Sources for Business Lending

These independent companies are more likely to take business lending risks on startups and smaller businesses than banks. Often they specialize in particular industries, types of loans, or business sizes.

Try a broker
If you're turned down by your bank or just think you're likely to be, look into business loan brokers. As the name implies, brokers don't lend money directly - instead, they'll assess your situation and decide which lenders are most likely to accept your application.

Brokers are often a good source for commercial loans for startups or other higher risk businesses. Because the brokers bring in lots of business, they can sometimes get approvals that you wouldn't be able to get on your own. In addition, they'll also usually provide advice on your paperwork and give you other help in getting the loan.

However you can expect to pay a higher rate for a broker's services, both because they need to markup the loan from the provider and because they're taking greater risks.