What is an Emergency Business Loan?
An emergency loan is a brief-term business loan that helps you cover your costs in an emergency. There are several emergency loans, but they all have strict time limits (usually weeks or months) and high-interest rates and fees.
You can never be too prepared for the unexpected. While many businesses plan their finances so that there’s an emergency fund available, this might not always prove possible: sometimes emergencies arise out of nowhere, leaving you with no choice but to take out loans even more significant than what you faced.
Types of Emergency loans
There are many types of loans to choose from, so you must know what kind of loan best suits your needs before making any decisions. Here are some popular types of loans and how they work.
Personal loans
They are a great way to get an emergency cash infusion without collateral. They’re also helpful if you need help with something that will take more than one month or year, such as consolidating debt from multiple lenders into one low-rate loan because there’s no chance of getting approval from them otherwise.
Credit cards
They are great for making purchases at places that accept them, but what if you need cash? If your credit card doesn’t charge an additional fee and offers interest-free advances, then it’s worth using to get money quickly.
The main drawback with this option is the high risk of fees when using your actual debit or bank account. However, some banks offer reduced rates on certain transactions like deposits during emergencies (which might be why they’re sometimes easier to come by).
A payday loan
It is an emergency, short-term funding with a very high-interest rate. Payday lenders market their loans as available even if you have bad credit and promise repayment of the funds only from your next paycheck.
Common Reasons for Emergency Business Loans
As we all know, emergencies happen, and that’s why it is essential to have emergency loans on hand. These are just some of the common reasons someone might need one.
Replace equipment
Financial difficulties can be a significant issue for any company, especially when purchasing equipment. Sometimes the only way out of debt or default on your loan payment date is with an emergency business loan from your bank.
Covering an unpaid balance
A common reason for emergency business loans is to cover any due balance. The average amount that people request in this situation is $2,500, and it can take as little time as one day before receiving the money – but some borrowers get approved with less than three days’ notice.
Business disruptions
There are times when a company needs to take out an emergency loan. These can be due to business disruptions, such as fires or other natural disasters that leave your office without power for days on end, which results in lost data and lowered productivity levels among employees.
Pursue time-sensitive opportunity
Many businesses find themselves in a time crunch when caring for an emergency. Whether their inventory has damages or customers are canceling orders, these financial difficulties may mitigate with quick funding from your lender. They may not stop you from pursuing opportunities that align well within the company timeline.
Government Emergency Business Loans
Government Emergency Business Loans are a loan program created by the government to help companies in need during emergencies. Here are examples:
Working Capital
Working capital is financing that is used for general business purposes. The lender determines the loan amount and varies based on the borrower’s needs and creditworthiness.
The SBA offers disaster loans
The SBA offers disaster loans to help those affected by natural disasters. Through various programs, the organization provides funding for start-up costs and working capital needs.
PPP Loans
The Paycheck Protection Program provided forgivable relief loans for businesses, independent contractors, and the brutal self-employed hit by the pandemic. These PPP loan programs are no longer available.
Types of Emergency Business Loans
With the numerous types of emergency business loans out there, it can be challenging to know which is right for you. Luckily we’ve compiled this list with some helpful tips on choosing your loan type and finding a lender.
Term Loans
They provide the convenience of paying back your loan at any time with interest still accruing throughout repayment. Still, also have some drawbacks, such as high fees and low conversion rates when compared against other types of lending institutions which could make them less appealing in certain situations.
Business lines of credit
They offer 24/7 access to capital, so they make sense during crises and are perfect for covering costs without tapping personal finances too much. The interest rates on these loans tend to have low monthly payments and longer repayment terms than other forms – up until ten years.
Invoice factoring
If you’ve customers who owe you money, but they have yet to pay you, the unpaid invoices can be sold to a factoring company for a fee, and the purchase price might include collecting with other companies that do business as “factors.” This type of financing may cost more than paying off invoicing yourself in total; however, it does allow you to handle collection on your end.
Avoid Predatory Loans
Small businesses are at risk of being targeted with predatory lending practices. They may not list all fees and interest rates, charge prepayment penalties or offer adjustable-rate loans that vary based on the payment term you choose, which can be costly if it’s longer than what your customers need.
Merchant cash advances
Provide companies who own small businesses with quick funding solutions so long as there isn’t another source providing short-term credit, such as personal lines or home equity borrowing. However, associated MCA payments deduct from sales made via credit cards due to an often predatory nature.
Poor terms of predatory loan
It is an unfair practice that many people get caught up in, but it doesn’t have to be this way. It can work better for them if they know their options rarely before getting involved with one lender too far down the line.