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I've used my experience as a business loan broker to arrange over $900 million in financing for business owners across construction, healthcare, trucking, hospitality, and retail. A short-term business loan from Clarify Capital can put $10,000 to $5,000,000 in your account as fast as the same day for credit scores over 550, with annual percentage rates (APRs) starting at 6%.
Below, I'll cover short-term business loans, how to use this type of financing to meet your business needs, and what you need to qualify for through Clarify Capital.
What You Get With a Clarify Capital Short-Term Business Loan
Here's what a Clarify Capital short-term loan gets you. There's no collateral to put up. You get the full amount up front, then pay a fixed amount on a set schedule until the loan's paid off.
| Loan feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $10,000 to $5,000,000 |
| APR | Starting at 6% |
| Funding speed | As fast as same day; 24-hour average |
| Repayment term | 6 to 36 months |
| Payment cadence | Weekly, biweekly, or monthly |
| Collateral | Not required |
| Structure | Lump-sum loan, fixed repayment schedule |
| Online application | About two minutes |
When To Use a Short-Term Business Loan
Short-term business loans give you the financing to cover a temporary cash flow gap, a slow season, or invest in a new opportunity. Here's what business owners typically use them for.
Bridging a cash-flow gap
A short-term loan helps you bridge the gap when you're running low on cash, like when a customer pays late or payroll's due before a big invoice clears.
Jumping on a time-sensitive opportunity
Sometimes opportunity knocks, and you have to respond quickly. Short-term loans help when you need cash for expanding into a new market, acquiring another company, or buying bulk inventory at once.
Covering an unexpected expense
If you work with heavy machinery or vehicles, you know that equipment can break down. Fast cash keeps you running without missing a beat when you need to make an emergency repair.
Smoothing out a slow season
Short-term loans can help keep your cash steady during a slow season, so you don't have to scale back.
Bridging to bigger financing
If you're waiting on bigger financing, like a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, short-term business loans can help carry you through until the bigger check lands.
Refinancing higher-interest debt
If you're juggling balances with steep rates, a short-term loan can roll them into a single payment and free up cash you can put back into the business.
Why Business Owners Choose Clarify Capital
Here's why business owners keep coming back to Clarify Capital:
A network, not one lender
Clarify works with a network of 75+ vetted lenders to shop your application and find a deal that fits your needs.
A real advisor
When you apply with Clarify, you're assigned a dedicated U.S.-based lending advisor. They work with you from your first conversation, all the way through to when you receive your money.
A 5.0 Trustpilot rating, the highest in the industry
With an industry average of 2.7, our reviews speak for themselves. See what our customers have to say.
A strong track record
We have financed more than $1 billion and served 50,000+ small and midsize businesses (SMBs) across 1,000+ industries. As founders, we have more than 30 years of combined experience in business finance.
Repeat customers
We love repeat customers: 3 out of 4 businesses come back to Clarify for more financing.
Speed
Clarify has a 24-hour average funding time and offers same-day funding for borrowers with credit scores over 550.
Do You Qualify?
When you apply for financing through Clarify Capital, we look at a variety of things, including your credit history, how long you've been in business, and your monthly revenue. We also ask for three to four months of recent business bank statements, plus a look at any existing debt.
If you have bad credit, you can still qualify for financing through alternative lenders like Clarify. Steady revenue and time-in-business tell me a lot about whether a short-term loan fits.
One tip from doing this a long time: If you've got a tax lien, a recent judgment, or a second loan, say so up front, since it's faster than letting underwriting dig it up.
Minimum Qualifications
$10,000 in monthly revenue
Your business must earn at least $10K per month in a business bank account.
500+ credit score
You can get approved with any credit score. But the better your credit rating, the better interest rates lenders offer. Your FICO score should be above 500.
Minimum six months in business
Your company should be operational for a minimum of six months. This shows business lenders that your company is sustainable and won't go out of business.
Have a business bank account
Your Clarify advisor will need three or four months of your most recent bank statements to verify income. This is just to see you're actually making $10K+ month in revenue.
Apply for a Short-Term Business Loan With Clarify Capital
Clarify Capital can help you secure a short-term business loan from $10,000 to $5,000,000, as fast as the same day, with interest rates starting at 6%. Getting your financing through Clarify Capital takes three steps:
Apply online in about two minutes
You'll give your business's legal name, EIN, time in business, monthly revenue, the amount you want, plus your contact info and credit authorization. Start the application process at clarifycapital.com/apply/step1.
Talk to your lending advisor
A U.S.-based Clarify lending advisor reviews your application, runs a soft credit pull (no hit to your score), and asks for three to four months of recent business bank statements. If anything needs a second look, they'll call you, so you're not stuck waiting in an inbox.
Get funded
Approved files get a written offer the same day, with the loan amount, APR, payment schedule, and total cost all spelled out. Sign it electronically, set up ACH, and the money hits your business bank account by ACH transfer, same day if you're approved before mid-morning, or the next business day if it's later. Apply today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Short-Term Business Loans
If you still have questions about how to get a short-term business loan, I've outlined some of the most common ones that I hear from my clients below.
How Does a Short-Term Business Loan Work?
A short-term business loan is a lump sum you pay back on a fixed schedule, usually six to 36 months at Clarify Capital. The full amount lands in your business bank account on day one, and you pay it back in set installments (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) until it's gone. There's no revolving balance like you'd get with a line of credit.
What Credit Score Do You Need for a Short-Term Business Loan?
Most non-bank short-term lenders start around a 500 to 600 personal FICO score, while traditional banks usually want 680 or higher. Clarify Capital starts at 550, and same-day funding is available if your credit score is over 550.
How Fast Can You Get a Short-Term Business Loan?
At online lenders, the money can land as fast as same day; bank loans usually take one to four weeks. Clarify Capital's average funding time is 24 hours, with same-day funding for files approved before mid-morning.
How Much Can You Borrow With a Short-Term Business Loan?
Non-bank lenders typically run from about $5,000 to $500,000. Clarify Capital goes from $10,000 to $5,000,000, and the most you can borrow depends on your business's age, monthly revenue, and credit.
What's the Difference Between a Short-Term Loan and a Business Line of Credit?
A short-term loan is a lump sum on a fixed schedule, with interest on the full balance from day one. A business line of credit revolves (you draw, repay, and draw again), and you only pay interest on what you've actually pulled. A lump-sum loan fits a one-time spend; a line of credit fits recurring or unpredictable needs. Clarify Capital offers both.
Bryan Gerson
Co-founder, Clarify
Bryan has personally arranged over $900 million in funding for businesses across trucking, restaurants, retail, construction, and healthcare. Since graduating from the University of Arizona in 2011, Bryan has spent his entire career in alternative finance, helping business owners secure capital when traditional banks turn them away. He specializes in bad credit funding, no doc lending, invoice factoring, and working capital solutions. More about the Clarify team →
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