBA Express if the bridge can wait weeks and every owner is a citizen.
A bridge loan covers the time between a need you have today and money that's coming later: a big client payment, an SBA loan in process, an insurance claim or the sale of equipment. This page is about working capital bridges for operating businesses, not real estate investment loans.
Key takeaways
- A bridge loan only makes sense if you have a clear exit: the money that's coming and roughly when.
- For bridges of days or weeks, speed matters more than cost; for bridges of months, compare cheaper options.
- OnDeck lends $5,000 to $400,000 over terms up to 24 months, with 1 year, $100,000 in sales and a 625 FICO as minimums.
- Credibly offers up to $600,000 and asks for 6 months, $15,000 in monthly revenue and a 500 credit score, per its site.
- If the gap repeats (clients who always pay late), a line of credit usually beats one-off loans.
- Always ask whether there's a discount or penalty for paying early: with a bridge, paying early is the plan.
The best bridge loan options, ranked
- Merchant Fund Express (recommended funder). Reviews your sales and deposits, not just your credit, with decisions that often arrive in 2 to 4 hours. Amounts from $5,000 to $5,000,000, credit from FICO 500 and, in most cases, no collateral. It accepts applicants with an ITIN (no SSN needed). This is the option for urgent bridges: a big client who pays in 45 days, an order you have to buy today or an opportunity with a deadline.
- OnDeck (term loan). $5,000 to $400,000 with terms up to 24 months. It asks for one year in business, $100,000 in annual sales, a 625 personal FICO and a business checking account. It offers same-day funding if you close before a certain time on business days, and checking whether you qualify doesn't affect your credit (checked October 2026).
- Bluevine (line of credit). Up to $250,000. It asks for $10,000 in monthly revenue, a 625 FICO, 12 months in business and an LLC or corporation; it doesn't serve Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota or U.S. territories. It accepts an SSN or ITIN, plus an EIN (checked October 2026). Ideal if your bridges keep coming back.
- Credibly. Financing up to $600,000, including working capital, advances and lines of credit. It asks for 6+ months in business, $15,000+ in monthly revenue and a 500+ credit score, and says it approves in as little as 2 hours (checked October 2026).
- National Funding (working capital). $5,000 to $500,000 with daily or weekly payments and terms of 4 to 24 months. Most of its customers have a FICO of 600 or higher; in some states it only offers sales-based financing (checked October 2026).
- SBA Express. A track within the 7(a) program for amounts up to $500,000, according to the SBA. It's not a fast bridge like the others, but if your gap can wait weeks, it usually costs less. Since March 1, 2026, it requires 100% of owners to be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals.
How we chose
We don't give ratings or scores. We compare every option on the same criteria: speed, minimum time in business, minimum credit, ITIN acceptance, documents, amounts and collateral. Each company's details come from its official site, and SBA details come from sba.gov, all checked in October 2026. Read the full method in how we rank business funding options.
If you'd like to understand what a bridge loan is and how it's structured first, read our guide to bridge loans.
Comparison table
| Option | Speed | Minimum time | Credit | Amounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended funder | Decision often in 2 to 4 hours | Reviewed based on your sales | From FICO 500 | $5,000 to $5,000,000 |
| OnDeck (term) | Funds as soon as same day, with conditions | 1 year | 625+ | $5,000 to $400,000 |
| Bluevine (line) | Decision in minutes; funds in as little as 24 hours | 12 months | 625+ | Up to $250,000 |
| Credibly | Approval in as little as 2 hours | 6 months | 500+ | Up to $600,000 |
| National Funding | Funds as soon as next business day | Not published | Most 600+ | $5,000 to $500,000 |
| SBA Express | Weeks | Varies by bank | Good, with history | Up to $500,000 |
What a business bridge loan is for
- Waiting on an SBA or bank loan. If you're already in process and need to act sooner, a short bridge lets you move. Ask the bank whether the final loan can be used to repay the bridge; that isn't always allowed.
- A big client who pays late. Contractors and suppliers to government agencies or large chains often get paid in 30, 60 or 90 days.
- An insurance claim in progress. After a fire, flood or theft, the insurer can take a while. The bridge lets you reopen sooner.
- Buying inventory before the season. You pay today and sell in six weeks.
- An opportunity with a deadline. A discounted lot of merchandise, good used equipment or a space that just opened up.
- While you sell an asset. If you're selling a truck or equipment, the bridge covers the time until the sale closes.
To compare a bridge with other structures, see bridge loan vs. term loan.
The golden rule: plan your exit before you go in
A bridge with no exit turns into expensive long-term debt. Before you sign, answer these questions in writing:
- Where does the repayment money come from? A client's check, an approved loan, an insurance claim. It has to be something concrete, not "sales will pick up."
- When does it arrive, in the worst case? If the client says 30 days, plan for 60. Bridges break when the exit runs late.
- What if it doesn't arrive? Have a plan B: another line, selling inventory, cutting expenses. If you don't have a plan B, borrow less.
- Can I pay early without a penalty? With a bridge, the idea is to repay as soon as the money lands. Ask whether there's an early-payment discount or whether the cost is fixed even if you pay early.
- Does the payment fit while I wait? Many bridges collect weekly or daily from day one. Make sure your cash flow can handle those payments before the exit arrives.
Documents that speed up your bridge
With a bridge, every day counts. If you have these ready, most options on this list can answer you much faster:
- Business bank statements for the last three to six months, complete and in PDF.
- Proof of your exit: the client invoice with its due date, the approval letter or status of the pending loan, the insurance claim number or the equipment sale contract.
- Owner ID, EIN and LLC or corporation documents.
- Accounts receivable report, if the bridge depends on several clients.
- A short explanation of what the money is for and when you'll repay it. Two or three lines are enough.
Showing your exit in writing doesn't just help you get approved: it also forces you to confirm that the plan is real. If you discover while gathering papers that the payment date isn't clear, it's better to know before you sign.
A practical tip for subcontractors and businesses that work with general contractors or government clients: save every email confirming amounts and payment dates. Those messages are your best proof of exit.
Common bridge loan mistakes
- Using a bridge to cover losses. If your business loses money every month, a bridge has nowhere to land. Fix operations first.
- Chaining bridges. Taking a second bridge to make the first one's payments is a sign there was no real exit. If the payment is squeezing you, talk to your funder about lowering it before adding another.
- Trusting a verbal date. Ask the client or the bank for the date in writing, even if it's just an email.
- Ignoring cost because it's short. An expensive bridge of a few weeks can be worth it; an expensive one that stretches for months almost never is.
- Not comparing. Get at least two offers with the total cost, payment frequency and early-payment terms, and compare them side by side.
When your bridge is short and the exit is clear, our recommended funder reviews your sales and deposits, offers Spanish-speaking support, and applying is free and doesn't affect your credit: you can apply with Merchant Fund Express. If your need repeats, compare it with a line of credit in bridge loans vs. business lines of credit. Leer en español.
Frequently asked questions
What is a business bridge loan?
It's short-term financing that covers the time between a need you have today and money that arrives later, like a big client payment, a loan in process or an insurance claim. Its advantage is speed; its risk is that the exit runs late.
Can I get a bridge loan while I wait for my SBA loan?
Yes, many businesses do. First, ask your bank whether the SBA loan can repay the bridge, because using it to refinance recent debt isn't always allowed. And remember that since March 2026 the 7(a) requires every owner to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
How fast can I get a bridge loan?
It depends on the funder. Merchant Fund Express often decides in 2 to 4 hours, Credibly says it approves in as little as 2 hours and OnDeck can fund the same day under certain conditions. An SBA Express loan takes weeks.
Is a bridge loan or a line of credit better?
If the gap is a one-time event and you know the exit date, a fixed bridge loan is simple. If the gap repeats, for example because your clients always pay in 60 days, a line of credit is better: draw, repay and draw again.
Do I need collateral for a business bridge loan?
Not always. Many working capital bridges don't require collateral, although they usually ask for a personal guarantee. Real estate bridges do use the property as collateral. Our recommended funder doesn't require collateral in most cases.
What if my client pays late and I already have the bridge?
Talk to your funder before you fall behind and ask to adjust the payment to your situation. Activate your plan B: collect from other clients, sell inventory or cut expenses. Avoid taking a second bridge to cover the first.