The best term loan for a landscaping business is the one that gives you a fixed sum with a payment you can still make in the slow winter months. To have the money before spring, Merchant Fund Express, our recommended funder, reviews your sales and deposits and often decides in 2–4 hours. OnDeck lends up to $400,000 over 24 months if you have a year in business; National Funding finances equipment over 2–5 years; and an SBA 7(a) loan is usually the cheapest if you qualify.
A term loan is not a line of credit: you get all the money at once and repay it in installments over a fixed term. In landscaping and lawn care, that works for buying a truck and trailer, replacing mowers, launching a second crew or funding the install on a big hardscape job. Here are the options in order, with facts from official sites checked October 20, 2026.
Key takeaways
- Our recommended funder reviews sales and deposits, from FICO 500+, with decisions often in 2–4 hours.
- OnDeck lends $5,000 to $400,000 for up to 24 months with 1 year in business, $100,000 in annual revenue and a 625 FICO.
- National Funding finances equipment with monthly payments over 2 to 5 years.
- SBA Microloans go up to $50,000 over as long as seven years; an SBA 7(a) is usually cheapest if you qualify.
- Test the payment against your worst winter month, and match the term to the equipment's useful life.
The best term loans for landscaping, in order
Merchant Fund Express (recommended funder). Best if your business deposits its payments regularly and you need the money now, for example to buy equipment in March before contracts kick in. Approval looks at your sales and deposits, not just your credit; it considers profiles from a 500 FICO, with amounts from $5,000 to $5,000,000 and decisions that often arrive in 2–4 hours. Collateral is not required in most cases, it accepts applicants with an ITIN (no SSN needed), it offers Spanish-speaking support, and applying is free with no impact to your credit.
OnDeck (term loan). $5,000 to $400,000, with terms up to 24 months. Its site asks for 1 year in business, $100,000 in annual revenue and a 625 personal FICO. After approval, funds can arrive the same business day if approved early. If you repay early, you may still owe part of the interest; read the contract.
National Funding. Two useful routes for landscapers: equipment financing with monthly payments over 2 to 5 years, and working capital up to $500,000 with daily or weekly payments over 4 to 24 months. Its site says most of its clients have a 600+ FICO. In some states it only offers sales-based options.
SBA 7(a) loan at a bank. Up to $5 million, with monthly payments, for equipment, working capital, buying a business or real estate. If you qualify, it usually costs less than any online option, but it takes weeks and more paperwork. Since March 1, 2026, 100% of the owners must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals whose principal residence is here.
SBA Microloan. Up to $50,000 (the average is around $13,000, per the SBA), with a maximum term of seven years and rates that generally run 8% to 13%. Made by nonprofit community organizations that also offer coaching. A good fit for the solo landscaper who wants a first trailer or commercial-grade equipment.
Equipment dealer financing. Lawn equipment dealers often offer in-house financing or a partner bank's program for specific brands, sometimes with seasonal promotions. It works for one specific machine, but compare against the cash price and read what happens when the promo period ends.
How we chose. We do not use ratings, scores or made-up statistics. We compare every option on the same criteria: speed, minimum time in business, minimum credit, whether it accepts ITIN or owners without an SSN, documents, amounts and collateral. For landscaping term loans, the published term and the payment frequency carried extra weight, because your revenue is concentrated in spring, summer and fall. Read the full method in how we rank business funding options.
Comparison table
| Option | Amounts | Published term | Credit | Minimum time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended funder (#1) | $5,000 to $5,000,000 | Based on your profile | FICO 500+ | Based on sales and deposits |
| OnDeck term loan | $5,000 to $400,000 | Up to 24 months | 625 | 1 year and $100,000 a year |
| National Funding (equipment) | Not published for equipment | 2 to 5 years, monthly | Most clients 600+ | Not published |
| National Funding (working capital) | Up to $500,000 | 4 to 24 months, daily or weekly | Most clients 600+ | Not published |
| SBA 7(a) | Up to $5 million | Long term, monthly | Set by the bank | Set by the bank |
| SBA Microloan | Up to $50,000 | Up to 7 years | Set by the organization | Accepts startups |
"Not published" means the official site does not say. Ask, and get the answer in writing.
What to finance with a term loan, and over what term
Match the loan term to how long the thing you buy will last. If a mower lasts three seasons, there is no point paying for it over five years; and if it is a skid steer that will serve you for ten, a payment squeezed into a few months will choke you.
- Truck and enclosed trailer: they last years. Equipment financing or a longer-term loan with a monthly payment.
- Zero-turn mowers, commercial blowers and trimmers: mid-length term. Compare the term loan with dealer financing.
- Skid steer, mini excavator or trencher for hardscape: expensive equipment with many years of life. Equipment financing, SBA or your bank.
- A second crew: truck, trailer, equipment and the first paychecks. A term loan for the equipment and a separate line of credit for start-up payroll.
- A big landscape install (retaining walls, pavers, irrigation, lighting): materials you pay for up front and collect on at the end. A short loan repaid from the client's payment, or working capital.
- Winter equipment (snow plows, salt spreaders): if you offer snow removal, it gives you year-round income and makes the payment easier to carry.
If you are only buying equipment, compare with equipment financing for landscaping.
Will the payment survive the winter?
A term loan payment does not change with the season, but your revenue does. Before you sign, run this test:
- Find your worst month of the year in your bank statements. In many areas it is January or February; in the South it may be the hottest month or the rainy season.
- Subtract that month's fixed costs: truck and liability insurance, yard rent, phone, equipment payments and wages for anyone who stays on through winter.
- What is left is your real room for the payment. If it does not fit, borrow less, stretch the term, or wait until you have annual maintenance contracts.
- Check the frequency. A daily payment gets debited even when it rains all week. A weekly or monthly payment is easier to plan in this trade.
- Apply at the right time. Your statements look best at the end of summer; your need usually shows up at the end of winter. If you can, apply earlier, when your deposits are strong.
Monthly maintenance contracts with condos, office parks or homeowners associations are your best card: they show income that keeps coming even when residential work slows down.
Which to choose for your landscaping business
- Solo landscaper with one truck: an SBA Microloan or dealer financing for your first commercial equipment. If you already have regular clients and steady deposits, a funder that reviews sales can give you fast capital.
- Business with two or three crews: OnDeck or National Funding if you meet their requirements; a funder that reviews deposits if you need an answer in hours or your credit is under 625.
- Company with commercial contracts and hardscape work: compare an SBA 7(a) or your bank for large amounts; keep the fast option for opportunities that will not wait.
- Owner with an ITIN or a green card: the SBA 7(a) has not been an option since March 2026. Look for funders that accept your ID and review your sales. This is not immigration advice; if you have questions about your status, talk to an immigration attorney about your situation.
- Seasonal business with snow removal: you have income most of the year. Show those winter deposits: they improve your offer.
If you are still deciding between a term loan and a line, read business line of credit for landscaping.
Documents and common mistakes
Documents you will be asked for: a valid ID and an SSN or ITIN depending on the funder; 3 to 6 months of business bank statements; your LLC registration or DBA and your EIN; local licenses or a pesticide applicator license if you need one; the equipment quote; a list of maintenance contracts; and tax returns for larger amounts or SBA.
Common mistakes:
- Buying ten-year equipment with six-month money. The high payment leaves you without cash just as the season starts.
- Getting paid in cash and not depositing it. What never reaches the bank does not exist to a funder. Deposit everything into the business account.
- Mixing personal and business accounts. It complicates the review and lowers your offer.
- Stacking a loan on top of an advance without checking that both payments fit your worst month.
- Believing in sure-thing approvals. No serious funder promises approval without reviewing your business.
To see every option for your trade, not just term loans, read business loans for landscaping. When your statements are ready, you can apply here; it is free and does not impact your credit. Leer en español
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest term loan for a landscaping business to get?
The ones that review sales and deposits, not just credit. Merchant Fund Express considers profiles from a 500 FICO and often decides in 2–4 hours. OnDeck asks for a 625 FICO and a year in business. Banks and SBA loans usually cost less, but they ask for more paperwork and take weeks.
Can I finance a truck and trailer for my landscaping business with an ITIN?
It depends on the funder. Since March 2026, the SBA 7(a) requires every owner to be a U.S. citizen or national, so it is not an option with an ITIN. Our recommended funder accepts ITIN applicants and reviews your sales and deposits. With other funders, ask which IDs they accept before you apply.
Will a funder lend to a seasonal landscaping business?
Yes, many funders work with seasonal businesses, but they look at your deposits across the whole year. It helps to show maintenance contracts, winter income such as snow removal, and separate business accounts. Ask for a weekly or monthly payment instead of daily if your revenue drops sharply in winter.
Is a term loan or equipment financing better for landscapers?
If you are only buying one machine, equipment financing usually fits better because the equipment backs the payment and the term follows its useful life. If you need equipment, wages and materials at the same time, a term loan gives you one lump sum for all of it.
How long does my landscaping business need to be open?
OnDeck asks for one year. Microloan organizations can support businesses that are just starting. Funders that review sales and deposits look at your recent statements. With less than six months, options are limited; dealer financing or a microloan is usually the first step.