We earn a commission from brands listed on this site. This influences the order and manner in which these listings are presented.
BestMoney logo

SmartBiz Loan Review

Reviews 16,367
SmartBiz
SmartBiz
Excellent
Reviews 16,367
Michael Graw
May. 07, 2023
2 min read
Michael Graw
SmartBiz Summary
SmartBiz is an AI-powered small business financing platform equipping entrepreneurs with access to the right capital at the right time. SmartBiz connects borrowers with more than $9 billion in financing while increasing efficiency for its network of banks and lending partners. More than 230,000 entrepreneurs have utilized SmartBiz to access the funding they need to grow, with 60% of loans made to minority, women, or veteran-owned businesses.

Pros

  • Speeds up the SBA loan process
  • Offers competitive rates

Cons

  • Strict financial requirements

SmartBiz at a glance

8.8
Editorial score

Online experience

Has learning resources, access to rates, mobile app
10.0

Customer services and support

Multiple ways of reaching lender, wide range of hours
8.0

Variety of loan types

Offers most loan types
8.0

Loan amount range

Up to $350K
10.0

Eligibility

Doesn't cover bad credit, low revenue, new businesses
8.0

Overview

SmartBiz was named the Top Small Business Lending Platform by LendIt Fintech® in 2022 for excellence in keeping the economy running through successful loan performance, volume, growth, product diversity, and innovation. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco and Austin, SmartBiz is backed by Venrock, Investor Growth Capital, First Round Capital, Baseline Ventures, and Uncork Capital. 

Why SmartBiz Is Good For Your Business

If your business has been around for at least two years and has a strong financial record, SmartBiz is one of the most attractive SBA lending marketplaces available. The lenders that SmartBiz works with offer SBA loan interest rates as low as 6.25%*. In addition, SmartBiz is free to use when applying for SBA loans and you can get money in as little as 7 days after being approved by a partner lender. 

Loan Features

SmartBiz offers several different types of loans for small businesses. The main type of loan offered by this platform is an SBA 7(a) loan, which is available in amounts from $30,000 to $350,000 for business growth. SmartBiz’s partner lenders also offer traditional bank term loans, which come with fewer restrictions but higher interest rates and monthly payments.

  • SBA 7(a) business expansion loans
  • Bank term loans

Application Process

SmartBiz speeds up the SBA loan application process by enabling you to prequalify. The prequalification process requires information about your business’s financial history and revenue, as well as helps you fill out the paperwork required for an SBA loan. Prequalification involves a soft credit pull that won’t harm your credit.

If you prequalify, SmartBiz will then match you with a partner lender. The partner lender will help you finalize your loan application, which requires a hard credit pull. Typically, you can complete the SBA loan process within a few weeks and receive money within 7 days of being approved.

How Much Can You Borrow?

The amount you can borrow through SmartBiz’s partner lenders varies depending on the type of loan your business needs:

  • SBA 7(a) business expansion loans: $30,000 to $350,000
  • Bank term loans: $30,000 to $350,000

Repayment Terms

SBA 7(a) loans have a longer repayment term from 10-25 years. In addition, they receive reduced interest rates since they are backed by the government. Traditional bank term loans have a shorter repayment term (2, 3 or 5 year repayment) and higher interest rates:

  • SBA 7(a) business expansion loans: starting at 6.73% APR, 10-25 years
  • Bank term loans: starting at 9.67%, 2-5 years

How Safe Is It?

SmartBiz uses 256-bit encryption to protect all clients’ personal and financial data - the same level of encryption used by most banks. The company also has a very transparent privacy policy that makes it clear that SmartBiz doesn’t sell clients’ information.

Help & Support

SmartBiz offers customer support by phone, email, and live chat from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm PT, Monday to Friday.

Phone: 866-283-8726

Email: support@smartbizloans.com

Summary

SmartBiz streamlines the process of getting an SBA or bank term loan for your small business. The platform has strict financial requirements but offers low-interest rates through its network of partner lenders. SmartBiz helps your business prequalify for a loan with a soft credit check and offers customer support 5 days a week.

Physical Address

SmartBiz, 433 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94104

Disclaimer

*SBA loans from banks in the SmartBiz network have a fixed rate of Prime Rate plus 2.75% to 3.75% or a variable rate of Prime Rate plus 2.75% to 3.75%.

Michael Graw
Written by
Michael Graw
Michael Graw is a Bellingham, Washington-based writer focusing on finance, tech, and science. His work has been featured in print magazines and high-impact websites. He writes for BestMoney and enjoys helping readers make sense of the options on the market.‎
Top Business Loans
 Biz2Credit
Biz2Credit
Read Review|Visit Site
Read all reviews

Must Reads

Personal Loan vs Business Loan - Which is Right for Your Business?
Apr. 25, 2024
You’re 6 Steps Away From Qualifying for a Business Loan
Apr. 25, 2024
Business Loan Options for Women-Owned Businesses
Apr. 25, 2024
Read all articles
Trustpilot reviews
See what some customers are saying about SmartBiz
Excellent • Reviews 16,367
on
Excellent
86%
Great
5%
Average
2%
Poor
1%
Bad
6%
We upload 100 to 400 Trustpilot reviews to our website daily, displaying them by default from "best" to "worst". You have the option to adjust the sorting criteria. If you wish to see all reviews, you can visit Trustpilot's website here.
Sort by
Ralph Maines
4 months ago
Transportation
This R.A Maines moving all services and goods across America.
Ne
Neil
4 months ago
Working with Leslie and Diamond was a…
Working with Leslie and Diamond was a wonderful experience - super fast, very efficient and always pleasant.
DB
Dathene Bare
5 months ago
They are willing to look into more…
They are willing to look into more lenders for me We were scammed by a friend but still responsible
FA
Frances A.
5 months ago
5 star service no less!
Just want to give a shout out to Kenneth Berlin. He was my point of contact . He was fast, efficient, sharp and thorough. His guidance and expertise were reassuring, especially considering the overwhelming world of lending . For your business lending needs, Kenneth will be your advocate. My team thanks him too.
Richard Chika Amadi
6 months ago
Great and encouraging intent to grow ones but
The terms, conditions and the whole idear of encouraging individuals and groups to grow their business for self and the society is worth pursuing
1
2
3
...
20