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If a conventional bank loan is unavailable, start by matching the amount and use of the money to a funding route you can qualify for and afford. In the U.S., that may mean an SBA-backed loan through a participating lender, a microloan through a nonprofit intermediary, investment, crowdfunding, or a grant for a narrowly eligible activity. None is automatic: debt still has to be repaid, equity gives up ownership, and grants are not general-purpose startup cash.
What can you do if your start-up can’t get a bank loan?
First, define the funding gap instead of searching for “startup money” in the abstract. Write down how much you need, when you need it, and exactly what it will pay for. Separate working capital from equipment, inventory, real estate, and refinancing existing debt; eligibility and permitted uses vary by program.
Then ask whether the business can support regular repayments. If it can, investigate SBA-supported lending and other appropriate debt. If repayment is not realistic but the company has a growth model that could interest investors, consider equity. A product or community-facing offer may suit rewards or pre-sale crowdfunding. Look for grants only when a specific program matches the company’s work.
Personal savings are one source founders sometimes use, but they should not be confused with a measure of how much startup funding comes from savings. The SBA Office of Advocacy’s 2024 finance FAQ, citing the Small Business Credit Survey, reports that 80% of employer businesses and 76% of nonemployers used personal savings for startup capital. Those figures describe the share of businesses that used savings, not savings’ share of total startup capital. Read the SBA Office of Advocacy’s 2024 finance FAQ.
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Which funding route fits your start-up?
These routes are not interchangeable. Compare them against the amount required, permitted use, repayment capacity, ownership preferences, timeline, and the company’s ability to meet any compliance obligations.
| Route | What it can provide | Main tradeoff or limit |
|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) loan through a participating lender | Business financing for eligible purposes including working capital, equipment, and supplies; up to $5 million under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s current program page, accessed in 2026. | It is debt, not a grant. A participating lender underwrites the application and sets terms; the applicant must meet program and lender requirements and demonstrate repayment ability. SBA 7(a) loans. |
| SBA microloan through a nonprofit intermediary | Up to $50,000 under the SBA’s current program page, accessed in 2026, for eligible smaller startup or expansion needs such as working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery, and equipment. | The intermediary sets actual terms and rates. The SBA says rates generally range from 8% to 13%, and repayment terms can be no longer than seven years. Microloans cannot be used to pay existing debts or buy real estate. SBA microloans. |
| SBIC or other private equity | Investment capital; SBA-licensed Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) may invest using debt, equity, or both. The SBA does not itself invest directly in the operating business through the SBIC program. | Debt has to be repaid with interest; equity dilutes ownership. Fund criteria, due diligence, governance expectations, and fit vary. SBA investment capital and SBA guidance on growing a business. |
| Rewards or pre-sale crowdfunding | Can raise money for a product or creative project and help gauge audience interest. | Requires a compelling offer and a credible plan to fulfill rewards or pre-orders; platform rules and obligations vary. SBA business-planning guidance. |
| Regulation Crowdfunding securities offering | An eligible company may raise up to $5 million in a 12-month period through an SEC-registered broker-dealer or funding portal, under SEC guidance updated April 24, 2025. | This is an investment offering, not a donation or simple product presale. It carries securities, disclosure, intermediary, and investor-limit requirements. SEC Regulation Crowdfunding guidance. |
| Targeted grant | May support a defined activity that matches a grant program, such as eligible research and development, exporting, manufacturing, or entrepreneurship-support work. | Purpose and applicant eligibility are narrow; grants are not general-purpose cash for ordinary business startup or expansion. SBA additional funding opportunities. |
Can SBA-backed lending help if a bank has already said no?
It may be worth checking, but “SBA-backed” does not mean that the SBA hands the business a loan or guarantees approval. Under the 7(a) program, the application goes to a participating lender. The SBA’s current guidance says applicants generally must be creditworthy and show a reasonable ability to repay. The business must also meet program requirements, including being a qualifying small, for-profit business operating in the United States. Approval and terms remain subject to lender underwriting. Review 7(a) eligibility and terms.
A microloan is a smaller debt option delivered through nonprofit intermediary lenders. Ask an intermediary about its application requirements, rates, fees, repayment schedule, and permitted uses rather than assuming every lender offers the same terms. If you need to refinance old debt or buy real estate, a microloan is not the right fit for that use.
To identify possible starting points, use the SBA’s loan information and lender resources, including Lender Match, or contact a local SBA resource partner for business counseling. A referral or match is a way to begin a conversation, not a promise that a lender will approve the application.
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Equity can suit a business whose growth and potential return may attract investors but whose current cash flow cannot safely support debt payments. In exchange for capital, existing owners give up some ownership. The consequences can extend beyond the percentage sold: examine investor rights, governance, reporting, decision-making, and expectations for growth before agreeing.
SBICs are one avenue to investigate, not a fit for every small business. They are privately owned investment funds licensed by the SBA, and an individual fund’s investment approach determines which companies it will consider. Other private investors likewise have their own criteria. Prepare to explain the business model, market, use of funds, financial assumptions, and how investors could realize a return. SBA’s SBIC overview and growth guidance describe the program and broader growth considerations.
Compare equity with debt over the period that matters to the business. Debt creates scheduled repayment obligations but does not by itself sell an ownership stake; equity avoids a loan payment schedule but permanently shares ownership and may bring investor involvement. Neither is “free money,” and a borrower should not treat an SBA guarantee as eliminating repayment obligations or personal risk.
Should you use crowdfunding or give investors equity?
Start by distinguishing a campaign that offers a product or reward from one that sells an investment. A pre-sale campaign asks supporters to buy or back an offer and requires a plan to deliver it. Securities crowdfunding involves investors and falls under securities rules.
For Regulation Crowdfunding, confirm that the company is eligible, work through an SEC-registered broker-dealer or funding portal, and understand the disclosure and investor-limit requirements before launching. The SEC’s guidance states the current offering ceiling and explains that this is a regulated securities route, not a casual substitute for a reward campaign. For a securities offering, get qualified legal advice on the rules that apply to the specific offer. See the SEC’s Regulation Crowdfunding guidance and its overview of capital-raising pathways.
Are there grants to start or grow a small business?
For an ordinary for-profit start-up, do not make a general business grant the base of the funding plan. The SBA states: “SBA does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business.” Its limited grant support is aimed at defined areas such as research and development, exporting, manufacturing, and organizations that deliver entrepreneurship support—not broadly available startup or expansion cash. Check the SBA’s grant guidance.
Search for a grant only after identifying a precise activity, eligible applicant, administering agency, location requirements, and application cycle. A grant with a matching name is not necessarily open to your company or usable for the expense you have in mind. Be wary of anyone promising an SBA grant in exchange for a fee.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you prepare before approaching lenders or investors?
A clear funding request makes it easier for a lender, investor, or counselor to assess the business. The SBA recommends preparing a business plan, an expense sheet, and financial projections extending five years. Treat projections as reasoned assumptions to test, not guaranteed results. See the SBA’s business-planning guidance.
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- Funding request: State the amount, timing, and itemized uses; connect each cost to a quote, estimate, or operating need where possible.
- Business plan: Explain what the company sells, who buys it, how it reaches customers, and how the business will generate revenue.
- Financial picture: Organize current financial records, cash-flow assumptions, expense details, and projections. Show how the company will make payments if seeking debt.
- Repayment or return case: For debt, show a realistic repayment path. For equity, explain the growth case and the role and return expectations an investor would be asked to accept.
- Questions for the provider: Ask about eligibility, use restrictions, application documents, decision timeline, and all costs and obligations.
A business-plan or financial-projection workbook can help organize these materials, but it is optional and does not improve the odds of approval by itself. Free SBA planning and counseling resources are a sensible starting point.
How should you compare offers before accepting capital?
Compare the full obligation, not just the headline amount or advertised rate. SBA notes that lender terms and eligibility requirements vary; microloan terms are set by intermediaries, and crowdfunding terms depend on the offering and platform. Put each offer beside the others and check:
- Total cost: principal, interest, fees, closing costs, and the timing of payments.
- Downside exposure: collateral, guarantees, default consequences, or the ownership and control rights transferred to investors.
- Fit for use: whether every planned expense is allowed under the program, contract, or campaign.
- Time and conditions: expected time to funding, outstanding eligibility conditions, and what must happen before money is released.
- Ongoing burden: reporting, legal and securities compliance, payment administration, fulfillment commitments, and limits on future business decisions.
- Strategic fit: whether the provider’s expectations and involvement match the company’s stage, goals, and ownership plans.
If the terms are unclear, ask for an explanation in writing and have a qualified adviser review legal obligations before signing. A fast offer is not necessarily a suitable one.
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