The state of Oklahoma, also known as The Sooner State, is recognized for its miles of agricultural areas. It’s home to Tulsa and Oklahoma City, two of the largest cities in the state. About two-thirds of all people living in the state live within these metro areas. Oklahoma is known for many things, including its strong Native American history. It is a beautiful state to call home, too, with numerous state and national parks. Sometimes called the land of the lakes and a state with far-stretching open plains, Oklahoma has quite a diverse landscape and culture. From its college sports programs to its country music and the home of Route 66, this is a state that has a lot of history and culture.
Oklahoma’s economy is based on a wide range of industries. That includes natural gas and agriculture, as well as food production, telecommunications, and transportation. While the state is noted for its industrial and electronics industries, including being the home to some large companies, it also has a large number of small businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration shares that the state has 367,405 small businesses present. Those small businesses produce jobs for 718,033 people, which is a significant amount of the 1.7 million people that are a part of the state’s workforce. These small businesses contribute $29,036,986 through payroll that helps to support a wide range of households.
When it comes to growing a small business, there are numerous ways to do so, but all require access to capital. The last three years of data from the U.S. Small Business Administration shows that there are 1,646 small business loans in place in Oklahoma as of 2022. These loans have a total value of $980,963,924. The average size loan for Oklahoma small business owners is $595,968. These funds are valuable to help companies not just get started but also to help them to grow, expand, and support the Oklahoma economy through those jobs.
Entrepreneurs who need support for commercial real estate, opening up a new location, or expanding a product line don’t have to rely on loans alone. However, many other opportunities have specific rules, including grants for nonprofits.
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How small business loans work in Oklahoma
Small business loans are a critical component in supporting the needs of companies in all sectors of Oklahoma. These loans work much like most other types of loans. The borrower requests funds from a lender. If approved, the borrower must repay the loan over a period of time, which could be 5, 10, or more years. The repayment includes an interest rate, which is dependent on the credit qualifications of the company. There are a few things to know about small business lenders in Oklahoma.
Small business lenders provide these loans to companies they know can repay the debt. To know that, the lenders need to gather information about the company, which they do from a business plan, if available, as well as financial documents such as balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and bank statements. This information, along with the credit history of the business, or the business owner, can help to shed light on the overall financial health of the business.
Small business loans in Oklahoma are versatile and can be used for many things. Most lenders do not provide these to new companies as they are not typically startup funding. However, they can be used to help companies grow, such as by developing new products and services, hiring more employees, opening new locations, or even marketing and branding support. Lenders typically offer loans in various formats to meet the individual needs of the borrower. Some examples include:
- Bank loans
- SBA loans from SBA.gov
- Business lines of credit
- Business term loans
- Equipment financing
Some loans offer a one-time payment that is then paid back over a period of years with a fixed or adjustable interest rate. Other loans are lines of credit that can be used multiple times and repaid. Some are tied to assets, such as equipment financing. That helps to provide the lender with more confidence that the loan is secured and safe.
For a company that needs capital for any reason, establishing a small business loan in Oklahoma can be an affordable way to get the funds needed. Most loans offer competitive interest rates with flexible loan terms to meet the specific needs of the company. Not all lenders are the same. It is important to compare several to determine which can meet your needs on an ongoing basis.
You may look into alternative funding options, too, such as a local assistance program, commercial real estate loans, grants for for-profit or non-profit organizations, and loans from banks and credit unions.
Each lender will likely use its own loan application, review of tax returns and credit score, calculators for interest rates, and more based on their loan options. It’s easiest if you already have a business plan or strong business credit, since this makes you less of a credit risk for the lender. Bear in mind that various lenders might have multiple loan options for business financing, too.