How lending to an LLC works
The loan or advance is made to the LLC, secured by a UCC lien on the LLC’s assets, and guaranteed personally by the owners. The guarantee exists because a limited liability company limits the members’ liability to the world in general, not to a lender who asked for their signature. Lenders verify the LLC through its formation documents and EIN, the business bank account in its name, and its licences, then underwrite the owners through their credit and identification. Multi-member LLCs must disclose every member above 20 percent; a member with serious credit problems affects which funders will lend.
What lenders check for an LLC loan
The same three gates as any business: time in business, measured from the first deposits into the business account rather than the state filing date; monthly revenue on the statements; and the owners’ personal credit. Then the statement quality: consistent deposits, average balance, negative days and NSFs, existing positions. For bank and SBA loans, add the LLC’s tax returns, whether filed as a disregarded entity, partnership or S corporation, its financial statements, and its business credit file with Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business or Equifax Business. A business credit file is not required for online products, but paying trade lines and a business card on time builds it for later.
| Product | Time since first deposits | Monthly revenue | Owner credit | Extra for an LLC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment financing | Day one with fair credit | Any | 600+ | Quote in the LLC’s name |
| SBA microloan | Day one to six months | Any | Fair | Plan, formation documents |
| Merchant cash advance / working capital | 6 months | $10,000+ | 500–550+ | Business account in the LLC’s name |
| Line of credit / term loan | 12 – 24 months | $15,000+ | 600–640+ | Tax return, P&L |
| SBA 7(a) | 24 months | Profitable returns | 650+ | Two years of LLC returns, operating agreement |
Business loans for a new LLC
A newly formed LLC with no deposits is a startup in every lender’s eyes, and the realistic options are the startup options: equipment financing secured by the asset, an SBA microloan from a nonprofit lender, a business credit card, and funding based on the founders’ personal credit and assets. From about six months of deposits at $10,000 or more a month, advances and working capital loans open; from twelve to twenty-four months, lines and term loans; from two years of filed returns, SBA 7(a). Forming the LLC earlier does not shorten that path, and neither does an old LLC with no recent activity.
Documents an LLC needs
Articles of organisation or certificate of formation, the EIN letter, the operating agreement for multi-member LLCs, business licences, six months of business bank statements in the LLC’s name, a driver’s licence for each member with 20 percent or more, and for term and SBA products the LLC’s tax return and a profit-and-loss statement. A DBA is fine if the LLC operates under a trade name, but the bank account and the application must show the legal name.
Have this ready
LLC loan file
- Articles of organisation and EIN letter
- Operating agreement (multi-member)
- Six months of business bank statements in the LLC’s name
- Driver’s licence for each 20%+ member
- Business licences and any DBA filing
- Most recent LLC tax return for term and SBA products
- Schedule of existing loans and advances
Mistakes LLC owners make
Running revenue through a personal account, which leaves the LLC with nothing to underwrite; applying before the account has six clean months; assuming the LLC shields them from the guarantee; mixing members’ personal debts with the business; and chasing "business loans with no personal guarantee", which at the small-business level are almost always either secured by an asset or priced far above the market.