Best Inventory Financing Loans in March 2025

Inventory financing allows businesses to purchase inventory without providing cash upfront.

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OnDeck: Best for businesses that need quick funding

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$5,000 to $250,000

31.30%  Minimum APR offered to at least 5% of customers (not the lowest rate offered)

Up to 24 months

Pros
  • Same-day funding available
  • You can apply for more funding before the loan is completely paid off
  • Can help build business credit
Cons
  • Daily or weekly loan payments required
  • Business checking account is required
  • Loans not available in North Dakota

Why we picked it

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With OnDeck, you may be able to receive the funds you need to stock up on inventory in as little as a few hours, making this an ideal choice for businesses with urgent financing needs. Same-day funding is available for loans up to $100,000, while larger loans (up to $250,000) will be deposited within two to three business days.

However, it’s worth noting that OnDeck’s interest rates tend to run high, and daily or weekly loan payments will be required, so with relatively short loan terms you’ll need to make sure your business budget can handle the repayment schedule.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet OnDeck’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 625
  • Minimum time in business: 12 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $100,000

Bluevine: Best for businesses with ongoing needs

Up to $250,000

7.80%

3, 6 or 12 months

Pros
  • Fast application process
  • No monthly or maintenance fees
  • Only pay interest on what you borrow
Cons
  • Relatively short repayment terms
  • Not available in Nevada, North Dakota or South Dakota
  • Some term lengths require a Bluevine Business Checking account

Why we picked it

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If you’re looking for inventory financing to cover recurring expenses, Bluevine’s business line of credit could be a good fit. With this line of credit, you can borrow funds as needed up to $250,000, only paying interest on what you withdraw. As you make payments, your credit line will replenish, allowing you to continually access funding for your business.

With low starting rates and no monthly or maintenance fees, Bluevine’s line of credit is relatively affordable. However, you’ll need a Bluevine Business Checking account to qualify for its three-month line of credit, which has lower annual revenue and time in business requirements.

How to qualify

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To get a line of credit with a three-month term, you’ll need to meet the following criteria to qualify for financing:

  • Minimum credit score: 625
  • Minimum time in business: 6 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $50,000
  • Active Bluevine Checking account

To get a six- or 12-month term, you’ll need to be in business for a minimum of 12 months with at least $120,000 in annual revenue.

Fundbox: Best for startup businesses

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Up to $150,000

4.66% to 8.99%  4.66% for 12-week terms
8.99% for 24-week terms

12 or 24 weeks

Pros
  • Short time in business requirement
  • Available to businesses in all U.S. states and many territories
  • No early prepayment penalties
Cons
  • Relatively short repayment terms
  • Offers only one loan product

Why we picked it

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Newly established businesses can consider a startup business line of credit from Fundbox to cover inventory and other essential startup expenses. While credit limits only go up to $150,000, Fundbox’s eligibility requirements make it possible for businesses to qualify after only three months in operation.

It’s worth noting that Fundbox’s repayment terms are significantly shorter than our other picks, potentially putting a strain on your startup budget. But if your budget can handle the weekly payments, receiving your funds as quickly as the next business day might be ideal for your financial needs.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet Fundbox’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 600
  • Minimum time in business: 3 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $30,000

American Express: Best for borrowers with excellent credit

$2,000 to $250,000

3.00% to 27.00%  3% to 9% for 6-month terms
6% to 18% for 12-month terms
9% to 27% for 18-month terms
12% to 18% for 24-month terms

6 to 24 months

Pros
  • Low monthly revenue requirement
  • Funding available in 1 to 3 business days, or instantly if you have a linked American Express checking account
  • No prepayment penalties
Cons
  • Confusing fee structure that varies based on term length
  • Lines of credit over $150,000 are only available for borrowers with a pre-existing relationship

Why we picked it

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With the lowest starting rates on this list, the American Express Business Line of Credit is an ideal option for borrowers with strong credit profiles, which may allow them to unlock rates as low as 3.00% for six-month loans. Credit lines range from $2,000 to $250,000 and can be used to cover inventory purchases, payroll services, equipment repairs and seasonal dips in revenue.

Note that lines of credit over $150,000 are only available for borrowers with a pre-existing relationship with American Express. Business owners with an American Express small business credit card might be pre-approved for a business line of credit — log into your account today to explore your options.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet American Express’ criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 660
  • Minimum time in business: 12 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $36,000

Fora Financial: Best for businesses seeking large loan amounts

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Up to $1,500,000

1.13

4 to 18 months

Pros
  • Largest loan sizes on this list
  • You can borrow more after repaying 60% of original debt
  • Early payoff discount available
Cons
  • High annual revenue requirement
  • Doesn’t help build business credit
  • Factor rates can make it difficult to compare loan costs with other loan offers

Why we picked it

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Fora Financial’s working capital loans offer loan amounts as high as $1,500,000, making this a viable option for established businesses looking for larger loans than what other lenders can provide. Working capital can be used for inventory, equipment, maintaining cash flow, hiring staff and more.

While Fora Financial offers a discount for paying off your debt early, on-time payments won’t help you build business credit. And although the lender’s credit score and time in business requirements are relatively low, its annual revenue requirements are quite high. Businesses will need to earn a minimum of $240,000 in annual revenue to qualify.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet Fora Financial’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 570
  • Minimum time in business: 6 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $240,000

Credibly: Best for borrowers with bad credit

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$25,000 to $600,000

1.11

6 to 24 months

Pros
  • Low minimum credit score requirement
  • Same-day funding available
  • Funds can be used for a range of purposes
Cons
  • High annual revenue requirement
  • Charges a one-time 2.50% origination fee
  • Factor rates can make it difficult to compare loan costs with other loan offers

Why we picked it

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Business owners with less-than-perfect credit can consider a bad credit business loan from Credibly, as the lender accepts borrowers with scores as low as 500. As a working capital loan, the loan proceeds can cover various business expenses like inventory, payroll services, marketing campaigns, hiring staff and more.

Note that Credibly’s factor rate makes it hard to compare with competing offers, and the added origination fee could make this a more expensive way to borrow. Still, this could be a good option for businesses that fail to meet credit requirements with other lenders.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet Credibly’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 500
  • Minimum time in business: 6 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $180,000

iBusiness Funding: Best for borrowers who need extra time to pay off their loan

$25,000 to $500,000

7.49%

6 to 84 months

Pros
  • Lower rates than many alternative lenders
  • No prepayment penalties
  • Lengthy repayment terms could give borrowers up to 7 years to repay their debt
Cons
  • Long time in business requirement
  • Collateral, personal guarantee and/or blanket lien may be required

Why we picked it

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If repaying a short-term business loan will put additional financial strain on your business, you might be better off going with a lender that offers longer terms. With a term loan from iBusiness Funding, you can receive up to 84 to cover your inventory costs, with repayment terms giving you up to 84 months to repay your debt.

If you need more money, iBusiness Funding also offers SBA 7(a) loans up to $5,000,000, though they can be slower to fund.

If you end up needing less time, there are no penalties for paying off your loan early. However, iBusiness Funding may require collateral, a personal guarantee or a blanket lien to secure your financing, which can put your personal assets at risk if you fail to make your loan payments.

How to qualify

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In order to qualify, you’ll need to meet iBusiness Funding’s criteria of:

  • Minimum credit score: 640
  • Minimum time in business: 24 months
  • Minimum annual revenue: $50,000

What is inventory financing?

Inventory financing is a type of small business loan that helps small business owners buy essential inventory for their company. Since the inventory acts as collateral to reduce lender risk, you typically don’t have to pledge personal or business assets.

Inventory financing can also refer to a type of secured business loan where you use your business inventory as collateral to fund short-term business expenses like payroll and cash-flow gaps. Companies that require a lot of inventory, such as retail businesses and wholesalers, may be best suited for inventory financing.

Types of inventory financing loans

Financing for inventory loans can come as either term loans or lines of credit. Picking the best inventory financing loan depends on your business’s eligibility criteria and overall needs.

Term loans

A business term loan is a lump sum of money provided upfront that you must repay in fixed daily, weekly or monthly installments. Repayment terms for short-term loans tend to range from three to 24 months, so if you’re using the funds to purchase inventory, you’ll want to consider how quickly you can resell or use that inventory to generate a profit.

Lines of credit

Unlike a term loan, an inventory line of credit provides access to revolving funding you can withdraw when needed rather than receiving a lump sum all at once. Once you repay the debt, you can withdraw funds up to your credit limit, only paying interest on the amounts you use. This type of flexible funding allows you to purchase business inventory as you need it.

How to get inventory financing

You can get inventory financing from traditional banks, credit unions and online lenders. Here are the basic steps to follow when you’re ready to apply for a business inventory loan.

1. Review eligibility requirements

While business loan requirements can vary by lender and loan type, inventory lenders typically look at the following criteria when reviewing your application:

  • Credit score: Some private business lenders accept personal credit scores as low as 500, though traditional lenders may prefer scores of 670 or higher. Boosting your credit score before applying can improve your chances of approval and help you secure better rates and terms.
  • Annual revenue: Businesses typically need to generate between $30,000 and $240,000 in yearly sales to qualify for inventory financing. While you can get a startup business loan with no money, having some revenue will likely help you qualify for more competitive offers.
  • Time in business: Since the inventory itself secures inventory financing loans, lenders often have slightly less-strict business history requirements. Several lenders featured on this list extend credit to startups after only three or six months in operation.

2. Evaluate funding times and repayment terms

How quickly you need funds can determine the type of financing you pick. Many online lenders can deliver funds within one to three business days, while some traditional banks and credit union business loans can take weeks or even months to process. Check with potential lenders before applying to ensure their estimated timeline will work for you.

It’s also worth knowing the repayment terms, which differ depending on the product and lender. For inventory financing, you can typically expect repayment terms to range from three to 24 months or longer.

3. Compare lenders and rates

While online lenders usually provide faster turnaround times for inventory financing, you will likely pay a higher interest rate for the speed and convenience. At the same time, traditional banks often impose stricter eligibility criteria, such as requiring a two-year business history and a high annual revenue.

You can read business lender reviews before signing on the dotted line to ensure an inventory lender is the right fit for your business.

4. Gather required business documents

Each lender will require different paperwork during the loan application process. You can help speed things along by gathering the following common business loan documents in advance:

5. Apply and review

Once you have narrowed down the most ideal inventory financing companies, you can go ahead and submit an official application.

Thoroughly review the business loan agreement before accepting an offer to ensure you understand all of the loan’s terms and conditions.

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Pros and cons of inventory financing

ProsCons

 Quick funding times You can usually get the money for inventory loans within a few business days.

 Inventory can be used as collateral Business or personal assets are typically not required, making it less risky for the business owner if they should default.

 Lenient requirements Newer businesses and those with limited credit can still qualify.

 May come with fees An appraisal fee for inventory may be required, along with possible origination fees and prepayment penalties.

 Might require a minimum loan amount Depending on the lender, there might be a specific minimum loan amount to borrow for approval.

 High interest rates Interest rates can often be higher than other financing options.

How to compare inventory financing loans

Picking the best small business inventory loan can be challenging, especially if you’re eligible for multiple offers. Consider the following factors when comparing inventory finance solutions.

Interest rate: Business loan interest rates can vary based on your credit profile and other criteria. You can convert factor rates to annual percentage rates (APRs) to better compare offers. Keep in mind that inventory financing loans will typically have higher rates than traditional business or SBA loans.

Repayment term: Inventory loans are usually provided by alternative online lenders that often require daily or weekly payments instead of the more common monthly repayment schedule. Make sure to crunch the numbers in advance to ensure you can manage to repay the debt.

 Use our business loan calculator to estimate how much you could potentially borrow with an inventory business loan.

Time to fund: Emergency business loans can help cover your most urgent inventory needs within a day or two, but they often come with significantly higher fees. If you can wait, you might get better rates with a traditional bank or SBA loan.

Additional fees: Some inventory lenders charge origination fees, late charges and business loan prepayment penalties. Make sure to add these to the total loan cost to make sure it’s worth it.

Alternatives to inventory financing

Business inventory loans have many advantages, such as quick funding times and lenient eligibility requirements. However, if inventory financing isn’t a perfect fit for you, here are some other small business financing options to consider.

Invoice factoring

While inventory financing provides funds to buy inventory with either a term loan or a line of credit, invoice factoring sells your unpaid invoices to a factoring company for an advance payment. The factoring company then collects your customers’ payments on your behalf, paying you the remaining balance minus a factoring fee.

This type of financing is usually best for businesses with an excessive amount of unpaid invoices.

Merchant cash advance

With a merchant cash advance (MCA), your business can receive cash as a lump sum by borrowing against future credit and debit card sales. Eligibility requirements can be more lenient, and no collateral is required, but the lender walks away with a percentage of the daily credit card sales the business makes.

While this borrowing method can be expensive, it’s an option to consider if your business needs quick access to capital.

Purchase order financing

Purchase order financing helps businesses pay for the goods or materials needed to fulfill purchase orders. A purchase order financing company pays the supplier’s costs directly, allowing you to complete the order. After orders are delivered, your customer or client pays the purchase order financing company directly and you will receive the payout amount minus a fee.

This type of funding is ideal for wholesalers and distributors.

SBA 7(a) loans

Backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the popular SBA 7(a) loan can cover various business expenses, including inventory, operating costs and equipment financing. Similar to inventory financing, the SBA 7(a) loans can come as a term loan or a line of credit with the SBA CAPLine program.

Vendor financing

Vendor financing is when an equipment or supplies vendor works alongside a lender to provide funding to a small business. A small business could purchase materials or equipment from the vendor and then finance it with the lender working with the vendor. Vendor financing can either be as a loan or a lease.

However, since vendor financing prioritizes speed and convenience, be aware that it often comes with higher rates.

How we chose the best inventory financing companies

We reviewed the leading inventory financing companies to determine the overall best seven inventory finance loans. To make our list, lenders had to meet the following criteria:

  • Rates and terms: We prioritized inventory lenders offering competitive fixed rates with fewer fees and flexible repayment terms.
  • Quick funding times: We know that businesses often can’t afford to wait for lengthy funding processes, so we prioritized inventory lenders with funding times within one to three business days.
  • Minimum credit score: To include financing options for a wide range of borrowers, we included lenders that work with borrowers in a wide range of credit scores.
  • Repayment experience: We considered each lender’s overall reputation and business practices, favoring those who report to all major credit bureaus, offer reliable customer service and provide unique perks like prepayment discounts.