Business Loan

Banks and NBFCs offer secured and unsecured business loans to finance the business or business related activities of self-employed individuals, MSME borrowers, self-employed professionals, etc. FinIndia24x7.com allows the prospective business loan borrowers to compare the features and interest rates offered by top lenders. The applicants can then apply for business loan online from the best options available based on their credit profiles.

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What is a Business Loan?

Business loan is a credit facility offered to self-employed individuals, self-employed professionals, private companies and partnership firms, MSMEs, etc. for financing their working capital requirements, capital expenditure requirements and other business related activities.

Business Loan Interest Rate

Business Loan interest rates may vary from lender to lender depending on the credit profile of the applicant, nature of the business, loan facility availed by the applicant and the type of collateral/security pledged by the borrower.

Compare Business Loan Rates

Bank/NBFC/FintechInterest Rates
Bajaj Finserv9.00% – 25% p.a.
HDFC Bank10.75% – 22.50% p.a.
IIFL Finance12.75% – 44% p.a.
FlexiLoans1% per month onwards
ZipLoan1% – 1.5% per month (Flat)
ICICI BankUp to 17% p.a.
Axis Bank10.75% p.a.
Indifi Finance1.5% per month onwards
Kotak Mahindra Bank16% p.a. onwards
RBL Bank14%-26% p.a.
Lendingkart Finance1.25% per month onwards
Tata Capital Finance12% p.a. onwards
NeoGrowth Finance15%-40% p.a.
Hero FinCorpUp to 30% p.a.

Note: Business Loan Rates are updated as of June 2024.

Business Loan offered by Top Lenders

HDFC Business Loan

HDFC Bank offers secured and unsecured business loans @ 10% p.a. onwards for loan amount of up to Rs 3 crore and for tenure of up to 7 years to self-employed individuals and business enterprises.

Interest Rate10% p.a. onwards
Loan AmountUp to Rs 3 crore
TenureUp to 7 years
Processing FeeUp to 2% of loan amount

ICICI Bank Business Loan

ICICI Bank offers both secured and unsecured business loans to importers, exporters, new entities, businesses not having audited financials, etc. ICICI business loan interest rates start from 17% p.a. onwards for tenure of up to 7 years.

Interest RateUp to 17% p.a.
Loan AmountUp to Rs 10 crore
TenureUp to 7 years
Processing FeeUp to 2% of loan amount

Axis Bank Business Loan

Axis Bank business loan interest rates start from 10.75% p.a. onwards for tenure of up to 15 years. Prospective business loan borrowers of Axis Bank can borrow loan amounts of up to Rs 10 crore. The bank also offers bills of exchange and Letter of Credit to its business loan applicants.

Interest Rate10.75% p.a. onwards
Loan AmountUp to Rs 10 crore
TenureUp to 15 years
Processing FeeUp to 2% of loan amount

Bajaj Finance Limited Business Loan

Bajaj Finance offers secured and unsecured loans to its applicants for financing various business related activities like machinery purchase, business expansion, inventory restocking, renovation of office space, meeting the working capital requirements, etc. The NBFC also offers pre-approved business loans to its existing as well as new customers.

Interest Rate9.75% to 30% p.a.
Loan AmountUp to Rs 80 lakh
TenureUp to 12 years
Processing FeeUp to 2.95%

How to Get a Business Loan Online?

Individuals, groups of individuals and entities can apply for a business loan online directly through the official website of banks and NBFCs. The interest rates, loan amount, margin, collateral requirements, guarantor requirements, fees and charges, eligibility and other features of business loans vary from lender to lender.

Therefore, applicants should visit online financial marketplaces like FinIndia24x7.com to compare the interest rates, loan amount and other features offered by various lenders and opt for the lender that best suits their eligibility.

5 Things To Know Before Applying For a Business Loan

Applicants should know the following things before applying for a business loan:

  • Interest Rate: Business Loan interest rates vary across the lenders. Applicants should check the interest rates offered by various lenders and opt for the one offering lowest interest rates to incur lower interest cost.
  • Turnaround Time: Applicants should know the time taken by the bank or NBFC for the approval and disbursal of a business loan. Lenders disbursing the business loans in lesser time are usually preferred by the borrowers. The turnaround time would depend on the type of business loan scheme and the type of collateral pledged for.
  • Credit Score/Rating: Applicants having a credit score of 700 and above usually have higher chances of availing business loans. Some lenders also offer business loans at lower interest rates to those having high credit score/rating.
  • Processing Charges: Applicants should know the processing fees and other charges levied by the lender before applying for business loans.
  • Collateral: Lenders usually offer business loans against collateral/security, such as hypothecation of stocks, book debts, mutual funds, immovable property, liquid security, commercial or construction equipment.

Business Loan Fees and Charges

Business loan lenders usually charge processing fees, prepayment charges, commitment charges, inspection charges, account service charges, penal interest and documentation charges from their business loan borrowers.

However, the fees and charges levied on business loans vary widely across lenders. Below-mentioned is an overall range of a few charges levied by the lenders on business loans.

ParticularsCharges
Processing FeesUp to 6% of the loan amount
Prepayment ChargesUp to 5% of the outstanding principal
Penal Interest2%-6% on the outstanding loan amount

Business Loan – Features and Benefits

Below-mentioned are the features of business loans offered by various lenders:

  • Most banks and NBFCs offer both secured and unsecured business loans
  • Business Loan interest rates vary across the lenders and are offered on the basis of credit profile of the applicant, nature of business, type of business loan offered and nature of collateral/security
  • Existing business loan borrowers of many banks and NBFCs can avail top-up loans over and above their existing business loans.
  • Many lenders also offer overdraft facilities to their existing business loan borrowers.
  • Existing as well as new customers of some lenders can apply for pre-approved business loans with instant loan disbursal and minimal documentation.
  • Many lenders offer concessional interest rates to women borrowers.
  • Applicants can also apply for business loans through online mode with quick approval, minimal documentation and swift loan disbursal

Eligibility for Business Loan

Lenders usually set their business loan eligibility criteria based on the following factors:

  • Age: 21 years at the time of loan application and 65 years at the time of loan maturity (may vary across lenders)
  • Minimum Business Vintage: 3 years (may be 5 years for some lenders)
  • Minimum Business Turnover: Rs 90,000 to more than Rs 250 crore
  • Credit Score: 750 or above (some lenders may offer business loans to applicants having lower credit scores)
  • Minimum Income: Rs 1 lakh p.a.
  • Eligible Entities: MSMEs, Proprietors, Limited Liability Partnership firms, Private Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, self-employed individuals, self-employed professionals (doctors, CA, CS, architect, etc.) individual corporations, etc.

Documents Required for Business Loan

Applicants usually require the following documents for processing business loan applications.

  • ID Proof: Voter ID, Driving License, Aadhar Card, Passport
  • PAN Card for partnership firms, individuals and companies
  • Address Proof: Telephone/electricity bill, Voter ID, Passport, Bank Statement, Driving License, registered lease deed or sale agreement, NREGA Card
  • Age Proof: Birth certificate, PAN card, Aadhar card, Passport, etc.
  • Ownership proof of residence or office
  • Business continuity proof
  • Copy of company’s PAN card
  • Business registration proof
  • Passport size photographs
  • Latest GST returns
  • Bank statement for last 6 months
  • Latest ITR along with income computation, B/S, P&L account for last 2 years certified by a CA
  • Sole proprietor declaration or certificate
  • Partnership deed copy
  • Certified copy of MOA, AOA and Board Resolution

Types of Business Loans

Lenders usually offer the following types of business loans:

Unsecured Term Loans

Lenders offer Unsecured Term Loans to MSMEs to meet their business requirements, such as expansion of operations, technology upgradation and meeting the cash flow requirements, without any collateral/security

Secured Term Loans

Secured Term Loans are offered against collateral like mortgage of immovable property, existing business assets of the applicant, financial securities, etc.

Unsecured Overdraft Business Loan

Unsecured Overdraft Business Loan is a collateral-free credit line facility wherein the applicant can withdraw money from their current business accounts within a predetermined limit, even with a zero balance.

Secured Overdraft Business Loan

Lenders offer Secured Overdraft Business Loans to their existing customers maintaining their current/savings account with the lender to finance their business operations and cash flows. The credit line facility is offered against residential/commercial/industrial property, financial securities like LIC Policies, KVP/NSC, Fixed Deposits, Mutual Funds, etc.

Professional Business Loan

Professional Business Loans are offered to self-employed professionals, such as doctors/medical practitioners, architects, CA and CS. Self-employed professionals can avail this loan facility to finance their business and working capital requirements including business expansion, purchase or construction of office premises, purchase of machinery, furniture, fixtures, equipment, purchase of medicine stocks, etc.

Bill Discounting

Bill Discounting allows the businesses to receive early payments against their outstanding invoices. The borrower presents the bill drawn on his customer to the lender, which pays him immediately after deducting a certain amount as discount or commission. The lender then collects the payment in full from the borrower’s customer on the bill’s due date. In case of any delay, the borrower or the customer has to pay a predetermined interest to the bank or NBFC.

Machinery Finance

Machinery Finance is a credit facility that allows the applicants to purchase machinery and equipment for business purposes.

Purchase Financing:

Lenders offer Purchase Finance to manufacturers, traders and service providers to pay for the raw materials and trading goods purchased from the suppliers.

Working Capital Loans:

Lenders offer Working Capital Loans to finance the day-to-day requirements of business units, such as purchase of raw materials and payment of wages.

Letter of Credit

Letter of Credit (LC) is a payment guarantee issued by the lender that enables the businesses operating in international trade to minimize their credit risk.

Merchant Cash Advance/Point of Sales

This loan facility is offered to small and medium enterprises engaged in online sales or having Point of Sale machines wherein the repayment is made by direct deduction of the amount against their online sales or sales made through POS machines

Personal Loan v/s Business Loan – Which one best suits your needs?

Personal loans can be used for meeting both personal and business requirements, business loans can be used only for financing various business related activities like raising working capital, financing business expansion, etc. While personal loans are usually unsecured in nature, business loans can be both secured and unsecured in nature.

Personal loans are offered as term loans, where repayment is EMI-based, or as an overdraft facility. However, business loans are offered in the form of term loan facility, limit-based facilities like overdraft and cash credit accounts, bill discounting, non-fund based facilities like letter of credit and bank guarantee, etc.

Loan applicants planning to avail lesser loan amounts without collateral can apply for personal loans or unsecured business loans. Those having more complex requirements and/or greater repayment flexibility should opt for respective business loan schemes based on their requirements.

FAQs on Business Loan

MSMEs, Limited Liability Partnership Firms, Proprietors, self-employed professionals (CA, CS, doctors, architect), self-employed individuals, Private Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, etc., are eligible for a business loan. However, the eligibility criteria would vary across lenders depending on the business loan schemes to be opted for.

Business loan applicants can apply for a business loan directly through the official website/app of banks and NBFCs or by visiting bank branches. Applicants can also visit online financial marketplaces like Paisabazaar.com to compare the interest rates and other features offered by various lenders.

Business Loan interest rates would vary widely depending on the lender, the scheme opted for, the type of collateral pledged for and the subsidy provided to the applicant, if eligible, from the various government agencies. While most lenders have not publicly disclosed the interest rates applicable on their various business loan schemes, the interest rates usually start from 9% p.a. onwards minus the subsidies, if available.

The documents required for business loan vary from lender to lender. However, the common documents required by the lenders while applying for business loan include KYC documents (Aadhar card, PAN card, Voter ID, Driving License, Passport), address proof (utility bills, telephone bills, electricity bill, sales agreement, registered lease deed, NREGA card), proof of residence or office ownership, business continuity proof, business registration proof, latest ITR alongwith income computation, certificate or declaration of sole proprietor, copy of partnership deed, certified copy of AOA, MOA and board resolution, etc.

Business loan applicants usually consider the lenders offering the lowest interest rates for availing business loans as it would help them in saving the overall interest cost.

Apart from the business loan interest rates, applicants also consider various parameters, such as loan tenure, loan amount, margin, type and value of collaterals, charges, loan guarantee requirements, repayment period and the turnaround time for loan disbursal while looking for the best bank for business loans.

Instead of visiting the official websites of multiple lenders, applicants can make their search easier by visiting online financial marketplaces like Paisabazaar.com to compare the business loan interest rates and other features offered by various lenders.

Business loans can be used for meeting the business requirements including working capital requirements like purchasing inventories/raw materials, salaries/wages, rent, etc. and capital expenditure requirements like purchasing machinery and equipment, acquisition of other fixed assets and for carrying out other activities for business expansion.

Margin money in a business loan refers to the amount that the borrower has to contribute from his own resources for financing goods or services through his business loan. The rest of the cost is financed through the loan proceeds.

For example, assume that a borrower seeks to finance an equipment purchase of Rs 10 lakh through a business loan and the lender asks for a margin money of 25%. In this case, the bank will provide a loan of  Rs 7.5 lakh to purchase that equipment while the balance cost of that equipment, i.e. Rs 2.5 lakh has to be arranged by the borrower himself.

The minimum credit score or credit rating required for availing a business loan may vary widely across lenders. In case of credit scores, individual applicants having a credit score of 700 and above may have a higher chance of availing business loans, especially the unsecured ones.

For floating rate business loans, the lender does not levy any pre-closure or part-prepayment charges. The pre-closure charges for fixed rate business loans may vary from 0%-6% with a lock-in period of 12 months. The part-prepayment charges for fixed rate business loans may range up to 5%. Borrowers are not allowed to part-prepay their business loans within the first 6 months from the date of loan disbursement.

Government of India offers various credit support schemes for MSMEs in the form of:

  • Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna (PMMY)
  • Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)
  • Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme for Technology Upgradation (CLCSS)
  • Udyogini and various credit support schemes through National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)

The optimum repayment for any business loan would depend on the expected future cash flows of the business and the repayment structure of that business loan.

GST is not levied on the interest component of any loans. However, the GST is levied on the various fees and charges incurred during the pre- and post-disbursal phase of a business loan.