How Much Is a Small-Business Loan?

The average small-business loan amount can vary based on the lender, loan type and your business's qualifications.

Randa Kriss
By Randa Kriss 
Updated
Edited by Sally Lauckner

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The average small-business loan amount made by commercial banks in the U.S. is $663,000, according to the most recent available data from the Federal Reserve

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Survey of Terms of Business Lending. Accessed Jan 2, 2024.
. How much funding you’re eligible to receive, however, depends on several factors.

Understanding typical small-business loan amounts can put you in a better position to determine the right financing option for your needs. Here’s what you need to know.

What is the typical small-business loan amount?

A green bank that has a coin slot at the top where a hand is depositing a coin.
Large national banks$593,000
A green bank.
Small regional banks$146,000
Paper documents wrapped with a ribbon that has a checkmark on it.
SBA lenders$107,000
A person looking at a mobile phone.
Alternative lenders$25,000 to $100,000

Average small-business loan amount by lender

Small-business bank loans are traditionally difficult to qualify for — you’ll need excellent credit, strong finances and multiple years in business. Those who can qualify, however, will likely be able to access low interest rates, long repayment terms and large loan amounts.

According to data from the Federal Reserve, banks offer the largest average business loan amounts, followed by SBA lenders. Alternative lenders, which often have more flexible eligibility requirements than banks or SBA lenders, offer the lowest average loan amounts.

Lender

Average small-business loan amount

Large national banks

$593,000.

Small regional banks

$146,000.

Foreign banks (made by U.S. branches)

$8,512,000.

SBA lenders

$107,000.

Alternative lenders

$25,000 to $100,000.

How much do you need?

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We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Average small-business loan amount by SBA lender

SBA loans are partially guaranteed by the U.S. Business Administration and issued by participating lenders, typically banks and credit unions. These loans offer competitive interest rates, long repayment terms and can be slightly easier to qualify for than bank loans.

Generally, you’ll still need good credit, multiple years in business and strong finances to get an SBA loan. Although the average SBA loan amount from all banks is $107,000, the Federal Reserve’s data shows that small banks tend to issue larger loans.

Type of SBA lender

Average small-business loan amount

Large national banks

$59,000.

Small regional banks

$165,000.

Average small-business loan amount by alternative lender

Although online business lenders tend to offer lower average funding amounts compared with traditional lenders, these alternative options have increased in popularity in recent years. Online lenders typically have more flexible qualifications and some work with new businesses or those with bad credit.

These companies can also offer several types of loan products — and there’s a variety of alternative lenders to choose from.

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of some well-known online lenders and the funding ranges they offer.

Lender

Typical small-business loan range

AltLINE

Up to $10 million.

American Express® Business Line of Credit

$2,000 to $250,000.

Bluevine

$6,000 to $250,000.

Credibly

$5,000 to $400,000.

Fora Financial

$5,000 to $1.5 million.

Fundbox

Up to $150,000.

Funding Circle

$25,000 to $500,000.

Headway Capital

$5,000 to $100,000.

National Funding

$5,000 to $500,000.

OnDeck

$5,000 to $250,000.

Rapid Finance

$5,001 to $1 million.

Triton Capital

$5,000 to $250,000.

It’s important to remember that although some alternative lenders have high maximum loan limits, you may not always qualify for the largest amount of financing available.

In general, the stronger your business credentials — such as years in business, personal credit score and annual revenue — the more likely you are to qualify for a larger loan, as well as one with lower interest rates and longer repayment terms.

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Bluevine - Line of credit
OnDeck - Online term loan
Funding Circle - Online term loan
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
NerdWallet rating 

5.0

/5
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5

Est. APR 

20.00-50.00%

Est. APR 

35.40-99.90%

Est. APR 

15.22-45.00%

Min. credit score 

625

Min. credit score 

625

Min. credit score 

660

Average small-business loan amount by loan type

When you’re trying to find the right business funding, you’ll want to consider different loan options in addition to your lender.

Some types of small-business loans, like SBA 7(a) loans and medium-term loans, are good for large investments — and bigger loan amounts. Other types of financing, like short-term loans and invoice financing, are better for smaller projects and working capital needs.

Here’s what you can expect for typical small-business loan amounts based on the type of funding.

Lender

Average small-business loan amount

SBA 7(a) loan

$479,685.

SBA Express loan

$98,298.

SBA 504 loan

$1,083,622.

SBA microloan

$15,644.

Medium-term loan

$110,000.

Short-term loan

$20,000.

Business line of credit

$22,000.

Equipment financing

Up to 100% of the value of the equipment.

Invoice financing

Up to 90% of the value of your outstanding invoices.

How to find the right small-business loan

When you’re looking for business financing, you’ll want to explore and compare multiple options. You should think about:

  • Why you need a loan.

  • How fast you need funding.

  • How much capital you need.

  • Your business’s qualifications.

  • Total cost of the potential debt.

If you need a larger small-business loan amount, you might look to national banks and SBA 7(a) loan lenders. You’ll likely need multiple years in business, strong credit and solid business finances to qualify, however.

Some alternative lenders may be able to offer larger loan amounts — if you have good credentials — but these loans are also typically more expensive than traditional loan options. For smaller business loan amounts, you might consider regional banks, SBA lenders or online lenders — depending on your qualifications and how fast you need financing.

Compare your business loan options

The best business loan is generally the one with the lowest rates and most ideal terms. But other factors — like time to fund and your business’s qualifications — can help determine which option you should choose. NerdWallet recommends comparing small-business loans to find the right fit for your business.