Whether you are establishing a new business or planning an expansion of an existing one, the worry about funds must be hovering over your mind round the clock. This is where small business lenders come to the rescue and provide your mind with a sense of relaxation. While searching for business loans, you’ll come across many lenders who offer two types of business loans – secured and unsecured business loans. But you might make a regrettable decision if you don’t know the exact difference between the two.
So, to identify the difference and the ideal option for you, you must read the below-mentioned information in detail before signing on the dotted line.
What are secured business loans?
Secured business loans are the ones against which you have to pledge collateral. Any of your valuable assets can be pledged for the loan amount. So, if you ever default on your business loan, the lender may seize that collateral to cover the losses incurred. Therefore, it is essential to carefully assess your repayment capacity before opting for a secured business loan.
What are unsecured business loans?
Unsecured business loans are the ones that do not require any collateral. So, even if you default on loan repayment, your assets will be safe. You have to reach out to leading lenders in your area to avail online unsecured loans for your business in a hassle-free manner.
Secured vs Unsecured Business loans – Which one should you Choose?
Which type of loan is appropriate for you depends largely upon your business circumstances. Although secured business loans are easier to get, they consume a lot of time. In comparison, unsecured business loans are a more advantageous choice because of their following characteristics –
- Prompt approval – In the case of secured business loans, you are required to go for authentication and evaluation of collateral, which consumes a lot of time and, ultimately, the loan approval gets delayed. But that’s not the case with unsecured loans, where everything happens quickly because you are not required to keep any security with small business lenders. Therefore, the loan amount gets disbursed into your bank account in a short span of time.
- Minimal documentation – Many documents are required to obtain secured business loans. Whereas the unsecured business loan can be approved by submitting only a few documents, and that too, online if you find a lender that provides an online unsecured business loan facility. s
- No collateral – Many business owners don’t go for business loans because they do not have any assets to pledge or they fear pledging their valuable assets to any lender. In the case of an unsecured business loan, the lender asks for a promise to repay the amount within the stipulated time frame. They never demand you to keep any collateral, so choosing this loan type helps keep your beloved assets safe.
- Improves credit score – The risk is higher when the repayment period is longer. Chances are that in the future, the business cash flow may not be adequate or any other business condition which may arise and expose you to the risk of making a repayment default, thus affecting your credit score. The main advantage of taking unsecured small business loans is that their repayment tenure is shorter, so it helps you improve your credit score. With this improved credit score, you can avail a business loan in the future with lower interest rates.
So, if you want to raise the loan quickly without risking your business assets, an unsecured business loan is a great choice. Also, it helps improve your creditworthiness, which makes it an even more worthwhile option.