Funding comparison

Equipment Financing vs SBA Loan

Compare published guidelines for structure, timing, credit profile, and common uses. Final terms depend on underwriting and the specific offer.

Compare my options

Side by side

Published product guidelines

These ranges and timing estimates were retained from the legacy Now Biz Fund project. They are not offers or guarantees.

ConsiderationEquipment FinancingSBA Loan
Range$10K–$2M$50K–$5M
Typical funding speed24–72 hours30–60 days
FICO guideline580+650+
Often considered forBuying or upgrading equipment, vehicles, or machineryEstablished businesses seeking lower-cost, longer-term capital
StructureFinancing secured primarily by the equipment being purchasedGovernment-guaranteed term financing, including SBA 7(a) and Express

The short version

Equipment Financing

Equipment financing can put new or used assets to work without consuming the cash reserved for payroll and operations.

  • Purpose-built for identifiable business equipment
  • The financed asset commonly supports the approval
  • Useful for vehicles, kitchen, medical, and manufacturing equipment

The short version

SBA Loan

SBA loans can offer longer repayment periods and competitive costs to qualified, established businesses that can support a more involved process.

  • Designed for eligible long-term business uses
  • More documentation and underwriting than faster products
  • Best when cost matters more than immediate funding

Decision guide

Which should you consider?

Choose the SBA path when the business can support deeper underwriting and waiting for a potentially lower-cost, longer-term structure. Choose equipment when the stated use and faster timing matter more. Compare total cost, payment cadence, collateral, and guarantees in the actual offers.

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Common questions

Equipment vs SBA loan: practical answers

Which option is usually faster?

Equipment Financing has the faster published timing guideline here, but document readiness and underwriting determine actual timing.

What credit profile is generally considered?

Equipment Financing lists 580+; SBA Loan lists 650+. These are guidelines, not approval guarantees, and other underwriting factors apply.

How should I compare cost?

Request the total repayment, fees, payment frequency, term, prepayment treatment, and any collateral or guarantee requirements in writing. A rate or factor alone does not show the full cost.

Can a business use both?

Sometimes, if each product serves a distinct need and the combined payments remain affordable. Existing obligations affect underwriting, so disclose them before accepting an offer.