Searching for a business loan usually means opening a dozen tabs, each one promising fast approvals and low rates. Some of those lenders are a great fit for your business. Others will decline you after a credit pull, or approve you for something that strains your cash flow.
This guide compares five of the best business loan companies of 2026: NexGen Lending, OnDeck, Mulligan Funding, Wayflyer and Rapid Finance. For each one, we cover what they offer, who they work best for, and what it takes to qualify, using the details each company publishes on its own website.
A quick note on who’s writing this: we’re NexGen Lending, a business funding company that works with businesses nationwide. OnDeck, Mulligan Funding, Wayflyer and Rapid Finance are all NexGen partner lenders, which means you can apply to any of them through NexGen with a single application. We’ve still kept the information about each lender factual and linked to their sites so you can verify it yourself.
If you’re still deciding what kind of loan you need, start with our guide to the best business loans in 2026, which explains each loan type in plain English. This post is about who to borrow from.
Quick Comparison: Best Business Loan Companies in 2026
| Company | Best for | Loan amounts | Key requirements | Funding speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NexGen Lending | Comparing many programs and partner lenders with one application | $10,000 to $20,000,000 | Credit minimums: 500 for revenue-based financing, 650 for most programs, 700 for SBA loans | Approvals in 1 to 24 hours; some programs fund in about 5 hours |
| OnDeck | Short-term loans and lines of credit for established businesses | Term loans up to $400,000; lines up to $200,000 | 625 FICO, 1 year in business, $100K annual revenue | As soon as the same day |
| Mulligan Funding | Large working capital loans for higher-revenue businesses | Up to $10,000,000 | 6 months in business, $750K annualized revenue | As soon as the same business day |
| Wayflyer | E-commerce and consumer brands | Personalized offers based on revenue | Based on monthly revenue and business category | Decisions in hours; some funded within 24 hours |
| Rapid Finance | Term loans up to 5 years and lines of credit | Term loans up to $1M; lines $5,001 to $250,000 | Three months of bank statements to apply | Term loans as fast as 24 hours |
Details for lenders other than NexGen were taken from each company’s website in October 2026 and can change. Final terms depend on approval.
1. NexGen Lending: Best for Comparing Multiple Programs at Once
Most lenders offer one or two products. If you don’t fit their box, the answer is simply no. NexGen Lending works differently: one application gives you access to 10 financing and advisory solutions plus our partner lenders, including every other company on this list. We match your business to the option that fits instead of forcing it into the only product we have.
What NexGen offers:
- SBA loans for the lowest rates and longest terms
- Business lines of credit for flexible cash flow
- Equipment financing for machinery, vehicles and technology
- Term loans & unitranche debt for acquisitions, refinancing and larger growth plans
- Revenue-based financing for businesses with uneven sales
- Real estate funding: HELOCs, cash-out refinances and loans secured by property you own
- Credit guidance, business brokering and more
Loan amounts: $10,000 to $20,000,000, depending on the program.
Credit: NexGen’s credit minimums are 500 for revenue-based financing, 650 for most programs and 700 for SBA loans. Strong credit unlocks the lowest rates, but a lower score doesn’t automatically end the conversation.
Speed: Approvals typically come in 1 to 24 hours.
Best for: Business owners who want to see several options side by side, businesses that have been turned down by a bank, and anyone who isn’t sure which type of loan or lender fits best.
Partner Lenders You Can Reach Through NexGen
OnDeck, Mulligan Funding, Wayflyer and Rapid Finance are NexGen partner lenders. When one of them is the right fit, you don’t have to start over with a separate application. We submit your file, explain the offer in plain English, and compare it against our other programs so you can see which option costs less overall. See how NexGen compares lender offers.
Check your options with NexGen →
2. OnDeck: Best for Fast Short-Term Funding
OnDeck is one of the longest-running online small business lenders.
What it offers: Term loans from $5,000 to $400,000 with terms up to 24 months, and lines of credit from $6,000 to $200,000. OnDeck notes that only select customers with the strongest profiles qualify for the maximum amounts.
Requirements: A personal FICO score of 625, at least 1 year in business, $100,000 in annual revenue and a business checking account.
Speed: Term loans can fund as soon as the same day for applications completed before 10:30 a.m. ET on weekdays; otherwise in 2 to 3 business days.
Best for: Businesses with steady revenue and at least a year of history that need short-term capital or a revolving line quickly.
Keep in mind: Terms top out at 24 months, so payments can be higher than on a longer loan. OnDeck also states that it does not lend in North Dakota and restricts some industries. For longer repayment, compare NexGen’s term loans and SBA loans.
3. Mulligan Funding: Best for Large Working Capital Loans
Mulligan Funding has been lending to small and mid-sized businesses since 2008 and lends in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
What it offers: Working capital loans and business term loans up to $10,000,000, with terms from 3 to 24 months.
Requirements: At least 6 months in business, at least $750,000 in annualized revenue over the previous 12 months, no more than one existing daily-debit loan, and no open bankruptcies.
Speed: Approval in as soon as a few hours, with funding as soon as the same business day you apply.
Best for: Established, higher-revenue businesses that need a large amount of working capital quickly, such as for a big contract, inventory purchase or expansion.
Keep in mind: The $750,000 revenue minimum puts Mulligan out of reach for many smaller businesses. If you’re under that threshold, NexGen’s revenue-based financing and business line of credit options may be a better fit.
4. Wayflyer: Best for E-Commerce and Consumer Brands
Wayflyer specializes in revenue-based financing for fast-growing e-commerce and direct-to-consumer brands, Amazon sellers, retailers, wholesalers, and software and services companies. Wayflyer says it has deployed more than $7 billion to over 7,000 businesses since 2020.
What it offers: Revenue-based financing with offers sized to your business’s revenue. Repayment can be a fixed amount or a percentage of sales, on a biweekly or monthly schedule.
Requirements: Wayflyer bases offers on your monthly revenue, business category and country of operation. It does not take equity or require a personal guarantee, and it doesn’t restrict how you spend the funds.
Speed: The application takes less than 10 minutes, decisions come within hours, and some customers have been funded within 24 hours.
Best for: Online and consumer brands that need to fund inventory or marketing ahead of a big sales season.
Keep in mind: Wayflyer is built for product and online businesses. Service, construction and other local businesses are usually better served by other programs. Learn more about how revenue-based financing works.
5. Rapid Finance: Best for Longer-Term Loans and Lines of Credit
Rapid Finance is an online lender that says it has funded more than $3 billion for small businesses.
What it offers:
- Term loans up to $1 million, with terms from 3 to 60 months
- Lines of credit from $5,001 to $250,000, with terms up to 18 months and weekly payments
Requirements: Applying takes three months of business bank statements, your business tax ID and a completed application.
Speed: Term loans can fund in as fast as 24 hours.
Best for: Businesses that want a term loan with a longer repayment period than many online lenders offer, or a revolving line of credit for ongoing cash flow.
Keep in mind: Line of credit payments are weekly, so make sure that schedule fits your cash flow. Compare the total repayment amount, not just the payment, before you choose.
How to Choose the Right Business Loan Company
- Match the lender to your business. Higher-revenue businesses needing large amounts may look at Mulligan Funding. E-commerce brands may look at Wayflyer. Established businesses wanting a revolving line may look at OnDeck. Not sure? Start with a company that offers many programs.
- Check the minimums before you apply. Credit score, time in business and annual revenue minimums vary a lot. Applying to a lender whose minimums you don’t meet wastes time and may mean an unnecessary credit check.
- Compare total cost, not just the rate. Ask for the APR, total repayment amount, origination fees and any prepayment terms. Some short-term products quote a factor rate instead of an interest rate, which can look lower than it is.
- Look at the repayment schedule. Daily, weekly and monthly payments affect cash flow differently. Make sure the payment fits your slowest month, not your best one.
- Think about speed versus cost. Faster money usually costs more. If you can wait a few weeks, an SBA loan often saves you money. If the opportunity won’t wait, a faster program can still be the right call.
- Read recent reviews. Check Google, Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau for how a lender treats borrowers after funding, not just during the sale.
If your credit is keeping you from the lenders you want, NexGen’s business credit guidance can help you understand your credit profile and build toward approval.
Apply to One Lender, or Compare Them All?
Applying to lenders one at a time means filling out a new application, sharing your bank statements again and possibly taking another credit check each time. Working with NexGen, you apply once and we compare NexGen programs against offers from partner lenders like OnDeck, Mulligan Funding, Wayflyer and Rapid Finance. You see your options side by side and choose the one that fits.
Why Business Owners Choose NexGen Lending
Applying to one lender gets you one answer. NexGen gives you 10 financing and advisory solutions from $10,000 to $20,000,000, a network of partner lenders, approvals in 1 to 24 hours, and revenue-based financing starting at a 500 credit score (650 for most programs, 700 for SBA loans). We serve businesses nationwide, from our office at 2 Hudson Place in Hoboken, New Jersey.
We take the time to understand your business and match you with financing that fits, not just the first offer available. As we like to say, we’re here for Funding your tomorrow, today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Loan Companies
What is the best business loan company in 2026?
It depends on your business. OnDeck is strong for short-term loans and lines of credit, Mulligan Funding for large working capital loans, Wayflyer for e-commerce brands, and Rapid Finance for term loans with up to 5-year terms. If you want to compare all of them and more with one application, NexGen Lending can match you with the best fit.
Can I apply to OnDeck, Mulligan Funding, Wayflyer or Rapid Finance through NexGen?
Yes. All four are NexGen partner lenders. One NexGen application lets us compare their offers alongside NexGen programs, so you don’t have to apply to each lender separately.
Which business loan company is easiest to get approved with?
It depends on your profile. Mulligan Funding requires only 6 months in business but at least $750,000 in annualized revenue, while OnDeck requires a 625 credit score, 1 year in business and $100,000 in annual revenue. NexGen works with credit scores from 500 through revenue-based financing; most other programs, including equipment financing, start at 650.
Which lender funds business loans the fastest?
OnDeck and Mulligan Funding can both fund as soon as the same day. Wayflyer and Rapid Finance can fund in as fast as 24 hours. SBA and bank loans generally take weeks.
Can a new business get a loan from these companies?
Most of the lenders above require at least 6 months to 1 year in business. Newer businesses should look at equipment financing, revenue-based programs that work with limited history, or SBA microloans.
Does applying with multiple lenders hurt my credit?
It can. Each lender may run its own credit check. Applying once through NexGen helps you avoid applying to lender after lender. Ask any lender whether it uses a soft or hard credit pull before you apply.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Information about partner lenders was taken from their public websites in October 2026 and may have changed. Loan terms, rates, and eligibility vary by lender and program and are subject to approval.