If your business has been open about six months, the most realistic path to working capital is a revenue-based advance funded on your bank-deposit history rather than your time in business or credit score. Traditional bank loans and most SBA products want two years of tax returns, so a six-month-old company rarely clears that bar. But many revenue-based funders and marketplaces will approve on three to six months of steady business bank statements, a monthly revenue floor (often around $10,000 or more), and a FICO of roughly 500 and up. Funding commonly lands within 24 to 48 hours after approval. Nothing is guaranteed — but at six months, deposits are the lever that actually moves.
Key takeaways
- Most banks and SBA loans want ~2 years in business; revenue-based funders approve on 3-6 months of bank deposits
- Approval leans on deposit history and monthly revenue more than credit score
- Typical baseline: ~$10,000+ monthly revenue, FICO 500+, active business bank account
- First offers are usually smaller — often around one month of revenue
- Cost is a factor rate (e.g., $10,000 at 1.30 = $13,000 repaid), not an APR
- Funding commonly lands 24-48 hours after approval — never guaranteed
- A marketplace sends one application to multiple funders that approve early-stage businesses
Why six months is the real dividing line
Six months in business sits right at the edge of what most revenue-based funders will consider. It matters because their underwriting is built around your bank statements, and a funder generally wants to see enough months of deposits to judge whether your revenue is steady, seasonal, or still finding its footing.
Here is the practical landscape at the six-month mark:
- Banks and SBA loans: almost always out of reach — they typically want two years of operating history and tax returns.
- Business lines of credit from a bank: usually need one to two years plus strong credit.
- Revenue-based advances and marketplaces: commonly available, because they underwrite on three to six months of business bank deposits rather than years of history.
In other words, being turned down by a bank at six months is normal and says little about whether a revenue-based funder will approve you. They are reading a different signal.
What actually qualifies you at six months
With a revenue-based funder, approval leans on your deposit history and monthly revenue far more than on your credit score. If your business bank account shows consistent money coming in, you are in the conversation even with bruised personal credit.
Typical baseline expectations look like this:
| Factor | What funders usually look for |
|---|---|
| Time in business | ~6 months of operating history (some accept 3-4) |
| Monthly revenue | Often ~$10,000+ in deposits |
| Bank statements | Last 3-6 months, business account |
| Credit score (FICO) | 500+ considered; higher helps pricing |
| Deposit pattern | Regular deposits, few negative days, minimal NSFs |
| Business bank account | Active and in the business name |
Notice what is not on that list: two years of tax returns, collateral, or a pristine credit report. The consistency of your deposits carries the most weight.
What you can realistically expect to be offered
At six months, offers are usually smaller and shorter than what a two-year-old business would see. Funders limit their exposure early because they have less history to judge. That is normal — a first, smaller advance that you repay cleanly is what builds the track record for larger amounts later.
Here is an illustrative example of how offer size often scales with monthly revenue at the six-month stage. These are rounded, for-example figures — not quotes:
| Average monthly deposits | Typical first-advance range (for example) | Common term |
|---|---|---|
| ~$10,000 | ~$5,000 - $10,000 | 3-6 months |
| ~$25,000 | ~$10,000 - $25,000 | 4-9 months |
| ~$50,000 | ~$25,000 - $50,000 | 6-12 months |
Many funders advance roughly one month of revenue for a first position. Repayment is usually a fixed daily or weekly amount pulled automatically from your business account, so the payment schedule should match how often your revenue actually comes in.
How the money and cost actually work
Revenue-based working capital is priced with a factor rate, not an APR you may be used to from a term loan. If you take $10,000 at a 1.3 factor, you repay $13,000 total — the extra $3,000 is the fixed cost of the capital, regardless of how fast you pay it down.
An example of how a first advance might look at six months (rounded, for illustration only):
| Item | Example figure |
|---|---|
| Advance amount | $10,000 |
| Factor rate | 1.30 |
| Total repayment | $13,000 |
| Term | ~6 months |
| Estimated daily payment (22 biz days/mo) | ~$98 |
This kind of capital is faster and easier to qualify for than a bank loan, and it costs more to reflect that. It fits urgent, revenue-generating needs — inventory, payroll, a time-sensitive opportunity — where speed matters. It is not the right tool for slow, low-margin purposes where a cheaper, slower loan would serve better once you have more history.
Newer business, thin or no personal credit
Because approval leans on deposits, six-month-old businesses with limited or damaged personal credit still get funded regularly. The same is true for many owners without a Social Security number: a number of revenue-based funders will review an application on the strength of business bank deposits, and some accept an ITIN. Requirements vary by funder, so this is never a guarantee — but a lack of traditional credit is not automatically disqualifying.
To give yourself the strongest read on your statements:
- Run revenue through a business bank account in the business name, not a personal one — funders want to see business deposits cleanly.
- Avoid overdrafts and negative days in the months before you apply; NSFs are one of the biggest offer-killers.
- Keep deposits steady. A few consistent months matter more than one big spike.
- Have your documents ready: last 3-6 months of statements, a voided check, and basic business details.
This is general information, not legal, tax, or immigration advice — check specifics with a qualified professional for your situation.
How to apply and why a marketplace helps
At six months, the biggest risk is not rejection — it is taking the first offer you find without seeing whether a better one exists. Funders differ widely on how they weigh a short operating history, so the same business can get very different terms from different desks.
Applying through a revenue-based marketplace lets one application reach multiple funders that specialize in early-stage, deposit-based approvals. That matters most at six months, when some funders will decline on time-in-business alone while others approve comfortably on the same statements. A single submission, one credit inquiry, and several looks at your file is the efficient way to find the funder that treats your six months favorably. Typical flow:
- Submit a short application and connect or upload 3-6 months of bank statements.
- Receive offers, often within a day, showing amount, factor rate, term, and payment.
- Compare total repayment and payment frequency against your cash flow before you sign.
Funding frequently arrives 24 to 48 hours after you accept. Compare the real numbers, not just the headline amount — and never treat any offer as guaranteed until it is in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get working capital with only 6 months in business?
Often yes — through revenue-based funders that underwrite on your bank deposits rather than years of tax returns. If your business account shows steady deposits (commonly around $10,000+ a month) and your FICO is roughly 500 or higher, you are usually eligible to apply. Banks and SBA loans generally still require about two years, so a revenue-based advance or marketplace is the realistic route at six months.
How much can a 6-month-old business qualify for?
First offers are usually smaller because funders have less history to judge. A common rule of thumb is roughly one month of revenue for a first advance — so a business depositing about $25,000 a month might see offers in the $10,000 to $25,000 range, for example. Clean repayment of a first, smaller advance is what unlocks larger amounts later.
Does my credit score matter more than my revenue?
No. With revenue-based funding, approval leans on your bank-deposit history and monthly revenue far more than on credit score. Many funders consider a FICO around 500 and up. A higher score can improve your pricing, but consistent deposits and few negative days carry the most weight at six months.
What documents do I need to apply?
Usually your last three to six months of business bank statements, a voided business check, basic business and owner details, and sometimes a photo ID. That is typically it — no two years of tax returns, and no collateral for most revenue-based advances.
Can I qualify with an ITIN or no SSN?
Often yes. Because approval leans on business bank deposits, many revenue-based funders will review an application without a traditional credit profile, and some accept an ITIN. Requirements vary by funder and it is never guaranteed. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice — confirm specifics for your situation.
How fast can I get the money?
After approval, funding commonly lands within 24 to 48 hours. The full process — applying, submitting statements, reviewing offers, and signing — can move within a day or two when your bank statements are ready and clean.
How is the cost calculated?
Revenue-based advances use a factor rate, not an APR. For example, $10,000 at a 1.30 factor means you repay $13,000 total. Repayment is usually a fixed daily or weekly amount pulled automatically from your business account, matched to how often your revenue comes in.
Why apply through a marketplace instead of one funder?
At six months, funders weigh a short operating history very differently — some decline on time-in-business alone while others approve on the same statements. A marketplace sends one application to multiple funders, so you see several offers from a single submission and can pick the one that treats your six months most favorably.
