Behalf Logo
star star star_half star_border star_border

4.4

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: October 28th, 2022

Founded by entrepreneurs similar to you, Behalf's objective is to ease the process of borrowing money. It is quite different than your typical alternative lender in that they designed their service in a way which allows you to build and maintain relationships. Consumers that choose Behalf should remember that they must have a credit score of 550 or higher.

Top Ranked Companies

thumb_up

The Good

  • Soft Credit Pull
  • Process
  • Free Credit Line
  • Few Limitations
  • Protection

Soft Credit Pull

Because this process has been made simple, they do not regularly use your credit score against you. Since you must provide them with your social security number, you might be afraid that they will damage your score. However, they make sure that they do not risk your credit score, as they perform a soft credit pull as opposed to a hard one. During the application process, they might scan your company's social media pages or your credit score in order to determine how risky it would be to loan you capital. Sometimes, they make the decision based solely on other factors, but they need your social security number for identification purposes regardless. 

Process

In order to apply, you must make an account and supply them with your:

  • Full name
  • Home address
  • Business name
  • Business address
  • Social security number

Immediately after filling in this straightforward application, they give you an idea of which credit line you would be eligible for. This offers you a quick overview of the capital that you will be able to obtain, the interest rates, and how long you will have to pay it back.

Free Credit Line

You get up to $50,000 without building up a credit line with them. Once you start paying them back consistently, they provide you with more capital in your quest to build a more successful business. This is an opportunity that their competitors normally don't offer; alternative lenders typically base your capital loan on your original credit report.

Few Limitations

Behalf is not going to attempt to control every purchase you make with the capital they lend you. If you need to buy supplies for your business, invest on your website, or even pay for an occasional legal service, they will not stop you, so long as you find the way to pay them back within the allotted time period.

Protection

The website claims that they use high levels of protection in order to keep your personal information from leaking or being stolen. They also do not share your personal information without your sole discretion.

thumb_down

The Bad

  • Low Acceptance Rate
  • Limited Funds
  • Repayment Period
  • They Report on Your Behalf
  • Not for Personal Use
  • Fee

Low Acceptance Rate

Although it seems as though 40 percent is high in comparison to many companies, it is actually two percentage points above the average six-month loan, and approval rates can vary greatly by industry. However, at an average of 38 percent, alternative lending institutions normally use your credit score as their main incentive to accept or reject your application. Behalf's well-rounded approach is what makes the company a convenient option.

Limited Funds

If you are looking to expand your business drastically, or your business is already large and you need extensive supply coverage, the maximum amount that you can borrow at any given time is $50,000, which is only convenient for minor expenses or businesses that simply need polishing.

Repayment Period

Like Kabbage, you are able to pay back your loan in a time period of up to six months. Many competitors offer this same repayment period. This might be difficult, depending on your company's success rate, so it might be something to consider before accepting a loan from them in the first place.

They Report on Your Behalf

Behalf reports directly to the business credit bureaus. This is only beneficial if you actually manage to meet your dates. Although this might seem to have a purely negative connotation, it could also be a good thing. If you feel as though your credit report should improve, and you show Behalf that you are capable of responsibly paying back the loan, they are able to report positively, thus improving your actual credit score. They claim that they do not yet report to personal credit bureaus, but that their business credit bureaus include D&B, Experian, and Equifax.

Not for Personal Use

The website clearly states that the money cannot be used for personal gain. This means that you cannot use their loan to pay for personal debt, including your payroll, credit card bill, your bank loan, your rent, or yourself.

Fee

If you wish to change your repayment plan (in the case that you simply cannot make a certain payment on time) there is a $20 fee imposed.

gavel

The Bottom Line

Because Behalf performs a soft credit pull, and because they are quick in generating a response, you should be able to apply and determine for yourself whether you believe that they are compatible with you. Behalf is a company that truly aims to make a difference in your life and business. If you are in the process of starting or slightly expanding your small business, and believe that you can meet the repayment amounts and dates, this might be the perfect match for you. In our opinion, Behalf's positive attributes overpower the negative ones, and if their loan plan makes sense for you and fits your business, we definitely recommend them. They are a personable lending institution, aiming to reduce the tensions involved in such a process, and willing to give you the flexibility and benefit of the doubt. We concluded that they are credible, reliable, and offer a variety of different payment and repayment options, making it suitable for many different industries.

View Best Business Loan Lenders

Was this content helpful?
thumb_up Yes thumb_down No

Star Rating

info

2.3

star star star_half star_border star_border

17 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

18%

4 grade

12%

3 grade

6%

2 grade

12%

1 grade

53%

Sentiment Criteria

Value

star star star_half star_border star_border

Quality

star star star_half star_border star_border

Service

star star star_border star_border star_border

Trustworthiness

star star star_half star_border star_border
cancel

Filter by:

arrow_drop_down

Sort by:

arrow_drop_down
info
star star star star_border star_border

Glen Coffield Altamonte Springs, FL

My experience was fine for several years. My line was increased up to $35,000. I paid my bills on time and then all of a sudden and with no notice they completely cut off my credit line. Candidly it wasn't a hardship as I have been in business for 27 years and have credit lines with all of my vendors and a $250,000 line of credit with DLL. The only issue was that I sometimes buy from vendors who don't offer Net Terms and this was a viable alternative to having to wire transfer funds. Had a similar experience with Kabbage. I do several million dollars a year in sales in my business and they had a place in my credit portfolio. Shame they wouldn't communicate why...that's my only beef...other than that they were fine

2 years ago