Indiana is a Midwestern state and sits on Lake Michigan and is bordered by the Ohio River. In the heart of the country, there are 6.7 million people who live in the state. A diverse place to live with a wide range of affluent and urban areas, the Hoosier State is a vibrant community. It is known for many things, from its passion for basketball, its vast farmland, the Indy 500, and its steel mills. Much of the heart of the state is farmland dominated by corn crops, but there’s much more to this area. Numerous beautiful parks, exceptional amenities on the waterfront, and modern shopping and dining all help to create an excellent place to call home.
Indiana also has a diverse economy, one that is dominated by energy production, agriculture, and manufacturing. Its largest industries center around motor vehicles and parts, pharmaceutical products, and medical equipment. A number of large companies call the state home, such as Simon Property Group and Go Electric.
While these companies make up a big portion of the state’s economic force, it is impossible to overlook the size and scale of the small businesses here as well. The U.S. Small Business Administration states there are 534,460 small businesses in the state, a very large number. These companies provide jobs for 1.2 million people and generate a payroll of $126,948,519. Many households are dependent on those businesses.
To support that business growth, there is a need for small business lenders in Indiana. The most recent three years of data from the Small Business Administration shows there are 3,422 active small business loans in the state with a total loan volume of $1,849,070,255. These lenders offer loans for many needs, and the current average loan size is $54,348. Companies rely on access to this type of capital to help them to grow and develop. It is also designed to provide them with financial resources for expansion, which further helps to support the local economy.
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How small business loans work in Indiana
A small business loan is a type of infusion of capital. Lenders provide the loan either as a one time payment or as a line of credit for the company to use for a variety of needs. These loans create a significant amount of risk for the lender, which is why there is interest on them. Small businesses, which are typically companies with under 100 employees, are often able to apply for these loans based on their needs. Lenders will then offer various terms and conditions. Borrowers repay the loan over a period of time, usually up to 10 years, with interest applied.
There are many loan options out there, including ones from economic development programs, real estate loans, microloans, business funding from credit unions and financial institutions, and more. You may also be eligible for small business grants or nonprofit grants depending on the structure and aim of your organization.
If you have your own business as an entrepreneur or nonprofit founder, make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements for a grant or loan before starting your application. You can look into additional business funding through your local community development office or the Indiana Small Business Development Center, too, if you need referrals to all programs.
How affordable are small business loans in Indiana? This really depends on the type of loan, the type of lender, and the qualifications for the business. It is very common for small business lenders to have some flexibility in what they offer. Small business lenders often will look at as much financial information about the company as possible to determine if they should lend.
This includes the company’s business plan, which should outline the company’s ownership, management, financial structure, revenue, as well as its products and services. A breakdown of the industry and the company’s overall profitability helps to show lenders if the loan is a financially reasonable one.
Small business lenders in Indiana often offer a range of loan types as well. This includes lines of credit from which a business may be able to borrow and repay over a period of time (working much like a credit card). This can provide financial support when it is needed, such as during peak periods in seasonal businesses.
Other times, larger loans are often provided as a way to help fund bigger investments, such as opening new locations, creating new products, launching marketing campaigns, or taking on new employees. These loans may have a fixed or adjustable interest rate and often require repayment in 5 to 10 years with monthly payments. Some of the most common types of loans include:
- Bank loans
- SBA loans from SBA.gov
- Business term loans
- Business lines of credit
- Equipment financing
Small business lenders in Indiana provide these very valuable loans to qualified borrowers. Yet, borrowers also need to know where to go to get the funding and to work with the most trusted lenders available.
Small business owners might seek out a loan for a number of reasons, including to buy real estate, expand their existing operations, or for other business needs in the state of Indiana. Each loan application comes with its own requirements and needs, so doing your research is well worth it as you think about all your business financing options.