We rank business funding options on seven concrete criteria: speed, minimum time in business, minimum credit, whether they accept owners with an ITIN or no SSN, the documents they ask for, the amounts they offer, and whether they require collateral. We don't use star ratings, made-up scores or statistics we can't verify. Every list says who each option is best for, because no single funding product is the best one for everybody.
This page lays out the full method: where our data comes from, why our recommended funder is listed first, and when we will tell you plainly that another option, like an SBA loan, is likely to cost you less.
Key takeaways
- We rank on seven criteria: speed, time in business, minimum credit, ITIN/no-SSN acceptance, documents, amounts and collateral.
- No ratings or scores. Each option gets a "best for" line plus the requirements we could verify.
- Company facts come from the company's official website or from government sources like sba.gov. If we can't confirm it, we don't publish it.
- Merchant Fund Express is listed first as our recommended funder, and we say so openly.
- When an SBA loan, a credit union or a CDFI could cost you less, we tell you.
- We don't give legal, immigration or tax advice, and we flag when you should talk to a licensed professional.
Why we don't use ratings or scores
Most comparison sites slap an overall rating or a 0-to-100 score next to each lender. That number almost never answers the question you actually have: can you, with your credit, your months in business and your paperwork, realistically get approved? A bank loan can top the chart and still be useless to a taco shop that opened eight months ago and is owned by someone with an ITIN.
So we changed the question. Instead of "what's the best?" we answer "best for whom?" Every option on our lists comes with:
- A "best for" line: the type of owner or situation where that option makes the most sense.
- The requirements we could verify: amounts, terms, minimum credit or time in business, as the company or program publishes them.
- The limitations: what it won't accept, what takes longer, or what tends to cost more.
That lets you cross off what doesn't fit in a minute and focus on the two or three options that are actually in reach.
The seven criteria we use
Here are the criteria, roughly in the order they matter for a small business owner:
| Criterion | What we check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | How long the decision and the deposit take, based on what each option publishes | Payroll and a broken truck don't wait three weeks |
| Time in business | Minimum months or years operating | It's the filter that knocks out the most new businesses |
| Minimum credit | Published minimum FICO score or typical range | Tells you whether applying is worth your time |
| ITIN / no SSN | Whether owners with an ITIN or without a Social Security number are accepted | Many immigrant owners are shut out of traditional banking on this alone |
| Documents | Bank statements, tax returns, financial statements, business plan | Less paperwork is faster, but it can also cost more |
| Amounts | Published minimum and maximum | An option that can't reach your number doesn't help |
| Collateral | Whether property, equipment or other assets are required | Putting your house or your truck on the line changes the decision |
Cost matters too, a lot. But your exact cost depends on your profile and almost no company publishes a fixed price, so we don't invent rates. We explain how each product's cost is structured (interest rate, factor rate, fees) and remind you to compare real offers in writing.
Where our data comes from
We follow three rules for every list:
- Official sources first. Facts about a company come from its own official website, checked on the date shown on the page. Facts about government programs come from .gov sites. For example, the SBA publishes that a 7(a) loan goes up to $5 million and that microloans go up to $50,000 with a maximum term of seven years.
- If we can't verify it, we don't publish it. If a company doesn't say on its site what its minimum credit score is or whether it accepts an ITIN, we don't guess. We'd rather leave a fact out than give you a wrong one.
- No invented statistics. You won't see "80% of owners get approved" or customer testimonials here. When we use numbers in an example, we label them as an example.
Requirements change, sometimes fast. The SBA is a good example: since March 1, 2026 (SBA Procedural Notice 5000-876626), 100% of the direct and indirect owners of an SBA 7(a) or 504 applicant must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals whose principal residence is in the United States. That's why every page carries a date, and why we recommend confirming the details with the company before you sign. You can read the program rules yourself at sba.gov.
Why Merchant Fund Express is listed first
We'll be straight with you: Merchant Fund Express is our recommended funder and it sits at #1 on our lists. It isn't hidden and it isn't disguised as something else. We chose it because it fits the reality of many owners who read this site, and we explain the reasoning in how we choose the recommended funder.
Measured against our seven criteria, here's what our recommended funder publishes:
- Speed: decisions often in 2 to 4 hours.
- Credit: FICO 500+; stronger credit and cash flow usually mean better offers.
- How it reviews: looks at your sales and deposits, not just your score.
- Amounts: $5,000 to $5,000,000.
- Collateral: not required in most cases.
- ITIN: accepts applicants with an ITIN (no SSN needed).
- Applying: free, with no impact to your credit.
- Language: Spanish-speaking support is available.
Being listed first doesn't mean it's the cheapest option for everyone. It means it's the option we recommend checking first when you need speed, your credit isn't perfect, or the bank has already said no.
When we tell you another option is better
An honest list has to say when something else wins. These are the situations where we always point it out:
- You qualify for an SBA loan. If you have good credit, a few years in business, clean tax returns and you meet the citizenship rule, an SBA loan usually costs less, even though it takes longer and asks for more paperwork.
- You need a small amount and can wait. An SBA microloan or a CDFI (community development financial institution) may offer better terms, and often throws in free business coaching.
- You're a credit union member. Credit unions sometimes offer small loans or lines of credit to members on reasonable terms.
- You're buying a specific piece of equipment. Dealer or manufacturer financing can be competitive because the equipment itself secures the loan.
In those cases we say so in the text. Our job is to help you make a good decision, not to get you to apply for the first thing you see.
What we don't do
So you know exactly what to expect from our lists:
- We don't promise approval. No funder can tell you yes before reviewing your file.
- We don't invent rates or total costs. We explain the structure and ask you to compare offers in writing.
- We don't give immigration advice. On ITIN, green card or DACA pages we explain what funders ask for, but your personal situation belongs with an immigration attorney.
- We don't give legal or tax advice. For bankruptcy, contracts or deductions, talk to a licensed professional.
- We don't link to lender websites. We name options by name or category, and you decide whether to look them up.
- We don't lend money. Money for Your Business is a guide site. Approvals and offers come from the funder, not from us.
How to use this method for your own decision
You can run the same seven criteria on any offer you get, even one that isn't on our lists:
- Write down your numbers. Months in business, average monthly sales over recent months, rough credit score, whether you have an SSN or an ITIN, and how much you need.
- Define the use. Buying equipment and covering payroll are different jobs. The use picks the product: equipment financing for equipment, working capital for day-to-day expenses.
- Cross off fast. If an option requires two years and you have one, move on.
- Compare two or three real offers. Get each in writing with the total cost, the payment frequency (daily, weekly or monthly) and any penalties.
- Stress-test your cash flow. Make sure the payment fits your slowest week, not your best one.
If you want to start with the option we recommend, you can apply with Merchant Fund Express; it's free and doesn't affect your credit. To see the method in action, browse our best small business funding rankings, or compare the best SBA loan alternatives. Prefer Spanish? Leer en español.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't you use star ratings or scores?
Because an overall rating doesn't tell you whether you qualify. A loan with an excellent reputation can be out of reach for a six-month-old business or an owner with an ITIN. We'd rather say who each option is best for and show the requirements we could verify, so you can rule out what doesn't fit quickly and spend your time on real options.
Do companies pay to appear on your lists?
Our recommended funder is listed first, and we say so on every list. The other options are included because they're relevant to readers, not because of payment. That's also why we point out when an SBA loan, a credit union or a CDFI could cost you less than the options at the top.
How often do you update the information?
Every page shows the date we reviewed it. Companies and government programs change their requirements, as the SBA did with its 2026 citizenship rule for 7(a) and 504 loans, so always confirm the details directly with the company or on sba.gov before you sign any contract.
What should I do if an option on the list turns me down?
Ask for the reason in writing. It's often something specific, like too few months in business, irregular deposits or negative balance days in your account. With that reason in hand, move to the next option on the list that accepts your profile, or work on that weak spot for a few months before you apply again.
Do you lend the money?
No. Money for Your Business is a guide site. We don't lend, and we don't approve or decline applications. We explain your options and recommend a funder. When you apply, the review and any offer come from the funder, not from us.
How do I pick the best funding option for my business quickly?
Start with three facts: how much you need, what it's for and when you need it. If it's urgent and your credit isn't perfect, look first at options that weigh your sales and deposits. If you can wait several weeks and your paperwork is in order, also compare an SBA loan or a credit union loan. That usually narrows the field to two or three choices.