United States
Updated: October 9th, 2023
While some businesses rely on employees for the day-to-day, others are one-person operations. Running a sole proprietorship can simplify things when it comes time to pay taxes and track expenses. But it could potentially complicate things if you need to apply for a business loan. Learn what kind of loans are available to sole proprietorships and how to qualify.
Simply, a sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business run by a single person. You, as the business owner, are personally liable for paying taxes for the business and repaying its debts. There’s no distinction between you and the business for tax purposes– business profits are treated as your personal income.
This is the simplest type of company structure you can have, compared to operating as a limited liability company, partnership, or corporation. Depending on which state you do business in, there may be no paperwork or filing requirements necessary to operate a sole proprietorship.
A wide variety of businesses can be run as a sole proprietorship. Some examples include:
A sole proprietorship structure typically makes the most sense when you’re the only person working in the business. An exception might be if you run a small business and your spouse is your only employee; then, being a sole proprietor could be preferable to incorporating or forming an LLC.
Like any other business structure, there are both advantages and disadvantages that go along with owning a sole proprietorship. Here’s a look at how they compare:
There are two main categories of financing you may be able to get for your sole proprietorship: debt and equity. Within each category, there are specific funding options you may be able to pursue.
In a debt financing arrangement, you’re taking on debt for the business that must be repaid. Depending on the type of financing, you may or may not need to pledge business assets as collateral. The types of debt funding you may be eligible for as a sole proprietor include:
SBA microloans are designed for new and established businesses that need smaller amounts of funding. The maximum loan amount is $50,000, though according to the SBA, the typical loan amount is $14,000.
An SBA microloan offered by an SBA-approved lender may be a good choice if you have good credit and a relatively small funding need. These loans do require some type of collateral, as well as a personal guarantee making you personally liable for the debt.
The maximum loan repayment term is six years and rates are competitive. Your individual rate will depend largely on your business’s debts and personal credit scores.
In addition to SBA microloans, there are several other types that are worthwhile to explore.
A business credit card isn’t exactly a loan. It’s a revolving line of credit that you can draw against as needed. If you carry a balance month to month, you’ll pay interest on what you spend. You can avoid interest charges by paying in full monthly.
The main advantage of a business credit card for a sole proprietor is that they’re relatively easy to qualify for. It’s possible to open a business credit card account even if your business hasn’t officially launched yet.
Your credit limit and APR will hinge on your credit scores, income, and overall financial health. If you can get approved for a rewards business credit card, you may be able to earn points, miles, or cash back on purchases, which could save your business money.
A business line of credit works much the same way as a business credit card, without the rewards.
You’re approved for a step credit limit, based on your credit history, business’s income, and other factors. You can then draw against your credit limit as necessary to cover expenses for the business.
Compared to a business credit card, a line of credit may be a bit tougher to qualify for as a sole proprietorship. But, you may be able to access a more generous credit limit if you’re approved.
Term loans allow you to borrow a lump sum of money, which is repaid over a set loan term. Short-term loans typically have repayment terms of 18 months or less, while long-term loans may give you five years or more to pay back what you borrowed.
For sole proprietors, business term loans can be found at banks and credit unions but it may be easier to get approved for one through an online lender. Before applying for a term loan for your small business, you’ll want to consider the minimum and maximum loan limits, the APR range, loan fees, and any other requirements the lender looks for.
As far as what you can use a term loan for, they can cover both near-term and long-term expenses. For example, you may use a short-term loan to cover payroll or pay insurance premiums, while a long-term loan could help you expand into a new location or add to your existing product line.
In some cases, you may be able to use a personal loan for your small business. This tends to be most appropriate if you’re just getting started on launching your own venture, or if you have limited operating history and/or revenue which prevents you from qualifying for business loans.
With personal loans, your personal finances determine your odds of approval. Lenders will take into account your credit score, credit history, and income as well as any personal debts.
Invoice factoring allows you to get a loan based on your outstanding accounts receivable. The lender fronts you the money due for the receivables and then takes over collection efforts.
This kind of financing may be good for sole proprietors that operate on Net 30 or longer payment terms and routinely have unpaid invoices. Just keep in mind that invoice factoring can be more expensive than other types of business financing since you’re paying a factor fee, rather than an APR.
With inventory financing, you’re leveraging inventory you plan to purchase as collateral for a loan. The idea is that as you sell that inventory, you can use the proceeds to repay what you borrowed.
Inventory financing may work if you run a small retail business as a sole proprietor and need a quick infusion of cash to stock your shelves.
Equity financing is a type of financing where you exchange a percentage of ownership in your business for funding. With startups, this usually involves angel investors or a venture capital firm.
In a sole proprietorship, you own 100% of the business. That means that your borrowing options would be limited to using your own assets. For example, you might draw money from your personal savings account, CDs you own, or a self-employed retirement plan.
Technically, you’re not sacrificing any ownership stake in the business but this can be a risky way to fund your sole proprietorship. If the business fails, you may not be able to recover any of the personal assets you’ve put into it.
If you don’t want to self-fund your business or don’t have enough money saved to fund your own business, you could approach friends and family about equity financing to raise capital.
This option requires some careful thought and planning, however. For instance, you’d have to decide how much equity in the business you’d be comfortable giving up. And you’d also want to set the ground rules, in terms of how much control friends or family would have in the business once they invest.
The advantage, of course, is that you’re not going into debt with equity financing from friends and family. There are no hoops to jump through to get approved for a loan and nothing to repay with interest.
If you prefer the idea of debt to equity financing, there are a few things to know before applying for a loan.
Before applying for a loan, consider viewing your business from a lender’s perspective. The things a lender is most likely to focus on when you apply for a loan include:
Then, address the areas you may need to improve to make your small business appear less risky to a lender.
For example, that might mean paying down some of your existing debt to raise your credit score. Or, you may want to consider raising your business prices or offering new products/services to increase revenues.
Also, review your business plan and your reasons for seeking a loan. Make sure that your business plan spells out how the money will be used and the anticipated return on investment.
The next step is getting your paperwork together to apply for a sole proprietor loan. This list covers the most important documents you should have ready to share with the lender:
If you can’t readily provide these types of documents, then you may need to reconsider your loan options. For instance, you may have to look into getting a personal loan or personal credit card instead.
Not all business lenders provide funding to all business owners. Once you’re ready to apply, take time to compare lenders to review loan terms, interest rates, and fees for the type of funding you’re interested in. Then, check the lender’s minimum requirements for a loan, including whether a personal guarantee is necessary.
Complete the loan application and upload all of the supporting documents the lender asks for. Be sure to include multiple ways to contact you so the lender can stay in touch.
Funding Circle offers business loans for sole proprietors to meet a variety of needs. Rates are competitive with terms ranging from six months to 5 years. You can apply for a loan online in just 10 minutes, and get a decision in as little as 24 hours after document submission.
A loan from Funding Circle could help your sole proprietorship meet a variety of needs, large or small. Apply today to get a personalized quote for your next business loan.
Louis DeNicola is the president of LD Money Media LLC and an experienced finance writer who specializes in credit, personal finance, and small business finance. Within the small business sphere, he helps business owners understand their financing options, cash flow management, business credit, and taxes. In addition to Funding Circle, you can find his work on BlueVine, Credit Karma, Experian, Wirecutter, and Lending Tree.
Get our latest news and information on business finance, management and growth.
