{"id":1639,"date":"2019-02-20T16:49:20","date_gmt":"2019-02-20T16:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/?p=1639"},"modified":"2023-01-28T23:52:03","modified_gmt":"2023-01-28T23:52:03","slug":"personal-loan-to-start-a-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/personal-loan-to-start-a-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Use a Personal Loan to Start a Business?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655497423675{margin-top: 1em !important;}&#8221;][vc_video link=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QpzDo9JiLEc&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655497463832{margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]Using a personal loan to start a business is a choice a lot of entrepreneurs make. Most personal loans do not restrict you from using the money for business expenses. Because of this, you can apply for a personal loan and use that money to support your business.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655497485307{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2>Should You Use a Personal Loan for Your Business?<\/h2>\n<p>There are many pros and cons to consider when deciding whether you should use a personal loan to start a business or pay business expenses. Kat Tretina of Student Loan Hero <a href=\"https:\/\/studentloanhero.com\/featured\/personal-loan-for-business-expenses-things-keep-mind\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">discussed six factors<\/a> that occurred to her, including how fast the loan is approved and what information lenders require when loaning money for personal and business loans.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655499710718{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Upsides of Using a Personal Loan for Your Business?<\/h3>\n<p>I\u2019ve put together a list of benefits and drawbacks to using a personal loan to start a business. These were important to me when I was deciding whether to take out a personal loan to start a business. You should make sure you weigh the costs and benefits that are important to you and relevant to your business.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655499727875{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Applying<\/h4>\n<p>Applying and qualifying for a personal loan <strong>can be easier than getting a business loan<\/strong>, especially if your business is new. You can even find a lender to get a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/personal-loans\">personal loan for business<\/a> online relatively easily.<\/p>\n<p>For a personal loan, <strong>the lender considers your personal credit history, income, and overall creditworthiness<\/strong>. When you apply for a business loan, you usually have to give the lender detailed business tax returns, financial history, and other documentation that can take a lot of time to put together.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655499743749{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Interest Rates May be Lower<\/h4>\n<p>Your <strong>personal credit history is often more favorable than your business\u2019s history<\/strong>. You have probably been around borrowing money and paying it back a lot longer than your business has been in existence. That history may help you qualify for a personal loan that has better terms than a new business can obtain.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=&#8221;16481&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655499766606{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Getting a Personal Loan May be Faster<\/h4>\n<p>Because business loans require a detailed examination of the business financials, they take time to process. One of the most popular business loans is the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, and it can take months for that loan to be approved. <strong>A personal loan is granted based on information that is easier for lenders to process<\/strong>. You may be able to get a personal loan to start a business in just a <strong>few days<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655500709457{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Downside of Using a\u00a0Personal Loan for Your Business?<\/h3>\n<p>If a personal loan is easier, cheaper, and faster, why would anyone get a business loan? There are actually some great reasons why a business loan is right for some people. There are important downsides to consider when using a personal loan to start a business.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655500721016{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>You Have to Pay Back a Personal Loan if the Business can\u2019t<\/h4>\n<p>One of the things that makes it easier to get a personal loan than a business loan is that when you get a personal loan, your own credit is on the line. <strong>With a personal loan, you are personally responsible for paying back the individual loan<\/strong>. It doesn\u2019t matter if the business closes\u2014you are responsible for the entire loan amount. If your business doesn\u2019t make enough money to support the loan repayments, it\u2019s your credit score that will suffer.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655500748819{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>May Limit Your Ability to Borrow for a House or a Car Later<\/h4>\n<p>Every loan you take out makes it more difficult to get the next one. Lenders use a debt-to-income ratio, basically <strong>the more debt you have compared to the amount of money coming in the harder it is to get a loan<\/strong>. Whether it\u2019s for your business or not, a personal loan is a debt that can make it harder to get a mortgage or car loan later on.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655500756620{margin-top: -0.7em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Personal Loans Amounts are Usually Smaller than Business Loans<\/h4>\n<p>Even a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/personal-loan-with-good-credit\/\">personal loan with good credit<\/a> usually will be smaller than business loans. You may have to use a business loan if you need to borrow a lot of money for your business. <strong>SMB loans can be approved for millions of dollars while personal loans may only be for thousands<\/strong>. \u00a0If you think about it, this makes sense. One person is limited in the amount they can pay back by their salary. Businesses\u2019 profits are theoretically limitless and can be based on the work of more than one person.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501439358{margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2>Ways to Use a Personal Loan to Fund Your Startup?<\/h2>\n<p>When I was starting my business, I tried to operate on a shoestring budget and only spend money that I took in. This didn\u2019t get me very far, because it meant that I didn\u2019t actually invest in my own business. I quickly realized that at some point every business needs cash. My little venture was no different.<\/p>\n<p>Where was I going to get funds to invest in my next great idea? I knew I needed a loan, but I didn\u2019t actually know how much money I needed. Before I decided whether to get a personal loan or a business one, I thought about all the ways that a little extra money would help me reach my business goals.<\/p>\n<p>You may find that <strong>getting a small <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/personal-loans\">personal loan for startup expenses<\/a> can jump-start your business and help you reach the next level of success<\/strong>.\u00a0Every business has different needs, and money is at the center of almost all of them. Here are some ways I found that you can use the money from a\u00a0personal loan to start a business.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501448573{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Inventory<\/h4>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to make money selling stuff if you don\u2019t have anything to sell. Inventory is a significant expense in any business, especially when you\u2019re paying the manufacturing costs yourself. That\u2019s why crowdfunding sites are filled with new businesses promising extensive discounts to people who pledge to give money before goods are produced. <strong>Use a personal loan to finance your next production run, and you can focus on selling your goods on your own terms<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501456430{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Employee Wages and Contractor Payments<\/h4>\n<p>Employees expect to get paid on schedule, even if your last client is late on his bills. A personal loan <strong>can help you keep your employees and contractors happy<\/strong> while you wait for your next invoice to be paid.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501462844{margin-top: -0.7em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Office, Warehouse, Furniture, Machinery, and so on<\/h4>\n<p>A personal loan can help your business afford that <strong>new piece of equipment<\/strong> to improve your product. It can replace the worn carpet in your reception area. Investing in your business can help you see returns in client satisfaction and retention.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=&#8221;16485&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501485642{margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Cash Flow<\/h4>\n<p>You need money to make money. <strong>New businesses don\u2019t have a steady stream of customers bringing in money<\/strong>, and business investment suffers because of it. Using a personal loan to start a business can help you improve your cash flow until your business starts generating it on its own.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501494184{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Rent or Monthly Mortgage Payments<\/h4>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to operate a successful business out of your house. Whether you\u2019re just starting out or are in the middle of a seasonal slump, <strong>paying your rent is a top priority<\/strong>. You can get a personal loan to keep the doors open so that the business has a chance to flourish.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501502362{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Advertising, Marketing, and Research<\/h4>\n<p>If customers can\u2019t find you, they won\u2019t buy from you. You can use a personal loan to <strong>start a business marketing campaign.<\/strong> Research your competition and advertise to the right potential customers.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=&#8221;1259&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501511212{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Accounting, Legal, and Professional Fees<\/h4>\n<p>Licensing requirements, legal fees, and accounting expenses add up in any business. \u00a0A small personal loan to start a business can help you <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-loan-to-pay-a-lawyer\/\">finance your legal fees<\/a> and licenses<\/strong> while you focus on getting your first customers.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501519981{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4>Unexpected Business Costs<\/h4>\n<p>I first found out that my commercial lease didn\u2019t cover the cost of a new A\/C when the A\/C went out in the middle of summer. Business expenses pop up at the worst moments, and you can\u2019t plan for everything. <strong>Get a personal loan quickly so you can handle your emergency<\/strong> without jeopardizing your business goals.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501529530{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Is It Better to Get a Personal Loan or Business Loan?<\/h3>\n<p>Getting a personal loan to start a business might be your only option. But if you have an established business, you are probably wondering how to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of a business loan. Is a business or a personal loan better for you right now?<\/p>\n<p>I can\u2019t answer that question for you. What was right for my business may be completely different from yours. <strong>Your personal expenses, family obligations, and business needs are important considerations when making your decision<\/strong>. Only you can decide which option is right for you and your business.<\/p>\n<p>You have to decide how much risk you are willing to take for yourself, your family, and your business. Tying your personal credit history up with the success of your business has its risks. <strong>Take into account the costs of tying up your personal credit and the risk that your credit will be negatively affected if you default on a personal loan<\/strong>. We all hate to consider the possibility that a business will fail, but many do. Getting a personal loan to start a business may sound like a no-brainer, but if the business closes the loan doesn\u2019t go away. You still have to pay for it.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655759624081{margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_raw_html]JTNDZGl2JTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJxdW90ZSUyMiUzRSUwQSUzQ2RpdiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMiUzRSUwQSUzQ3AlM0UlMEFJZiUyMHlvdSUyMHJpc2slMjBub3RoaW5nJTJDJTIwdGhlbiUyMHlvdSUyMHJpc2slMjBldmVyeXRoaW5nLiUwQSUzQyUyRnAlM0UlMEElM0MlMkZkaXYlM0UlMEElM0Nmb290ZXIlM0UlMEElMjZtZGFzaCUzQiUzQ3NwYW4lMjBzdHlsZSUzRCUyMm1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0JTNBMC4xZW0lM0IlMjIlM0UlMjBHZWVuYSUyMERhdmlzJTNDJTJGc3BhbiUzRSUwQSUzQyUyRmZvb3RlciUzRSUwQSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRQ==[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are you going to risk your business because you don\u2019t want to risk your personal credit? Let\u2019s say you decide to try for a business loan. Can your business survive without immediate cash if you\u2019re waiting months for a business loan to be approved?<\/p>\n<p>If you own your business with others, make sure to involve them in any decision you make. Your business agreements may require you to get all members\u2019 approval before taking out a loan in the name of the business.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501539763{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Where to Find A Personal Loan?<\/h3>\n<p>If you have decided to take out a personal loan to start a business or to sustain one, the next step is how to get a loan. Don\u2019t just go to your bank and take the first offer you get. Before you decide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/personal-loans\">loan shop for your business<\/a> make sure you get the best deal.<\/p>\n<p>There are many online loan shopping tools that help you find a lender for your needs. \u00a0Loanry is a tool that makes looking for loans easy and efficient. Our blog post on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/get-a-personal-loan-in-3-simple-steps\/\">3 steps to actually getting your loan<\/a>\u00a0is really helpful if you&#8217;re looking for a personal loan to fund a business.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501547356{margin-top: -0.7em !important;margin-bottom: -1.2em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Where to Find A Business Loan?<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re like me, you want to know what all your options are before you make your final decision. Before I decided which loan to get, I wanted to make sure I knew what loan conditions I could qualify for personally and what kind my business would qualify for.<\/p>\n<p>Loanry has lots of information on personal loans and also has information\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/applying-for-small-business-loans\/\">on this page for business loans<\/a>. Here is some of the information I found when researching how to finance my business. I hope that some of it is useful for you.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=&#8221;modern&#8221; color=&#8221;purple&#8221; gap=&#8221;2&#8243; active_section=&#8221;1&#8243; collapsible_all=&#8221;true&#8221;][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Fund your business with alternative Types of Loans&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1655398661240-4ef0893f-99c6&#8243;][vc_column_text]A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/business-loans\">traditional business loan<\/a> is given by the bank to the business entity, not to the people who run or own the business. The only obligations of the loan are the ones the bank sets up. These obligations can be onerous, and traditional loans can be hard for small businesses to get.<\/p>\n<p>Because traditional business loans are so hard for new companies to get, the Small Business Administration works with small companies and solo entrepreneurs. An SBA-backed loan is an alternative type of loan for a business that may not be able to qualify for a traditional loan. You go through a bank or credit union like a traditional loan, but your business has to meet the requirements of the SBA in order to get the loan.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Credit Unions and Banks&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1655398661241-00e06e5e-1bd2&#8243;][vc_column_text]Whether you want an SBA-backed loan, a traditional business loan, or a personal loan, you can go to any credit union or bank for funding. You don\u2019t have to go to the institution where your business has its checking account. I found out that it would have taken take days just to locate all the credit unions and banks that were offering loans in my area. That\u2019s why an online loan shopping tool is a good idea. It does the legwork for you, so you can get to work deciding which loan to apply for.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Fund your business with a 401(k) or IRA&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1655398666423-27b6279c-1b1f&#8221;][vc_column_text]If you\u2019re fortunate to have funds in a 401(k) or IRA, you may be able to fund your business with a ROBS plan. The Rollovers as Business Start-UP IRA can be used as a down-payment on an SBA-loan or as a fund to pay yourself a salary. You should definitely consult a financial advisor before making this choice. You may need to change your business structure and move around funds in order to avoid tax penalties.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Fund your business with Peer to Peer Loans&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1655398670181-406792ee-a210&#8243;][vc_column_text]If you want to avoid traditional lending institutions, you can still get a loan from other sources. Peer to Peer (P2P) loans go from person to person instead of bank to person. There are P2P platforms popping up online that connect people to businesses that need cash, and you may be able to find one that can help you.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=&#8221;Home Equity or Other Collateral-Backed Loans&#8221; tab_id=&#8221;1655398672994-63e76908-40e8&#8243;][vc_column_text]If you have equity in your house or other real estate, you may be able to use that equity to get a personal loan. By putting up your house or other property as collateral, you may be able to get a lower interest rate on a personal loan to start a business. A collateral-backed personal loan is a secured loan. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/various-types-of-personal-loans\/\">other types of personal loans available<\/a>, and one of them may help you give your business the boost it needs.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1655501555740{margin-top: -0.7em !important;}&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n<p>When you consider all your options, you may decide that a personal loan is the best choice for your business right now. Or a business loan may be a perfect solution to expand your company. Compare all of your personal and business loan options, and consider the\u00a0impact on your business and your personal financial health. I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ll be able to make a decision that helps your business thrive. With online tools like Loanry, you have everything you need to find the right loan to meet your current needs and set you up for continued success.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<a class=\"arb-banner\" href=\"https:\/\/key.goalry.com\/get-member-key?utm_campaign=organic&utm_source=loanry&utm_medium=businessloanscategory&utm_content=banner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"arb-banner-img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/loanry-big-banner.jpg\" alt=\"Loanry\"><\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are many pros and cons to consider when deciding whether you should use a personal loan to start a business or pay business expenses. Read on to find out more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[249],"tags":[851,285],"class_list":["post-1639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-loans","tag-business-loans","tag-loan-shop-for-your-business"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1639"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18089,"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1639\/revisions\/18089"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loanry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}