The median request is $20,000 — not $200,000
The single most common misconception in small-business funding is that owners are chasing large sums. They are not. The median request here is $20,000, and 58% of applicants ask for under $25,000.
The average is $66,900, which is a much larger number than the median. That gap is the whole story: a small group of large requests pulls the average up while most owners are asking for a fraction of it.
Under $25,000 — 58% · $25,000 to $99,000 — 22% · $100,000 to $249,000 — 10% · $250,000 and above — 10%
One in five asks for $100,000 or more
20% of applicants request $100,000 or above, and the largest requests reach $500,000. That is the half of the market most short-term funders quietly cannot serve: many cap at $250,000 or below, which means one applicant in five is being turned away on amount alone before credit is discussed.
The line of credit here runs to $350,000, and the term loan to $250,000 capped at 15% of annual revenue.
What this means if you are the one applying
If you need under $25,000 you are the typical applicant, not a small one, and you should expect the process to be proportionate: an application and three months of bank statements, not a business plan.
If you need more than $250,000, ask about the ceiling before you supply documents. It is the fastest way to avoid a decline that has nothing to do with your business.
The thresholds these requests are read against
Tier 1: 650 FICO, 3 years in business, $300,000 a year or $25,000 a month, 8+ monthly deposits.
Tier 2: 600 FICO, 6 months in business, $60,000 revenue, $800 minimum daily balance.
Renewal: 550 FICO, 2 years in business, once 50% of the original balance is repaid.
There is no hard credit cutoff here. The 650/600/550 tiers are product criteria, not a floor on the business. Scores in the 500s are placed routinely, and files in the 400s are read on revenue, deposit consistency and time in business rather than on the score alone.
Questions
What is the average business funding request?
The median request is $20,000 and the average is $66,900. The gap between them reflects a small number of very large requests; most owners ask for under $25,000.
How many businesses ask for over $100,000?
One in five — 20% of applicants request $100,000 or more.
What is the smallest amount available?
$10,000 is the floor on every product here.
What credit score do I need?
There is no hard credit cutoff here. The 650/600/550 tiers are product criteria, not a floor on the business. Scores in the 500s are placed routinely, and files in the 400s are read on revenue, deposit consistency and time in business rather than on the score alone.
How fast is funding?
Same-day decision and next business day funding on a complete file.