There’s no doubt The Lone Star State is one of the most impressive in the country, both in size and culture. The state, located in the South Central portion of the country, is expansive, making up over 268,000 square miles. It is also home to over 29 million people, making it the second largest state by land size and the second largest in population. Texas sits on the Gulf of Mexico, but due to its size, it has a wide range of geographical features ranging from open fields to dense forests. There’s also about 10 percent of the area that’s mostly desert. Texas is a thriving, strong economic state with much to offer, not just the people that call it home but also the many businesses present here.
When it comes to the economic sectors present here, there are numerous that have helped to grow this state, including strong energy, agricultural, aerospace, and biomedical sectors. It is recognized as a state that has a very high export revenue and the second largest gross state product. While it is a huge state for large industry, it also is home to 3.1 million people, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. These small businesses offer 4.9 million jobs for residents here, with a payroll of $233,329,255. There are many households in the state that are dependent on those funds, and these jobs make up a large portion of the state’s workforce.
For companies like this in Texas, having access to affordable funding is critical and readily available. Numerous small business lenders exist in Texas, many of them offering competitive interest rates and flexible loan terms. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s data shows that there are 10,577 active small business loans in Texas as of the most recent three years of data. These loans have a total value of $9,748,056,074. The average loan size in Texas is much larger than in other states at $921,628. Borrowers can use these funds for many things ranging from the purchase of equipment to expansion.
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How small business loans work in Texas
A small business loan is a type of funding tool used by smaller companies to help with expansion and other needs. This is a typical loan structure in which the borrower requests funds, the lender agrees to terms, and then the borrower repays the amount borrowed along with interest payments. Yet, there are many factors that help to make these loans not just accessible but also unique from other types of loans. As a small company, your business may qualify for these loans for many needs.
There are a wide range of types of small business loans available. One of the most common is SBA-guaranteed loans. These loans typically have lower fees and interest rates that are comparable to non-guaranteed loans. They also come with support to help companies run their business, lower down payment requirements, and often have flexible overhead requirements.
This is not the only option for small business loans in Texas, though. There are many banks and credit unions that offer flexible term loans as well. These may be in place for 5 to 10 years or longer, offering capital infusions for many needs. Another option is an equipment loan, which can help to purchase a computer, industrial, or other types of equipment at an inexpensive price point. Small business owners may also wish to apply for a business line of credit if they hope to borrow and repay their debt numerous times.
Small business lenders in Texas take on risk to provide these loans. The interest they charge helps to offset that. Yet, to obtain these loans, nearly all lenders will require documentation of the business, its products and services, and its overall revenue generation. These loans may be based on the amount of available revenue the company generates. Lenders may need to see balance sheets, profit and loss statements, bank statements, and other data, including the business or owner’s credit history, to determine if they can lend.
For a small business in Texas looking for a loan, there are numerous types available, including:
- Small Business Administration loans from the federal government
- Business term loans
- Equipment financing
- Bank loans
- Business line of credit
All borrowers should take the time to compare several loan options to find the one that is right for their needs and keeps costs as low as possible. Business lending is hard if you don’t have a track record of accounts receivable, which is why you shouldn’t start the application process until you’ve verified that you meet eligibility requirements. Your business needs should also be laid out in your business plan before you talk to any financial institutions, especially why you need the funds, such as cash flow.
Whether you’re starting up in Austin, Dallas, Houston, or somewhere else in Texas, you need some time in the market to prove that you have revenue to pay back any loan options. You can explore other options like small business grants, business credit lines, microloans, non-profit lenders (if applicable), and other business financing to see what best fits your needs.
If you’re new to running your business in the startup phase, you most likely are not able to get business loans. That’s because eligibility requirements typically include tax returns or other evidence of income from your company. Simply put, lenders want to see that you have a means of paying the loan back. There are other options beyond business loans, and you might want to see if local resources like such community development offices, economic development agencies, grants for entrepreneurs, a small business development center, the Texas Workforce Commission, or area nonprofit organizations can point you in the right direction for your new business.
Each lender has their own repayment terms, loan application, credit score rules, interest rates, and loan options. Some offer general small business loans whereas others do equipment financial, commercial real estate loans, disaster loans, or other loan options.