Guides6 min
How to Qualify for a Small Business Loan in 2026
The four underwriting pillars every small business funder looks at, and how to strengthen each one before you apply.
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Small Business Funding Guides
Step-by-step decision frameworks for qualifying, applying, reading offers, and recovering from a denial. Practical answers built on what actually moves an underwriter.
Last updated Reviewed by ICG Funding
What you'll learn
The takeaways, at a glance.
- How to qualify across credit, revenue, time-in-business, and DSCR
- How long different funding products actually take, end-to-end
- How to read an offer line by line, fees, factor rate, prepayment
- What to do if you are denied and which path to take next
All entries
Every guides guide.
5 guides
Guides4 min
How Long Does Small Business Funding Actually Take?
Real timelines for every common funding product, from 24 hours for revenue-based to 90 days for SBA 7(a).
Read the guideGuides4 min
Preparing Your Business for a BCA: Document Checklist
Exactly what underwriting needs from you for a business cash advance or revenue-based advance, and what happens with each document.
Read the guideGuides7 min
How to Build Business Credit from Zero
A practical step-by-step plan for establishing a commercial credit profile that opens doors to lower-cost funding.
Read the guideGuides6 min
Denied a Small Business Loan? Here's What to Do Next
A denial is not a dead end, it's a diagnostic. Here's how to read the feedback and qualify for better terms next time.
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