Newtek Business Solutions is a business development company (BDC) that provides financing solutions to business owners. The New York-based company offers financial products such as term loans and lines of credit.Newtek, founded in 1998, has been a publicly-traded company for nearly two decades. As a BDC, Newtek has several portfolio companies that provide payroll processing solutions, IT services, health insurance and benefits. BDCs were created by Congress to invest in small- and mid-sized companies. Though they share some things in common with venture capital funds, BDCs are typically regulated investment companies.
Newtek has approved more than $2 billion in financing to business owners. Keep reading to find out more about what funding solutions Newtek could offer your small business.
Newtek financing details
Newtek provides standard business financing options like term loans and revolving lines of credit, as well as commercial real estate loans for large transactions. Check out the details on what Newtek offers:
Term loans
Newtek’s business loans range as high as $10,000,000 with repayment terms between 84 and 300 months. Business owners can use term loans to expand their operations or acquire a new one, increase their working capital, purchase equipment and inventory, or refinance existing business debt. Refinancing a business loan entails getting a new loan to pay off an existing loan, and receiving better terms, lower interest and fewer fees in the process.
Lines of Credit
Newtek offers revolving lines of credit that you must secure either with your accounts receivable or inventory. An accounts receivable-backed line of credit is available from $10,000 to $1,500,000, while an inventory-backed credit line could range between $50,000 and $500,000. You could be approved for an 80% advance on your accounts receivable, and 50% on your inventory. You could have access to a line of credit in two weeks or less. Business owners can draw from a line of credit to cover working capital, payroll, taxes or other operational costs.
Commercial real estate loans
Newtek provides loans from $125,000 to $10,000,000 to buy or refinance commercial real estate. Newtek requires as little as 10% equity from borrowers. If approved, you could use the loan to purchase or expand an existing building, refinance existing real estate loans, acquire land or fund ground-up construction.
Many of Newtek’s term and real estate loans are backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA loans typically offer low interest rates and long repayment terms but have rigorous requirements. A Newtek specialist would be able to walk you through the lengthy SBA application process.
on Newtek’s secure website
What businesses are eligible for Newtek financing?
For-profit businesses based in the U.S. are eligible for Newtek financing. To qualify for a term loan or commercial real estate loan, you must provide two to three years of tax returns. You should also be able to demonstrate your ability to repay debt through your previous and projected cash flow statements.
Additionally, a line of credit requires a business owner to provide non-perishable inventory or invoices that are due in 30, 60 or 90 days.
Newtek finances businesses in a range of industries, including manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, general and heavy construction, as well as special trade construction. Businesses involved in gambling or casino operations would not be eligible for Newtek financing. Otherwise, the lender can generally work with any business. Keep reading for more about Newtek’s eligibility requirements.
The pros and cons of Newtek
Pros
- Customer support. An account manager is assigned to each client to serve as a point of contact for questions and issues.
- Additional services provided. In addition to providing financing, Newtek could offer your business payroll, HR and benefits solutions, as well as security and compliance services.
- Large loan and credit amounts available. Newtek’s business financing products offer large amounts of funding, which could cover major projects and purchases.
Cons
- Slow time to funding. It could take four to six weeks to receive a term loan and up to two weeks to access a line of credit.
- Long repayment terms. To repay a term loan, you would be making payments for 84 to 300 months.
- No online application. To apply for financing, you would need to contact Newtek. A lending specialist would complete all documents on your behalf.
Application process and requirements
Most alternative business lenders have an online application process for prospective borrowers. However, Newtek requires applicants to contact the company to apply.
You can call or email Newtek to connect with a lending specialist who will fill out your application documents. The lending specialist works with you throughout the entire process and you could be pre-qualified for financing in 48 hours. Newtek also offers a live chat feature and allows you to request that a loan specialist call you. You could fill out a pre-qualification form online to have a specialist contact you as soon as possible.
Newtek does not require applicants to meet certain revenue or credit score thresholds, although Newtek defines small and midsize businesses as those with revenue between $1 million and $100 million. You would need at least two years in business to be eligible for financing.
Newtek tends to work with seasoned companies, and you may be more likely to qualify if your business:
– Has three to 10 years of operational history.
– Has significant managerial expertise.
– Provides a personal guarantee.
– Shows creditworthiness and a strong balance sheet and cash flow.
The fine print
Interest rates not available online. Newtek’s website is sparse when it comes to details about the cost of financing. You would need to start the application process with a loan specialist to find out how much interest you might owe on a term loan or line of credit. The lack of transparency could make it difficult to compare Newtek with other lenders when shopping for a business loan or line of credit. But as an approved SBA lender, rates offered by Newtek may be relatively low, assuming your business qualifies. The average interest rate for a loan through Newtek Small Business Finance, the largest non-bank SBA 7(a) lender in the U.S., was 7.9% at the end of 2018.
Must be able to demonstrate profitability. Because Newtek does not ask for a minimum revenue figure or personal credit score, the lender bases its decisions on a business’ ability to repay debt. You would need to prove your company is profitable enough to cover regular payments.
The bottom line
Newtek offers a range of financing products to business owners in need of funding, but it may be a best fit for those with a significant track record. Term loans and lines of credit are available in large amounts compared with other alternative business lenders, making Newtek an attractive option if you have big expenses. Newtek also provides commercial real estate financing if you need help paying for your physical business space. If you’re seeking an SBA loan, compare Newtek’s terms with those of other SBA lenders.
Newtek does not disclose interest rates online, which may make it challenging to get a clear picture of what the lender offers. You would need to complete an application to find out what interest rate you qualify for.
Potential borrowers must work with a loan specialist to apply for financing. Other alternative business lenders typically allow business owners to submit an online application. Newtek’s process might not seem as easy, but you may find it helpful to have a specialist walk you through the application. A loan specialist would make sure you apply for the right product to fit your business’ needs, and they may collaborate with you on a plan for spending your funds efficiently.
Newtek’s time to funding may be slower than other alternative lenders, and repayment terms may be longer than you’ve seen elsewhere. But if you’re not in need of immediate financing, Newtek may be worth the wait. You might be able to borrow a substantial amount of money, and longer repayment terms could be easier to handle than a fast repayment schedule that would impact your daily cash flow.
When searching for business financing, be sure to compare lenders and gather as much information as possible before settling on an offer. If Newtek offers rates and terms you’re comfortable with, you would be able to access financing to meet various needs within your business.
If you are just starting your business financing journey, consider comparison shopping with LendingTree, MagnifyMoney’s parent company. You simply fill out a short online form and can be matched with up to five business loan offers from lenders, based on your creditworthiness.
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