The best line of credit for a food truck is one that lets you draw money only when you need it (fuel, supplies, a repair, a festival deposit) and pay interest only on what you use. Merchant Fund Express is our recommended funder: it reviews sales and deposits, considers credit from FICO 500 and often decides in 2 to 4 hours. Bluevine and OnDeck offer lines for businesses with at least 12 months and a 625 FICO, and Bluevine accepts an SSN or ITIN.
A food truck lives on seasons, events and weather. Some weekends are huge, and some rainy weeks bring no sales at all. That's why a line of credit usually fits better than a lump-sum loan: you draw on it in the slow week and repay it when the festival comes. Here are the options in order and how to use them without taking on too much.
Key takeaways
- A line of credit fits a food truck because you draw and repay only what you need.
- Our recommended funder reviews sales and deposits, from FICO 500, often decides in 2 to 4 hours, and accepts ITIN applicants.
- Bluevine offers up to $250,000, requires an LLC or corporation with 12+ months and FICO 625+, and accepts SSN or ITIN.
- OnDeck offers limits of $6,000 to $200,000 and asks for 1 year, $100,000 in annual sales and FICO 625.
- To buy the truck itself, use a loan or equipment financing, not the line.
How we chose
We don't give ratings or invented scores. We compare every option on the same criteria: how fast the decision comes, minimum time in business, minimum credit, whether it accepts an ITIN or owners without an SSN, the documents required, amounts, and whether it requires collateral. We only include facts each company publishes on its official website (checked October 20, 2026); if a fact couldn't be confirmed, we left it out. For lines of credit we also note the published limit and how draws are repaid. Read the full method in how we rank business funding options.
The best lines of credit for food trucks, in order
Merchant Fund Express (recommended funder). If your truck doesn't yet meet the one year or the 625 score other lines want, approval here is based on sales and deposits, not just credit. It considers profiles from FICO 500, with amounts from $5,000 to $5,000,000, and depending on your profile it may offer a line of credit or another form of capital. 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).
Bluevine. Its line goes up to $250,000. It asks for a corporation or LLC with 12 or more months, no bankruptcies, $10,000 in monthly sales (or $120,000 a year), a personal FICO of 625+, and a bank connection or 3 months of statements. One important point for many owners: its site says it accepts an SSN or ITIN. Applying and reviewing the offer doesn't affect your credit; accepting the offer may trigger a hard inquiry.
OnDeck. Its line of credit has limits from $6,000 to $200,000, with repayment periods of 12, 18 or 24 months for each draw. Its published minimums are 1 year in business, $100,000 in annual sales, a business checking account and a 625 FICO. Each line requires a minimum $1,000 draw at opening. OnDeck doesn't lend in North Dakota.
Business credit card. For small, frequent costs such as fuel, ice, disposables or an event fee, a card used well works like a mini line and helps build business credit. Pay the balance every month so you don't carry interest.
Accion Opportunity Fund. It isn't a line, but if you need to buy or build the truck, it publishes food truck loans of up to $200,000. That makes more sense than using a line for a big purchase, because a multi-year purchase shouldn't be repaid with 12- to 24-month draws. Ask directly about its requirements, which we didn't find published on the page we reviewed.
Comparison table
| Option | Published limit | Credit | Minimum time | Accepts ITIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended funder | $5,000 to $5,000,000 | FICO 500+ | Based on sales and deposits | Yes |
| Bluevine | Up to $250,000 | 625+ | 12+ months | Yes, SSN or ITIN |
| OnDeck | $6,000 to $200,000 | 625 | 1 year | Not published |
| Business card | Set by the issuer | Set by the issuer | Set by the issuer | Depends on the issuer |
| Accion Opportunity Fund | Loan up to $200,000 | Not published | Not published | Not published; ask |
When to use the line on a food truck
A line is a tool for short gaps, not ongoing losses. These are the food truck situations where it makes sense:
- Rainy or cold weeks. Cover supplies and wages until good weather returns, and repay when sales come back.
- Urgent repairs. A generator or a fridge that fails on a Friday can't wait. With the line already approved, you don't lose the weekend.
- Events and festivals. Many charge the vendor fee weeks ahead. Buy supplies in bulk for the event and repay with what you sell there.
- Catering contracts. If a company books you for its event and pays in 30 days, the line covers supplies in the meantime.
- Permits and renewals. Health, city and commissary licenses that all come due around the same time.
To buy the truck or a trailer, on the other hand, use a loan or equipment financing with a longer term. See equipment financing for food trucks.
A calendar for using your line all year
The best way to use a line on a food truck is to plan the year before you need it. A simple calendar, for example:
| Season | What happens for many food trucks | What to do with the line |
|---|---|---|
| Winter or rainy season | Fewer events and less foot traffic | Draw little, and only for essential fixed costs |
| Before spring | Truck maintenance, permit renewals | Planned draws for repairs and licenses |
| Start of festival season | Event fees, bulk supply purchases | Draws for events with expected sales |
| Peak season | High sales, packed weekends | Repay the balance as fast as possible |
| End of season | Sales drop, year-end catering | Bring the line to zero or close to it |
Seasons vary by city and clientele: a truck in Houston isn't a truck in Chicago, and one that lives on office lunches isn't one that lives on festivals. What matters is the rule: you draw in slow months or before an event, and you repay in strong months. If you reach the end of your peak season and the line is still maxed out, your prices or costs need adjusting before you use it again.
How to get approved
- Open a business account and deposit all your sales there: card, cash, payment apps and catering. Bluevine's and OnDeck's lines look at your monthly or annual sales.
- Form your LLC if you still operate under your own name; Bluevine only accepts LLCs or corporations.
- Keep your licenses handy: health permit, vendor license and your commissary agreement.
- Check your FICO. If you're near 625, a few weeks of on-time payments and low balances can open more lines.
- Time your seasons. If sales drop in winter, apply after your strong season, when your recent months look best.
For a deeper look at how this product works in your trade, read our guide to the business line of credit for food trucks.
Common mistakes
- Using the line as a fixed paycheck. If you draw on it every month for normal costs and never bring it to zero, the problem is prices or costs, not credit.
- Drawing everything at once. A line is meant to be used in pieces. Pulling the full limit on day one turns it into an expensive loan.
- Not reading each draw's term. With OnDeck, for example, each draw is repaid over 12, 18 or 24 months. Plan the payment before you draw.
- Mixing in personal expenses. Use the line only for the truck. That way you know what it really costs to operate, and your statements tell a clear story the next time you ask for more.
- Forgetting other options. If no line approves you because of time in business or credit, deposit-based working capital can bridge the gap; compare calmly. For the bigger picture, see the best business lines of credit.
When you're ready, you can apply with Merchant Fund Express for free and see your offer without affecting your credit. Leer en español.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a line of credit for my food truck with an ITIN?
Yes, with some companies. Bluevine says on its site that it accepts an SSN or ITIN for its line, though it requires an LLC or corporation, 12 months, $10,000 in monthly sales and FICO 625+. Our recommended funder accepts applicants with an ITIN (no SSN needed), offers Spanish-speaking support and reviews sales and deposits.
How long do I need to be in business for a line of credit?
Bluevine asks for 12 months and OnDeck for 1 year. If you have less, traditional lines are hard to get; a business card or deposit-based working capital can help while you reach the one-year mark.
Is a line of credit or a loan better for a food truck?
For expenses that come and go, like seasonal supplies or repairs, a line. For a large purchase with a fixed price, like the truck or a trailer, a loan or equipment financing with a longer term.
Does applying for a line of credit affect my credit?
Bluevine says applying and reviewing the offer doesn't affect your score, but accepting the offer may trigger a hard inquiry. OnDeck lets you check eligibility without affecting your credit. Always ask what kind of inquiry they run before you accept.
Do my cash sales count toward the line?
Only if you deposit them in the business account. Lenders review your statements or bank connection. If you keep event cash without depositing it, your monthly sales look lower and you might fall short of the minimum.