Kabbage is an online lending company based in Atlanta, GA. Kabbage developed an online algorithm that simplified the financing process for small businesses. When applying for a small business loan, Kabbage has in-depth knowledge of business processes, helping the borrower get faster access to their money.

Kabbage is unique in the industry because they use data from business checking accounts, payment processing, shipping data, and other e-commerce sites to reach small businesses that are looking for loans. Also, Kabbage has a high success rate: Over 80 percent of all Kabbage transactions come from repeat users.

• Transparent requirements
• Instant approval
• Low APR

Advantages

Loans from Kabbage are almost like a cash advance with lower interest - they are perfect for businesses that need a little bit of cash and can pay it back in a short amount of time. You can borrow between $2,000 and up to $150,000. Plus, Kabbage has a unique borrowing model that allows the borrower to only use what she/he needs. Even if someone is approved for a $150k loan, you only pay for what you take.

Business advances from Kabbage are set up on a short-term, manageable payment platform. The term of the loan ranges from six & twelve months. Benefits of the Kabbage platform include:

Pros of Kabbage Small Business Loans

• Loans are scalable and manageable
• Use and pay for only what you need
• Short, manageable payment plan
• Instant approval and fast access to funds
• Low Rates & Short Terms

Transparent Application Requirements

Those interested in using Kabbage can find a ton of information online without having to apply first (a commodity in the lending industry). Here is some of the information we easily found online:

• Companies need to be in business for one year before applying
• Companies need to be making a minimum of $50k annually
• No pre-payment penalties
• No closing fees
• No origination fees
• 1.5-10 percent interest rates
• Good Resources

Resources

Kabbage has a resources tab on their website that connects you to their blog. This site houses tons of content that businesses can access for free. Find business news, webinars, eBooks, tips, and more. Under Kabbage's "How It Works" tab, there is a calculator that gives potential borrowers an estimation of their total payment based on the amount they plan to borrow and the length of the term. The longer you have the loan for, the higher the amount you will typically pay.

Repeat Users

The average Kabbage customer utilizes their line of credit four times a year. This indicates that a lot of businesses are using Kabbage's service and that the payment scale is affordable and sustainable. Also, a high number of repeat users indicates that Kabbage's application and approval process is streamlined for small businesses. Kabbage's application and approval platform are also very easy to use. You simply need your financial documents and a quality credit score. If you qualify, there is an instant approval, rather than an extended waiting period.

Check rates with Kabbage

• Short term solution
• Personal guarantee

Short Term Solutions

As we mentioned earlier in this review, Kabbage's loaning paradigm is based on the line-of-credit industry. When you apply for a loan with Kabbage, it is a short-term solution. Most Kabbage clients use their funds for short-term needs, such as equipment upgrades, purchasing inventory, or funding payroll. Kabbage does not offer traditional loans, large loans for bigger businesses, or other types of conventional funding. Another factor to consider is that Kabbage does not offer an SBA-based service. Therefore, the borrower is not included in some key SBA programs. Other limitations include:

Low Amounts of Capital

Kabbage only lends a maximum of $150k. This amount makes sense when you only have 12 months to pay back your loan. But again, it's not a large enough sum for many businesses.

Personal Guarantee

When you take out a loan with Kabbage, they state that "you personally guarantee that you will pay back your loan, but you do not have to put up any real estate or personal collateral." In many cases, a personal guarantee means that you have to put up personal collateral. This confusing language makes it difficult to know what collateral you are really promising to Kabbage when you take out a loan.

Kabbage is a great way to secure short-term financing for your business. Borrowers should consider Kabbage as a lender if they need small amounts for immediate short-term needs, such as new inventory purchases or payroll. If you don't mind waiting a few days for funding and you feel confident in your ability to pay back the loan (and don't mind having a personal guarantee attached to the loan), we recommend using Kabbage.