... / 90 Day Blueprint... / Leverage Good Credit: Funding Options from Cards to SBA Loans

Lenders rarely publish exact cutoffs, but internal score bands drive every approval matrix. Map both your personal FICO and business SBSS or PAYDEX to the grid below first.

This is the bridge range. Rates are still high, but approvals get easier once utilization is below 30 %.

• 0 % intro business cards typically require a 650+ FICO and a personal guarantee.
• Online business term loans often run 12–48 months with interest rates starting around 12% APR; many lenders begin with a soft credit pull.
• Invoice factoring or merchant cash advance relies on cash flow rather than FICO. Use sparingly.

Action Steps

1. Pre-qualify online to avoid extra hard pulls.
2. Stack no more than two products. Multiple high-APR loans crush your debt-service coverage ratio.

Traditional banks start saying “yes” at 680, and an SBSS of 165 now meets the SBA auto-screen.

• Bank term loans: 5-7 years, roughly 7-12 % APR.
• Equipment finance leases: fixed rates often below 10 % if the asset is strong collateral.
• SBA Microloan: up to $50 k through community lenders. No official score floor, but typical borrowers show 650+ FICO.

Action Steps

1. Prepare the last 12 months of bank statements and a year-to-date P&L; banks ask for these first.
2. Compare SBA Microloan versus fintech APR. Microloans cap near 13 %.

Cross this line and you unlock the lowest rates and longest terms.

• SBA 7(a) Small Loan: up to $350 k, SBSS ≥ 165, rate is prime + 2.75 %, ten-year term.
• SBA Express line of credit: up to $500 k, decision in 36 hours, ten-year revolving.
• Large-bank revolving line: $100 k+, often unsecured if DSCR ≥ 1.25.

Action Steps

1. Gather the full SBA package: three years personal and business tax returns, business debt schedule, personal financial statement, ownership docs.
2. Ask the bank whether 504 or 7(a) fits better. 504 often beats 7(a) on fixed-asset projects.
3. Lock rate quotes within 10 days because prime can move.

Quick wins compound. Secure low-risk products first, prove repayment, then trade up.

1. Weeks 4-8 – Secured business card plus three vendor lines. PAYDEX should reach 75+.
2. Weeks 8-12 – Fintech line of credit or intro-APR card for working-capital experiments.
3. Month 12+ – Bank term loan or SBA once SBSS and personal scores hit the target band.

The higher your score tier, the cheaper and longer the capital. Track both personal FICO and SBSS. Hit 680 / 165 for true bank options and aim for 720 / 190+ to unlock the full SBA suite. Use the 90-day timeline to ladder from vendor lines and intro cards to prime-rate term loans without over-leveraging along the way.