A secured business line of credit is an open revolving line (like a credit card) secured by business assets such as equipment, intellectual property, real estate, or other assets, if applicable. This type of financing allows small business owners to draw funds when needed, like a revolving credit card, on-demand, or make purchases. A business line of credit charges a principal & interest rate on the amount used up to a credit limit that cannot be exceeded without approval and are not open-ended forever. It requires renewal either semi-annually or annually to be extended.
Unlike term loans, you do not need to use the full limit at inception when you take a lump sum upfront. This type of financing is used mainly for small purchases and working capital.
Why Would a Business Want a Business Line of Credit Over Loans?
A business line of credit is popular because they are open, revolving, and have more flexibility than a term loan, which offers a fixed amount of money over a fixed term. A business line of credit is an excellent option for companies looking for the lowest rates due to the collateral protecting from loan default. They also can prove useful for companies that lack significant history or a proven track record needed to qualify for an unsecured business loan or line of credit.
Secured Business Line of Credit
Quick overview on Secured Business Lines of Credit and how they work:
Rates: Prime rate + 1.00% or starting at 3.75% up to 1.5 % per month simple interest . Interest only payments may be available.
Annual Fee: $0 to $500 fee
Terms: Revolving line of credit
Minimum Credit Score: credit requires 620 minimum credit score
Paperwork: 1-Page application and bank account statements
Processing Times: 1 business day
Personal Guarantee: Yes
Why Do Businesses Use Secured Business Line of Credit?
- Cash on-demand 24/7
- Only pay interest on daily balance (interest rate discount)
- Flexible payments
- Funds for expenses
- Emergency financing needs
- Controls fluctuation in daily flows of cash to cover low revenue periods·
- Purchase equipment or goods
- Unlimited use of funds
- Products and services
Why To Choose Secured Business Line of Credit Instead of Unsecured Lines of Credit?
When assets guarantee a loan or line of credit, those assets are considered collateral. This collateral offers financial institutions a lien on liquid or sizable assets by the lender in the event of a default to recoup losses. Because of this extra protection for the lender, a secured business line of credit can come with higher credit limits and significantly lower interest rates than an unsecured business line of credit.
Unsecured business credit lines are harder to get because the risk is more significant to the financial institution since none of the owner’s personal assets are at risk. There is no personal collateral required with business lines of credit, so the borrower’s assets are not available for seizure upon any default. Companies that get unsecured credit lines are either well established, highly desirable for financing, or the business is willing to pay a higher cost or smaller limit to avoid required collateral.
Secured Business Line of Credit Requirements
As with most financing options, with secured credit lines, you will need to provide basic personal information about you as the business owner and your organization information on an application.
The application will typically consist of:
- Company name
- Company address
- Start date/formation date
- Company FEIN number
- Nature of your business activities
- Business checking account information
- Annual and average monthly gross sales
- Profit and loss (if applicable)
- Owner(s) name
- Owner(s) address
- Owner(s) social security # and DOB
- Any and all collateral (if applicable)
Use of Funds of Secured Lines to borrow money
- Manage Cash Flow
- Business Expenses
- Supplement cash flow delays in accounts receivable
- Build Business Credit
- Emergency access funds
- Financial Protection
- Refinance Loan
What can be used as collateral?
- Equipment
- Business assets
- Business intellectual property
- Business physical infrastructure
- Real estate (if applicable)
Credit Requirements
Credit requirements will vary greatly depending on the lender, but the business owner’s credit plays a major role in the approval decision. What is true is that the better the credit, the better the terms you will be offered. There is funding available for excellent, good, fair, and even subprime credit depending on the lender, but make no mistake about it. Your terms and rates will be offered according to personal credit.
How Do I Get a Secured Business Line of Credit?
A secured business line of credit can provide small business owners with flexible and convenient access to the necessary funds to manage cash flow, purchase inventory, and invest in growth opportunities. However, securing a secured business line of credit requires careful planning and preparation.
1. Traditional Banks
Traditional national banks like Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citi Bank, Chase, and PNC Bank offer secured lines of credit and business loans and will have the best rates available. However, they have the industry’s strictest standards because they have bank depositors to protect from defaults.
Expect high personal and business credit history standards, high annual revenue requirements, at least three years in business, and multiple years’ tax returns that show profit. Many also restrict from lending to specific industries as well with rights reserved. Considered the best business lines but most difficult to get approved for. We have no relationship with any of the above mentioned banks including PNC Bank.
Small Business Line Terms
Line Amount: No maximum to specific limits. Higher credit limit than online lenders lines of credit.
Interest Rate: Prime rate + 1.00% or starting at 3.75%. Interest only payments may be available.
Repayment: Semi-annual to annual renewal
Annual Fee/Origination fees: 0% up 1% fee
Draws: Unlimited
Personal Credit Score: Good to excellent credit scores
Minimum Annual Revenue: $750,000
Credit Approval Level of Difficulty: Difficult. Only will approve successful, established businesses
2. Community Banks
Regional banks also have some of the best rates for secured business lines of credit. These lenders can have high personal and business credit standards, annual revenue requirements, at least three years in business, and multiple years’ tax returns that show business profit. Regional banks due take a more personal approach to underwriting and do seem to be more friendly to small businesses. Still, credit line or business loans, in general, are not easy to get approved for.
Small Business Line Terms
Line Amount: No maximum to specific limits
Interest Rate: Competitive interest rates-Prime rate + 1.00% or starting at 3.75%
Annual Fee/Origination fees: 0% up 1% fee
Repayment: Semi-annual to annual renewal
Draws: Unlimited
Credit: Good to excellent
Minimum Annual Revenue: $750,000
Credit Approval Level: Difficult. Only will approve successful, established businesses
Require Collateral: Personal and business property
3. Credit Unions (CUs)
Credit Unions are a mixed bag in terms of secured business lines of credit. They have great rates and terms, but many CUs stay out of business lending altogether as they are risk-averse for their member.
If your organization is a member of a credit union, you will have to check with them to see if they participate. Expect the same strict standards and requirements as you would find at national banks regarding loans.
Terms
Line Amount: No maximum to CU’s specific limits
Interest Rate: Prime rate + 1.00% or starting at 3.75%
Repayment: Semi-annual to annual renewal
Loan Administration fees: 0% to 1% annually
Draws: Unlimited, cash advance fees apply
Credit Score: Good to excellent
4. Online Lenders
Online lenders, also known as FinTech (Financial Technology), is a relatively new industry that has come on to the scene around the 2008 financial crisis to step into the underserved market of small businesses. An online lender generally has more lenient credit, financial health, time in the industry, and other requirements compared to banks or Credit Union’s.
Business Lines of Credit Terms
Maximum Business lines of Credit: Up to $250,000 committed line amount
Interest Rate: Interest rates starting at 4.66% up to 12-18%
Repayment: Semi-annual to annual renewal
Draws: Unlimited, cash advance fees apply
Credit Score: Excellent, good, fair, and even poor or bad credit scores
Benefits and Tradeoffs of Online (FinTech) Lenders
- Faster processing times – Funds in as little as one day with online banking
- Lower credit standards than alternatives
- Limited paperwork – Usually, the only requirements are a one-page application and business bank statement or online banking link.
- No financial statements required (amounts under 100k) – No tax returns, profit & loss, or balance sheets needed. Only business checking account statements are required.
- Lower asset or cash flow requirements
- Higher approval rates than alternatives
- Typically higher rates than alternatives
5. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration Offers an array of SBA loans and small business lines of credit intended to help businesses expand their services and grow. The SBA provides programs, guidelines, and loan guarantees. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is not a lender. The SBA offers a guarantee that gives the approved lender ability to take on the risk of business lending under SBA terms, rights reserved, that they would not ordinarily do so on their own. You must have a good to excellent credit score to qualify.
SBA CapLines
Description: Working capital
Maximum Line Amount: $5 million
Use of Proceeds: Finance seasonal and/or short-term cash flow needs; cost to perform; construction costs; advances against existing inventory and receivable; consolidation of short term debts.
Maturity: Up to 10 years, except Builders CapLine, which is 5 years
Maximum Interest Rate: $0-$25,000 Prime +4.25%, $25,001-$50,000 Prime +3.75%, over $50,000 Prime +2.75%
Fees: Fee charged on guarantied portion of loan only.$150,000 or less =2.0% $150,001-$700,000=3.0% above $700,000= 3.5% up to 1st million; plus 3.75% on guaranty portion over $1 million, 12 months or less .25% Ongoing of 0.55%. (The SBA guaranty fee on loans of $150,000 or less will be .6667% with an ongoing fee of 0% if a business is located in a rural area or HUBZone during FY 2019)
Frequently Ask Questions
Is it hard to get a business line of credit that is secured?
There are more opportunities than ever before for small businesses to secure a line of credit.
Is a secured line of credit a good idea vs. unsecured business lines?
A business line of credit is the most popular business financing option available to small businesses. Its flexibility and terms are very appealing to most small businesses to satisfy their financing needs.
Is an unsecured business credit line a better option?
Unsecured credit lines have their advantages, but you will pay for that luxury with higher costs and less favorable terms.
What are the rates for a secured line of credit?
Interest rates on a credit line will depend on your qualifications and the lender you choose and range from 3.75% up to 18% and higher. An unsecured line of credit has higher rate ranges.
Do business lines of credit require a personal guarantee?
Yes, a line of credit that is secured often comes with a guarantee, but so do credit cards!
Which bank is best for a business lines?
Where you do your business banking is the best shot at getting funding in this form.
Is a business credit card the same as business lines?
Business credit cards are a form of revolving credit very similar to a line of credit and not considered in the term loans category of business lending.
The Bottom Line
Small businesses should always start the business funding search by asking the following questions: what are the use of loan proceeds and the purpose of the money? Do you know your qualifications or shortcomings regarding what product and lender you are choosing when applying for a secured business line of credit?
Always check all financing options and resources available in the business financing online marketplace. It is also important to do a cost versus benefit analysis when choosing the best funding option. Contact one of our advancepoint lending specialists to compare, choose, and save.
*California Loans are not California Finance Lender Loans and are arranged through federally chartered banks or a wholly owned subsidiary. advancepoint is not affiliated with Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citi Bank, Chase, or PNC Bank.
