Your borrowing power comes down to revenue, time in business, credit, and the loan type. Here's the rule of thumb lenders use, typical ranges by product, and how to qualify for more.
For most short-term financing, the working rule of thumb is 10% to 30% of your annual revenue—roughly one to two months of sales. So a business doing $1,000,000 a year might see offers around $100,000-$300,000. Structured products go higher: SBA 7(a) reaches $5 million, and commercial real estate loans can exceed that. Your exact number depends on five things: revenue, time in business, credit, existing debt, and the loan type.
The single biggest driver. Higher, steadier monthly and annual revenue supports a bigger loan.
More operating history lowers lender risk and raises your ceiling. New businesses see smaller offers.
Stronger credit unlocks larger amounts, lower rates, and longer terms—especially for bank and SBA loans.
Current loans and their daily/weekly payments reduce how much new debt your cash flow can carry.
Each product has its own ceiling—an advance caps lower than an SBA loan or a real estate loan.
Each product has its own typical floor and ceiling. Match the amount you need to the right type:
| Loan type | Typical range | Amount driven mainly by |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant cash advance | $5K-$250K | Monthly card/sales volume |
| Working capital loan | $10K-$500K | Monthly revenue & deposits |
| Revenue-based financing | $10K-$500K | Annual revenue |
| Business line of credit | $10K-$500K | Revenue & credit |
| Business term loan | $25K-$1M | Revenue, credit, time in business |
| Equipment financing | Up to equipment value | The equipment cost |
| SBA 7(a) loan | Up to $5M | Financials, collateral, cash flow |
| Commercial real estate | $100K-$5M+ | Property value & income |
Looking for a specific figure? See our amount guides: $50K, $100K, $250K, $500K, $1M.
For short-term and revenue-based financing, you can ballpark your range from annual revenue. These are illustrative estimates, not offers—actual amounts depend on the full picture:
| Annual revenue | Approx. short-term range (10-30%) |
|---|---|
| $250,000 | ~$25,000 - $75,000 |
| $500,000 | ~$50,000 - $150,000 |
| $1,000,000 | ~$100,000 - $300,000 |
| $2,500,000 | ~$250,000 - $500,000+ |
For larger, structured needs (acquisition, real estate, major expansion), SBA and bank loans look at full financials and collateral rather than a simple revenue percentage—and can go far higher.
Once you have a target amount, use the calculator to see the monthly payment at different rates and terms (fill in at least three of the four fields). Estimates only—apply for real offers.
Want a bigger number? These moves raise your ceiling over time:
Consistent, rising deposits are the fastest way to a larger offer.
Crossing 1 and 2 years opens larger programs and better terms.
Higher scores unlock bank and SBA amounts that revenue alone can't.
Lower current payments free up cash flow to support a bigger new loan.
For the largest amounts, pledged assets push the ceiling up significantly.
Match the loan type to the purpose—an SBA loan or term loan reaches far higher than an advance.
Most businesses can borrow an amount tied to revenue—commonly 10-30% of annual revenue for short-term financing. SBA and bank loans can go well beyond with strong financials and collateral. Your amount depends on revenue, time in business, credit, existing debt, and loan type.
They weigh revenue, time in business, credit, existing debt and its payments, cash flow consistency, and collateral—sizing the loan so the payment fits comfortably within your cash flow.
For revenue-based and short-term products, offers commonly land around 10-30% of annual revenue (roughly one to two months of sales). Higher revenue and stronger credit push toward the upper end.
Grow and document revenue, build time in business, improve credit, reduce existing debt, keep clean bank statements, and add collateral for the largest amounts.
It depends on the program—short-term and revenue-based products commonly reach $250K-$500K, SBA 7(a) goes up to $5M, and commercial real estate and large term loans can exceed that.
A rule of thumb only gets you so far. Submit one application and we'll match you with lenders and show you real amounts based on your revenue, credit, and goals—no guesswork.