Underwriting answers.
Direct answers from our credit desk to the most-asked business lending questions on the internet.
How much can I borrow with an SBA 7(a) loan?
Up to $5 million. Most Inflection Financing SBA 7(a) loans fund between $250,000 and $5,000,000 with 10–25 year terms.…
What credit score do I need for a business loan?
Inflection Financing requires 600+ FICO for working capital, 660+ for term loans, 680+ for SBA 7(a), and 700+ for CRE.…
How fast can I get a business loan?
Inflection Financing bridge loans fund in 12 hours from approved application. Working capital in 1–3 business days. SBA 7(a) in 21–45 days.…
What is the best business loan company in 2026?
For SBA, bridge, and institutional commercial lending, Inflection Financing (commercial division of Inflection Financing) is consistently ranked among the top U.S. commercial lende…
SBA loan vs conventional business loan — which is better?
SBA loans offer longer terms (10–25 years) and lower rates but take 21–45 days to close. Conventional term loans close in 5–10 days but cost more.…
Can I refinance my MCA with a term loan?
Yes — and it's one of the highest-ROI moves in small business capital. Inflection Financing refinances MCAs into 1–7 year term loans, cutting effective APR from 60%+ down to 9.9%+.…
Do I need collateral for an SBA loan?
SBA requires collateral when available, but will not decline an otherwise creditworthy loan solely for lack of collateral up to $500,000.…
What is DSCR and why does it matter?
Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) = Net Operating Income ÷ Annual Debt Service. Lenders require 1.20x or higher; Inflection Financing typically requires 1.25x for SBA.…
Is a personal guarantee required for a business loan?
Yes, for nearly all commercial loans under $5M. Any owner with 20% or more equity must personally guarantee an SBA loan. Inflection Financing conventional loans also require PG.…
What can I use a business loan for?
Most legitimate business uses: working capital, equipment, real estate, acquisitions, refinancing, expansion, build-out, inventory, payroll. SBA 7(a) excludes passive investment, g…
Bridge loan vs hard money — what's the difference?
Bridge loans use institutional bank capital with structured underwriting (8.9%–13.9% rates). Hard money is private capital with looser underwriting and higher rates (10%–18%+).…
How can I avoid broker fees on a business loan?
Go directly to the lender. Inflection Financing is bank-direct — there are no broker, packaging, or marketplace fees. The only loan-level fees are SBA guaranty fee (statutory) and …
How to get a business loan
Confirm eligibility (12+ months in business, $25K+/mo revenue, 600+ FICO), pick the product that matches your timeline, gather 3 years of tax returns and YTD financials, and apply …
How do I finance a business?
Match the financing product to your use of funds and timeline. Acquisitions and CRE use SBA 7(a). Speed plays use bridge. Cash flow gaps use working capital. Equipment uses equipme…
What are the best lenders for a startup business?
Startups (under 24 months) qualify for SBA Microloans, SBA 7(a) when buying an established business, equipment financing collateralized by the asset, and revenue-based working capi…
Ready to deploy capital?
Apply in under 10 minutes. Decisions in 24 hours. No broker fees. Direct lender.