The Full Story
How It Works
Exactly what happens when you apply, what it costs, who qualifies, and what to expect from start to funded. No fluff.
Step by Step
The exact process, start to funded
Apply in 3 minutes
Start by answering a few questions about your business and credit profile. We ask about your credit score range, business type, funding goal, and contact information. The whole thing takes about 3 minutes.
No hard credit pull at this stage. We're gathering enough information to see if you're a potential fit nothing more.
Verify your credit profile
To match you with the right lenders and give your advisor an accurate picture of your credit, we ask you to pull your 3-bureau credit report. We use MyScoreIQ for this it's a $1 trial that gives you access to your full Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports.
You download the PDF and upload it to us. This step replaces a hard inquiry at the front of the process and lets us give you a much more accurate funding estimate before anything official goes out.
The $1 is for MyScoreIQ's service, not ours. We don't receive any portion of it.
Advisor review and call
A real funding specialist (not an automated system) reviews your profile within 24 hours. They'll reach out to schedule a call to walk you through:
- Exactly what you qualify for and estimated amounts
- Which lenders and credit lines match your profile
- The complete fee structure, disclosed upfront with no surprises
- Timeline from application to funded
- Any questions you have, no matter how many
This call is not a sales pitch. It's a consultation. You can say no at any point, no explanation needed.
Applications go out
If you decide to move forward, your advisor submits applications to the lenders that match your profile. This is when hard inquiries occur your advisor will tell you exactly how many and which bureaus they'll hit.
Hard inquiries are temporary and typically minor. If you're strategically building a credit profile for funding, your advisor will time these to minimize impact.
Funded, typically within days
Approved credit lines are activated and accessible, typically within 7–14 days of applications going out. You can draw from them immediately.
Because the SLOC strategy places you with multiple lenders simultaneously, you often receive multiple approvals, each contributing to your total credit limit. The result is a combined pool of revolving credit you can draw, repay, and reuse as your business needs it.
Qualifications
Who qualifies and who doesn't
We'd rather be upfront here than waste your time.
You likely qualify if:
- Personal credit score of 720 or above
- No open bankruptcies or active collections
- US citizen or permanent resident
- New or existing business (any stage)
- No requirement for collateral or business revenue
SLOC may not be the right fit if:
- Personal credit score below 720
- Open bankruptcy in the last 7 years
- Multiple recent late payments or collections
- Need funding based on revenue (look at MCA instead)
- Looking for a traditional secured loan
Credit score between 500–679?
You may qualify for a Merchant Cash Advance instead, which is based on your monthly revenue rather than your credit score. Our pre-qualification process will automatically route you to the right product based on your profile. No dead ends.
Cost & Fees
What does it actually cost?
This is the question most companies dodge. We won't.
Is there any upfront cost to apply?
No. Applying is completely free. Talking to an advisor is free. Going through the qualification process is free. If you decide not to move forward after your advisor call, you owe absolutely nothing.
When do fees apply?
A service fee applies only when funding is successfully placed. The fee is based on the funded amount and is disclosed clearly during your advisor call, before any applications go out and before you commit to anything.
If you don't get funded, you don't pay.
How does SMB Funding Group make money?
We operate like a mortgage broker: lenders pay us a commission when we place a qualified borrower with them. In some cases, a service fee is charged on the funded amount as well. Both are disclosed upfront. We don't hide this, and we don't apologize for it it's how we keep the process free for clients who don't get funded.
Are there any other fees I should know about?
The only third-party cost you'll encounter is the $1 MyScoreIQ trial for your credit report and that's optional. You can choose to skip it and your advisor can work with the information from your application alone (though a full credit report leads to better matches).
No hidden fees. No subscription traps. No "administrative processing" nonsense.
Legitimacy
Is SMB Funding Group a scam?
It's a fair question. The funding industry has earned that skepticism.
Why people ask this
The business funding space is full of companies that charge upfront fees, make exaggerated promises about approval amounts, use high-pressure sales tactics, and disappear after taking your money. That's a real problem and it's made people (rightfully) suspicious of any company in this space.
What we do differently
- Zero upfront fees: You don't pay anything unless you get funded. We have no incentive to waste your time.
- No guarantees we cannot keep: We tell you what you might qualify for based on your profile, not what sounds best to get you on the phone.
- Real advisors, not a script: Your call is with an actual person who can answer your questions, not a bot following a sales script.
- You can say no at any point: No pressure, no obligation, no locked-in commitments. If you change your mind after the advisor call, no problem.
- Transparent fee structure: We tell you exactly how we make money before anything moves forward. You get the complete picture.
What you should watch out for (anywhere in this industry)
Regardless of who you work with, here are the red flags to avoid:
- Any company that asks for money before you receive funding
- Guaranteed approval claims (no legitimate lender guarantees approval)
- Pressure to decide immediately without time to review
- Vague or evasive answers about how fees work
- No real advisor to speak with, only forms and emails
The $1 Credit Report
What's the MyScoreIQ thing about?
We ask for your credit report before sending applications. Here's exactly why.
Why do we need your credit report?
Credit score ranges (680–719, 720+, etc.) are useful for rough qualification. Lenders look at the full picture. Payment history, utilization, account age, derogatory marks, and tradeline mix all affect which lenders will approve you and at what amounts.
By reviewing your actual report before applications go out, your advisor can match you with lenders who are a real fit, not just ones who might say yes. It results in higher approval rates and fewer unnecessary hard inquiries on your credit.
Why $1? What is MyScoreIQ?
MyScoreIQ is a third-party credit monitoring service that offers a $1 trial for 7 days, giving you access to your full 3-bureau report (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). You download it as a PDF and upload it to us.
You can cancel the MyScoreIQ subscription anytime within 7 days at no additional charge. We're not affiliated with MyScoreIQ and receive no commission or referral payment from them we recommend it because it's the fastest way to get a complete credit picture without a hard pull.
Is the credit report step required?
No. It's strongly recommended because it leads to better matches and fewer surprises on the advisor call but you can skip it. Your advisor can work with what you provide in the application. Just know that without a full credit report, the initial estimates may be less precise.
What to Expect
After you submit: what happens next?
How quickly will someone reach out?
Your profile is reviewed within 24 hours of submission. In most cases, an advisor reaches out the same business day. If you apply on a weekend, expect a call the following Monday.
What does the advisor call look like?
It's a conversation, not a presentation. Your advisor will walk through your profile, explain what you qualify for, and ask questions to make sure they understand your situation. Plan for 20–30 minutes if you want to go through everything thoroughly, though it can be shorter if your situation is straightforward.
You're encouraged to ask hard questions. The more you know before moving forward, the better.
What if I don't want to move forward after the call?
That's completely fine. You owe nothing. No follow-up pressure, no "just give us one more chance" emails. If you change your mind later, you can always come back.
How long does it take to get funded?
Once you agree to move forward and applications go out, most clients receive approvals within 5 to 10 business days. Credit lines are typically accessible shortly after approval. The timeline can vary based on the number of lenders being approached and your credit profile, but it's measured in days not weeks or months.
Ready to see what you qualify for?
Takes 3 minutes. No hard pull. A real advisor follows up within 24 hours.
Start Your Pre-QualificationNo commitment. No upfront cost. Just a conversation.