In some situations, companies might need additional funding to boost their capital, daily finance operations, inventory, or expand their business. A commercial loan is broad and sometimes overwhelming, especially for small businesses.
How Commercial Loans Work
Additionally, a loan can help a business in everyday operations or protect against possible cash crunches. Business owners will likely engage in loans at some point. Hence, it is essential to understand how commercial loans work and the available options for every business owner.
What is a commercial loan?
In general, a commercial loan is a type of business financing offered by banks or other financial institutions. Additionally, they are one of the essential assets a business can access. In most cases, a company takes out a loan to fund expansion which requires additional equipment, office space, etc.
A loan sometimes can also serve as an investment. Not all businesses have the capacity to have the capital to hit goals and benchmarks for growth. Regulatory hurdles and costly upfront expenses often prevent small companies from getting direct access to bonds for financing. This means that small businesses, in one way or another, will rely on lending products such as commercial loans.
How does it function?
Established businesses surely know how commercial loans work. In the case of newly-built companies, it might take some familiarization with how the industry works and the kind of loan a company can apply for.
In context, a commercial loan can either be secured or unsecured. However, in most cases, they can come as unsecured, which means lenders do not require borrowers’ security or collateral. Others, however, will use accounts receivables and inventory as collateral.
For borrowers who opt to take out a commercial loan without collateral, their credit scores will be significant in getting approved. A good credit history means a higher chance of getting easy loan approval. Commercial loans generally have lower interest rates compared to other business loans.
Commercial loans vary depending on the lender. In most cases, each lender implements various sets of terms and conditions. One excellent point to look into is the interest rate. It will depend on numerous factors, including the other rates in the market, the principal amount, payment terms, and the risk factors associated with the borrower.
Why does one need a commercial loan?
One of the primary reasons why businesses apply for commercial loans is to get funding. However, it might not be enough to state the obvious of obtaining additional financing as lenders might need a more specific purpose for the loan.
Of course, small businesses want to expand to reach more customers and new markets. Growing your business ensures that the profit does not shrink or plateau when the company is booming. With further growth comes more costs, including advertising, renovations, new property, and an increase in the workforce. In these situations, your daily cash flow and cash on hand might not be sufficient to shoulder all the costs.
Loans can help your business cover expansion costs without distracting the operational funds. This way, you can continue to serve and impress customers while focusing on business growth.
If there is one element in the business where it can be most challenging to manage the expenses, it’s inventory. The tricky part is that a business needs to invest in products that its customers have yet to purchase. Once the company operates, you must continuously expand and replenish inventory to keep up with customers’ demands. This aspect is much more challenging when the business needs seasonal inventory like winter coats.
With a commercial loan, your business can offset inventory costs and stay ahead of trends and customer demand without hampering the cash flow.
The same with inventory, cash flow will always be one of the challenges for small businesses. Furthermore, it can be a problem when a business deals with customers not paying for the products or services on time. More importantly, the issues are much more problematic when considering regular costs of inventory, utilities, staff, rent, or mortgage.
Loans can provide funding for regular operational costs. Additionally, they can help the business stay afloat when the profits are low.
You can seldom see a business without any equipment. They can be machinery or equipment customers use, like treadmills for fitness. These machines can be expensive, can wear down, and be outdated over time.
Unexpected expenses like repairs or replacement of defective equipment can disrupt your budget. In some cases, running the business without that specific equipment won’t be an option. Broken machinery may also increase the business’ liability. Eventually, the problem might chase off customers seeking reliable service.
A business can manage equipment costs with commercial loans to provide the best experience for customers. The cash you get from the loan allows your business to keep up to date with the innovations.
In preparation for larger loans
Smaller loans will be your stepping stones to getting larger loans in the future. This is especially significant if the business does not have a good credit history. A good strategy is to get an easy-to-pay loan and pay it off on time. This could lead to your business striking good deals, especially when you need larger loans in the future.
The types of commercial loan
Lenders today vary their loan options to suit every business’s needs. The same goes for commercial loans. They come in different kinds, which business owners can take advantage of.
Commercial real estate loan. This type of loan is applicable when a business plans to purchase a commercial property. Commercial estate loans can come in permanent loans, which serve as the first mortgage on a commercial property. A blanket loan is another commercial real estate loan designed to cover multiple property purchases.
A business line of credit. How commercial loans work with business lines of credit is similar to that of a credit card. Instead of having a lump sum of cash, borrowers will qualify for a maximum amount. They can then draw funds from the line of credit as needed. Interestingly, they will only pay for the interest of the amount used.
Equipment financing. In some cases, pieces of equipment can be expensive that even the daily cash flow cannot cover. Instead of purchasing the equipment outright, you can do it through a loan. The equipment will serve as collateral in case you default on the loan.
Commercial construction loan. When a business looks to build and design structures, it can use this type of loan to cover the expenses.
Commercial auto loan. In situations when businesses need vehicles, commercial auto loans can come in handy. This loan is excellent for average vehicles like vans, cars, or pick-up trucks.
Term loan. Business term loans are flexible loans with consistent repayment schedules. Looking at how commercial loans work under this type, they generally serve a loan term that borrowers need to repay in five years or less.
Bridge loan. This is a short-term loan having a much higher interest rate. The loan allows companies to fill the gap between the current business needs and longer-term financing solutions.
Inventory financing. How commercial loans work with inventory financing is like purchasing products that will be sold later. Businesses can usually buy inventory in bulk with inventory financing. In return, these products will serve as collateral.
SBA loan. The Small Business Administration of the United States has various loan programs. This includes SBA 7(a) loan, SBA 504 loan, and microloans.
Commercial loans boost cash flow. Suppose you have a highly seasonal business; keeping the operation running and growing for the rest of the year can be challenging. These loans allow companies to fund the cash flow, especially in slower seasons.
In some cases, borrowers can access larger financing amounts. Commercial loans are significant for small businesses as it can be challenging to secure funding through equity markets for some reasons.
Some lenders offer lower interest rates. When using a commercial loan calculator, businesses will probably emphasize how interest rates affect their repayments. Additionally, lenders implement a lower interest rate on secured commercial loans.
Borrowers can access funds through commercial loans without collateral. Sometimes, lenders do not necessarily require collateral to approve these loans. However, it might also be noteworthy that they will ask for personal guarantees before they issue the loan.
Some lenders might need to conduct a thorough assessment of the application. Hence, the process might take time. They need to ensure that a borrower can repay the loan on time. This specifically applies to those with no collateral involved.
Lenders can also impose strict eligibility requirements. This factor will also vary depending on the financial institution. Also, lenders will look into the borrowers’ finances, including credit scores, unpaid debts, and annual income.
There can be harsh consequences in case one defaults on a loan. Despite the lower interest rates and extended repayment plans, commercial loans might also cause dire consequences in some cases. Suppose you took a secured loan with your property or house as collateral; you risk losing the collateral if you default on the loan.
What is the process of getting a commercial loan?
Research. You need to identify your business needs to streamline the financial institutions that can cater to your funding needs. Also, look into a commercial loan calculator to see how much it will cost you if you apply for such a loan. It might also be beneficial to talk with lenders before choosing one.
Determine your credit score. In most cases, lenders will look into the borrower’s credit score to assess their eligibility. Hence, you need to determine your personal and business credit scores. Suppose your business is new, and a business credit score may not be available.
Prepare the documents. A cash flow statement, profit and loss statement, and balance sheet will be a few of the documents you need to prepare before application. Documents will vary depending on the lender. Ensure you have everything for a faster application process.
Create business plans. Every business indeed has a business plan. The application will rely heavily on the company’s business plan and financial stability for larger loans from banks.
How can one qualify for a commercial loan?
Firstly, you need to provide your creditworthiness. After all, it’s one of the most significant aspects lenders would look into loan applications. One’s creditworthiness will depend on how consistent your business cash flow is and your credit score.
Do I need to make a down payment to apply for a commercial loan?
It will depend on the lender and the loan you will apply for. In most cases, financial institutions need no down payment. In general, down payments will be required for vehicle, equipment, or property loans.
Is a commercial loan calculator reliable?
In most cases, a commercial loan calculator provides you with an estimate. It will help borrowers know whether their finances can afford the loan they are about to get. Online lenders like Booster Financial provide representatives so you can further discuss loan options and costs.
How do lenders determine loan rates?
Lenders usually determine the loan rates on two aspects – your personal and business finances. Lenders might also consider the property value when loans are for construction, real estate purchase, or renovation.
Are commercial loans hard to qualify for?
Online lenders today offer a vast range of loan options for every business. Hence borrowers will have many options. Qualifying for a commercial generally depends on various factors. To have a seamless experience with the application, it is beneficial to prepare all documents and choose the right lender for you.
Where to get commercial loans?
Besides banks and online lenders, those looking for commercial loans can also reach out to hard-money lenders. These lenders offer short-term and fast approval of loans. However, they impose higher interest rates. Another opinion is crowdlending which implements few regulations resulting in higher risk factors.
Understand Your Options
Find out more about the different finance opportunities available in your area and get funded today!