At six months in business, your best loan options are funders that set their minimum right at that mark and decide based on your deposits. Merchant Fund Express is our recommended funder for its speed and sales-based review; Credibly publishes six months as a requirement; the SBA microloan and Kiva work for smaller amounts at lower cost; and an equipment vendor can finance the machine you're buying.
Six months is an important line. Many online funders start reviewing applications there, while banks and lines of credit such as OnDeck or Bluevine want 12 months or more. This guide shows what you can get today, what's worth waiting for, and how to present your first six months to get the best offer possible.
Key takeaways
- Merchant Fund Express is our recommended funder: it reviews sales and deposits, FICO 500+, $5,000 to $5,000,000, and accepts ITIN applicants.
- Credibly publishes 6 months, 500 credit and $15,000 in average monthly deposits as general requirements.
- The SBA microloan (up to $50,000) and Kiva (up to $15,000 at 0% interest) cost less but take longer.
- OnDeck and Bluevine's line of credit want 12 months or more, so don't apply early.
- Six steady months with no negative days carry more weight than one great month.
- Treat your first financing as a stepping stone to better options at the one-year mark.
The best loans at 6 months, in order
We ranked these options on checkable criteria: minimum time in business, speed, minimum credit, ITIN acceptance, documents, amounts and collateral. We don't use ratings or invented scores; see how we rank business funding options for the full method.
- Merchant Fund Express, recommended funder. It reviews your sales and deposits, not just your score, with amounts from $5,000 to $5,000,000, credit from FICO 500 and decisions that often arrive in 2 to 4 hours. In most cases collateral isn't required, applying is free with no impact to your credit, it offers Spanish-speaking support, and it accepts applicants with an ITIN (no SSN needed). With six months of steady deposits, you already have the information a sales-based funder needs.
- Credibly. Its site says you generally need 6 or more months in business, credit of 500 or higher, and an average of $15,000 in monthly deposits (a three-month average plus the most recent month) into a business account. It offers $5,000 to $600,000. It's one of the few options that openly publishes a six-month minimum.
- SBA microloan. Up to $50,000, with an average around $13,000, a maximum term of seven years, and rates that, per the SBA, usually fall between 8% and 13%. SBA-approved community nonprofits make these loans and set their own requirements. At six months, many will ask for a plan and projections, and some offer free coaching. It usually costs less but takes longer.
- Kiva. Lends $1,000 to $15,000 at 0% interest with no fees and no minimum credit score, and its site says years in business don't affect your application. It requires you to be 18, live and operate in the U.S., have a PayPal account, and not be in bankruptcy or have liens. It doesn't operate in Nevada or North Dakota.
- Equipment vendor financing. If what you need is a machine or a vehicle, the seller or an equipment finance company may accept less time in business because the equipment secures the debt. Compare the full cost in writing.
Requirements compared
| Option | Minimum time | Minimum credit | Minimum sales | Amounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended funder | Based on your sales | FICO 500+ | Based on your deposits | $5,000 to $5,000,000 |
| Credibly | 6 months | 500 | $15,000/month average | $5,000 to $600,000 |
| SBA microloan | Set by the lender | Set by the lender | Set by the lender | Up to $50,000 |
| Kiva | No minimum | No minimum | Not published | $1,000 to $15,000 |
| OnDeck (not yet) | 1 year | FICO 625 | $100,000/year | Term loan $5,000 to $400,000 |
| Bluevine line (not yet) | 12 months | FICO 625 | $10,000/month | Up to $250,000 |
We list OnDeck and Bluevine at the bottom so you can see what opens up at one year, not because they fit you today. Apply early and you'll just collect a decline. For the bigger picture across product types, see funding with 6 months in business.
What a funder sees in your first six months
A funder reading your bank statements doesn't see “six months.” It sees six snapshots of your business. These are the questions it asks:
- Are deposits steady, or do they hinge on one good month? Six even months carry more weight than four weak ones and two great ones.
- Any negative days or overdraft fees? They're an immediate red flag.
- Do sales land in a business account? If you collect cash and don't deposit it, those sales don't exist to the funder.
- Do you already have other financing? Daily or weekly payments to another funder reduce what you can be offered.
- Is the trend up or down? A business growing month over month gets better treatment than one sliding.
When does the six-month clock start? It depends on the funder. Some use the date your LLC or DBA was registered; others look at when deposits started in the business account. If you formed the LLC in January but started selling in April, a sales-based funder may see only three months. The reverse happens too: if you sold as a sole proprietor before forming the LLC, keep those statements, because they can show a longer track record.
Also, if your business is seasonal, six months may line up with your strong season or your slow one. A food truck that opened in spring has six good months by fall; a gift shop that opened in January reaches July with quiet months. Explain your season with data and choose when to apply.
Before you apply, download all six statements and read them like an underwriter would. If one month dipped for a specific reason (a repair, the season, a move), be ready to explain it in a single line.
Which products you can get at 6 months
With little time in business, the product type matters as much as the funder:
| Product | At 6 months | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue-based working capital | Available from several funders | Decided on your deposits; short terms |
| Merchant cash advance | Available from several funders | Repaid from a percentage or fixed amount of sales; understand the cost |
| Microloan | Available, depends on the lender | Cheaper and slower |
| Equipment financing | Often available | The equipment secures the debt |
| Line of credit | Few options before 12 months | Many want a year |
| SBA 7(a) | Difficult | Banks usually want more history, and since March 2026 every owner must be a U.S. citizen or national |
If a revolving line is what you're after, read business line of credit with 6 months in business for the handful of options available before year one.
Documents and common mistakes
Six months isn't much time, so every detail counts. Have these ready:
- Six complete business bank statements. Every page, as PDFs straight from the bank.
- ID and taxpayer number. SSN or ITIN, depending on what each option accepts, plus your business EIN.
- Business registration. LLC, corporation or DBA, plus your city or state licenses.
- Card processor reports. If you sell through Square, Clover or another processor, the monthly report confirms your sales.
- What the money is for. One clear line: “inventory for the season,” “a second van,” “payroll while I collect on a contract.”
Common mistakes at six months: asking for the maximum instead of what your sales can repay, taking the first offer without comparing payment frequency and term, and applying right after a very weak month. If you can wait one more month to show a better trend, it's sometimes worth it.
Our recommendation
If your business already sells consistently and you need capital soon, start with Merchant Fund Express, our recommended funder: applying is free, doesn't affect your credit, and the decision often comes in 2 to 4 hours. If you need less than $50,000 and can wait, compare it with an SBA microloan, which usually costs less; our guide to microloans at 6 months in business explains how they work at this stage.
Think about the next step, too. If you make every payment on time on what you take now, at 12 months you'll be able to apply for lines of credit and term loans with stricter requirements and lower cost. Treat this first financing as a stepping stone, not a burden. Leer en español.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a business loan if my business has only been open 6 months?
Yes. Several funders review applications from six months if your deposits are steady. Credibly publishes six months as a general requirement, and our recommended funder reviews your sales and deposits from FICO 500. Banks and many lines of credit, on the other hand, usually want 12 months or more.
How much can I borrow with 6 months in business?
It depends mostly on your monthly deposits, not just your time open. With a short history, funders usually size offers to what comes into your account each month. Start with what you need and what your sales can repay; a good payment record opens larger amounts later.
Why do OnDeck and Bluevine turn me down at 6 months?
Because their published requirements call for more time: OnDeck asks for at least one year in business, and Bluevine asks for 12 months or more for its line of credit, plus a 625 FICO. It isn't a verdict on your business; you simply don't meet the minimum yet. Try again at one year.
Do SBA microloans work for a 6-month-old business?
They can. SBA-approved community lenders make microloans and each sets its own requirements. Many work with new businesses and may ask for a plan and projections. They go up to $50,000 with a maximum term of seven years and usually cost less than online financing.
Should I wait until I hit one year?
If you're not in a hurry, sometimes yes: at one year, lines of credit and term loans with stricter requirements and lower cost open up. If the money solves something urgent or produces sales soon, like a contract or seasonal inventory, it can make sense to take a moderate amount now and repay it on time.
What if my first few months were very slow?
Be ready to explain it. If the trend is improving, show it with your most recent statements and, if you can, signed contracts or confirmed orders. Some funders focus on the average of the last three months, so applying when those months are strong can help.