It is hard; lines usually want history. A new business can start with revenue-based funding or a secured card, then graduate to a line once deposits and credit build.
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A traditional business line of credit is hard to get without history, because the lender is promising money you have not borrowed yet. New businesses usually build toward one in steps, starting with products that rely on deposits instead of a credit file.
Amount to request
$85,000.00
Funding range$25K to $5M
*Sample amounts shown. Your actual offer depends on your business and is reviewed before approval.
Net cash, total payback and payment shown before you sign.
Approved files are usually funded the next business day.
Your file goes to funders that fit it, so offers can be compared.
You can apply at 500; stronger credit opens more products.
Fast decisions. Applying takes about 5 minutes.
A short application. A soft credit pull to start.
We review revenue, time in business and bank activity, not just a credit score.
You see the amount, the schedule and the full repayment amount before you sign.
Funding in as little as 24 hours for qualified businesses.
A line of credit is revolving: the funder approves a limit, you draw what you need, repay it and draw again. Because the lender commits to future draws, it wants confidence that the business will stay healthy for a long time. Banks typically look for two years of operation, strong personal credit and financial statements. Online lenders may accept six months to a year of history, but they still check credit closely and often require minimum annual revenue.
If the business has no credit history at all, the first goal is to create a record. Open the business bank account and route every sale through it. Add one or two supplier accounts on net-30 terms that report to business bureaus, and a business credit card with a small limit that you pay in full each month. These steps create a business file within months and show lenders a pattern of responsible use.
While that file develops, deposit-based products can meet immediate needs. A merchant cash advance or revenue-based financing looks at several months of bank statements and personal credit from 500. It is not revolving in the same way, but many funders offer renewals once a portion is repaid, which acts as a practical substitute. Paying on time also builds the bank history that line-of-credit lenders review.
When you do apply for a line, ask about draw fees, maintenance fees, the repayment schedule for each draw and how often the limit is reviewed. A small line used and repaid regularly is often raised over time; a large line left untouched can be reduced or closed.
Through MFE, one application can show whether you qualify for a line of credit today or for a deposit-based option first, so you can choose a path rather than guessing.
While a line is out of reach, a deposit-based offer might look like this. Illustrative numbers.
| 500–549 | Revenue-based funding; strongest deposits needed |
| 550–599 | Revenue-based funding and renewals |
| 600–649 | More funders compete; better terms |
| 650+ | Lines of credit and term loans open up |
Minimum to apply is 500. Deposits, balances and time in business still carry the most weight.
| Month 0-3 | Business account, EIN, all sales deposited |
| Month 1-6 | Net-30 supplier accounts that report |
| Month 3-6 | Small business card paid in full |
| Month 3+ | Deposit-based funding if needed |
| Month 6-12+ | Apply for an online line of credit |
Good fit:
Probably not yet:
It is difficult without history. Some online lenders consider six months to a year of revenue; banks usually want two years.
Deposit-based funding, supplier credit and a small business card are common substitutes.
Many funders do not report to business bureaus, but on-time payments strengthen your bank history for future lenders.
Lines usually need stronger scores than revenue-based products, which begin at 500.
Draw and repay regularly, keep deposits growing and avoid negative days; many lenders review limits periodically.
Some lines charge maintenance or inactivity fees. Ask before you accept.
Example uses for illustration only.
Before you apply:
One secure application. A soft credit pull to start. No obligation to accept an offer.
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