Best Business Acquisition Loans 2023

Going through the business acquisition process can be overwhelming but getting a good loan can make it much easier.
Best overall
Lendio
Lendio
Starting from
5.5% interest
  • pro
    10–25 year term length
  • pro
    $5,000–$5 million loan options
  • pro
    Time to funds is 30 days
Best for SBA loans
SmartBiz
SmartBiz
Starting from
6.75% interest
  • pro
    10-25 year term length
  • pro
    $30,000–$5 million loan options
  • pro
    Time to funds is 7 days
Best for P2P lending
Funding Circle
Funding Circle
Starting from
6% interest
  • pro
    6 month-10 year term length
  • pro
    $25,000–$500,000 loan options
  • pro
    Time to funds is 13 days
Best for practice acquisition
Bank of America
Bank of America
Starting from
2.49% interest
  • pro
    Up to 15 year term length
  • pro
    Up to $5,000,000 loan options
  • pro
    Time to funds is 7 days

Data as of 11/3/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

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Business acquisition loans make it possible to buy a business, even if you don’t have the cash on hand. But just as you did a lot of careful thinking and math before deciding to buy a business, you need to choose your lender wisely.

We wanted to make your acquisition funding process easier, so we’ve rounded up the best business acquisition loans. We’ll tell you about the lenders that offer them and explain why you’ll like them (and why you won’t).

With any luck, you’ll have a new loan―and more importantly, a new business―in no time.

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Coming up with our rankings

Recent data suggests that the median sale price for small businesses is $299,000.1 With that in mind, we only included lenders that offer business loans at least that big. We also prioritized lenders that offer dedicated business acquisition loans, though we also included some multipurpose conventional loans with competitive rates and terms.


Our top-rated lender: Lendio

Lendio partners with over 75 lenders, which improves your odds and efficiency to get the funding you need.

Qualifications:

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$50k in revenue

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6 mos. in business

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560 credit score


Best business acquisition loans compared

Brand
Min./max. loan amount
Lowest listed rate
Loan term length
Get a loan

$5,000/$5 million

5.5%

10–25 yrs. or revolving

$30,000/$5 million

6.75%

10-25 yrs.

$25,000/$500,000

6%

6 mos.–10 yrs.

Up to $5 million

“Very competitive”

Up to 15 yrs.

Data as of 11/3/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Business acquisition loans aren’t the easiest to get. In most cases, you’ll need a personal credit score in the mid-to-high 600s. Lenders also look for established, profitable businesses. If that’s not you (at least not yet), then take a look at our favorite alternative business loans to find some other funding options.

Lendio: Best overall

Lendio
Lendio
Starting at
5.5% interest
  • pro
    10–25 year term length
  • pro
    $5,000–$5,000,000 loan options
  • pro
    Minimum funding time is 30 days
  • pro
    A+ BBB rating

Data as of 11/3/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

We can sum up why Lendio is our favorite source for business acquisition loans in just two words: lending marketplace.

You see, Lendio isn’t a lender―it’s a lending marketplace. Lending marketplaces and P2P lenders and direct lenders are all a little bit different, but all wonderful options. To understand the differences between lending marketplaces, P2P lenders and direct lenders, read this piece we wrote. In regards to Lendio, we are going to break down lending marketplaces first. Just like a supermarket lets you compare different brands and prices of similar products, Lendio lets you compare different loan offers. Just fill out a Lendio application, and it will match you with lenders. If all goes well, you’ll get a list of business acquisition loan offers. Then you just have to decide which to go with.

Lendio works with a bunch of different lenders, including some we review below. That said, it doesn’t partner with every lender out there. So while Lendio does let you compare your options, you theoretically could get a better offer from a different lender. If that’s a concern, though, you can always compare Lendio offers with offers from other lenders.

With the potential for large loans and low rates, Lendio’s lending marketplace is the perfect place to do some comparison shopping for your business acquisition needs.

SmartBiz: Best for SBA loans

SmartBiz
SmartBiz
Starts at
6.75% interest
  • pro
    10-25 year term length
  • pro
    $30,000–$5 million loan options
  • pro
    Minimum funding time is 7 days
  • pro
    A+ BBB rating

Data as of 11/3/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

​SmartBiz’s SBA loan marketplace makes it easier to get and compare SBA 7(a) loan offers.

Just like Lendio, SmartBiz is a lending marketplace. But unlike Lendio, SmartBiz specializes in SBA 7(a) loans.

If you’re not familiar with those, here’s a quick recap: The U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, offers loan programs for business owners. It doesn’t extend the loans itself, but rather, it backs them so lenders can confidently lend to businesses. Participating lenders have to agree to some strict rules, including an interest rate cap and a minimum loan term length. Put simply, that makes SBA 7(a) loans a good deal.

But applying for SBA loans can get complicated (and take forever). Thankfully, SmartBiz has tried to make the process easier. Plus, it lets you compare SBA loan offers to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. And with those low rates and long terms we mentioned, SBA-backed loans make the perfect funding option for business acquisition.

In other words, if you’re thinking of going the SBA route to buy a business, then start your search at SmartBiz.

Funding Circle: Best peer-to-peer loans

Funding Circle
Funding Circle
Starts at
6% interest
  • pro
    6 month–10 year term length
  • pro
    $25,000–$500,000 loan options
  • pro
    Minimum funding time is 13 days
  • pro
    A+ BBB rating

Data as of 11/3/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Funding Circle offers low rates on its peer-to-peer loans, which makes it a good option for business acquisition funding.

Want bank-like interest rates without the bank? You might find what you’re looking for at Funding Circle.

Funding Circle operates via peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, rather than direct lending. That means the money you get actually comes from individuals rather than Funding Circle itself. You won’t notice much difference as a borrower, though. You’ll still apply and make payments through Funding Circle. But thanks to the magic of P2P lending, you just might get very competitive interest rates.

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Peer-to-peer lending 101

Want to know more about how P2P financing works? Check out our guide to peer-to-peer lending.

Now, to be clear, Funding Circle doesn’t offer specific business acquisition loans. It just offers one type of term loan, which you can use for a bunch of things―including buying another business. And thanks to its low rates and long(ish) terms, we felt it still deserved a place on this list.

So if you’re interested in low interest rates on your business acquisition financing, Funding Circle’s peer-to-peer lending can offer just that.

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Bank of America: Best for practice acquisition

Bank of America
Bank of America
Starts at
2.49% interest
  • pro
    Up to 15 year term length
  • pro
    Up to $5,000,000 loan options
  • pro
    Minimum funding time is 7 days
  • pro
    Minimum credit score required is 670

Data as of 11/3/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Bank of America’s practice financing―including practice acquisition loans―has competitive rates (that you can lower further with its loyalty program).

Are you specifically interested in buying a medical practice of some sort? Bank of America has you covered.

Bank of America offers practice financing for dentists, optometrists, physicians, and veterinarians. That financing includes commercial real estate loans, business lines of credit, equipment loans, and―you guessed it―acquisition loans. So depending on what you qualify for, you might be able to buy your business, get new equipment, and keep working capital available, all through Bank of America.

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More practice loans

Lots of banks offer special loans for medical practices. Our round up of the best practice loans gives you more lender options for practice acquisition loans.

Since it’s a traditional bank, Bank of America has very low starting interest rates. And if you participate in its rewards program (explained in our Bank of America review), you can lower your rates even further. Not a bad deal, right?

Entrepreneurs with businesses in other industries can use Bank of America’s other financing options to help fund their business acquisition―but it’s medical practice loans where Bank of America really shines.

Applying for a business acquisition loan

Keep in mind that unlike some types of loans, true business acquisition loans can take a while to qualify for. In other words, you shouldn’t expect the 24-hour turnaround that many online lenders advertise these days. The business acquisition financing process can easily take weeks.
(If you’re using a generic loan, like one from Funding Circle or OnDeck, this may not be true.)

One reason for that? Your lender has to evaluate both you (and your business) and the business you’re buying. After all, a lender doesn’t want to give you a large loan for a sickly business that won’t last long.

Prepare for your lender to ask for plenty of details about the business you’re buying, including financial reports and projections―all in addition to the details it will want about you, of course.

These are a few of the things your lender will likely look at with your loan application:

  • Your personal credit score/credit history
  • Your business credit score
  • Financial statements (including balance sheets and bank statements)
  • Collateral you’re offering
  • Business assets included in the acquisition
  • Cash flow at your existing business
  • Existing business financing debt
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Industry matters
Some business acquisition lenders only deal with certain industries. They won’t work with businesses in industries they consider risky. So before you go through the application process, ask potential lenders if they lend in your industry.

Other business acquisition financing options

What if you can’t―or don’t want to―use business acquisition loans to buy a business? In that case, you have some other options to consider. You can fund your purchase with other business loans and lines of credit. (Check out our rankings of the best small-business loans to find some good options.)

Just remember that many working capital loans and lines of credit (including short-term business loans, invoice financing, and other common finance options) have low credit limits, high interest rates, and short repayment terms―all of which make them less-than-ideal for business acquisition. Still, they can work, especially if you don’t need a large amount.

If your business acquisition includes equipment, then business equipment financing provides a good option for at least partially financing your purchase.

Likewise, you can use personal loans to buy a business. Similar caveats apply here: personal loans are often designed for smaller purchases, and you’ll often pay more in interest.

You can also ask the party you’re buying from if they’d offer seller financing, also called owner financing. With seller financing, the seller and the buyer draw up a financing agreement between themselves―including interest, repayment terms, etc.―and the buyer agrees to repay the money over time. Think of it like a more legal IOU. 

If you have a well-funded retirement account, such as a 401(k), you have the option of financing a business purchase with Rollovers as Business Startups (ROBS). A ROBS allows you to use your existing retirement money to fund your business, but it requires some kind of complicated legal steps to do. You don’t have to pay interest on a ROBS (it’s not a loan), but you will have to pay some high fees. If you’re considering this option, talk with an attorney ASAP.

A home equity line of credit (HELOC) gives you another way to use your existing assets to fund your business purchase. If you have a house, and you have equity in that house, you may qualify for a HELOC. Your house will serve as collateral for the credit line, and your credit limit will be tied to the amount of equity you have.

The takeaway

Acquiring a business may never be easy, but the lenders above can at least get you the capital you need. And between dedicated small-business acquisition loans and versatile conventional loans, you’ve got options to choose from:

  • Lendio is a lending marketplace for finding that perfect loan to buy a business
  • SmartBiz can easily connect you with an SBA loan
  • Funding Circle brings you the best independent lenders
  • Bank of America can help you grab that medical practice you've been eyeing

Enjoy your new business!

Make sure you’re qualified for business acquisition loans (and other types of business financing) by learning more about how your personal credit and your business credit affect your creditworthiness.

Best business acquisition loans FAQ

We talk about this more in-depth above in our applying section, but you will need a few things for your application. You'll need a personal and business credit score, balance sheets, collateral, businesses assets, cash flow, and existing business financing debt. 

Acquisition financing can come in the form of bank loans, lines of credit, and loans from private lenders. Other types of acquisition financing include SBA loans, debt security, and owner financing.

Methodology

We researched more than 50 lenders looking for the best loan offerings geared toward business acquisitions. These loans had to have competitive term lengths and interest rates. They also had to come from lending companies with a reputable track record. 

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Sources

  1. BizBuySell, “BizBuySell Insight Report” Accessed December 6, 2022.
Chloe Goodshore
Written by
Chloe Goodshore
Chloe covers business financing and loans for Business.org. She has worked with many small businesses over the past 10 years, from video game stores to law firms. Those years watching frustrated business owners try to sift through their many options gave her a passion for breaking down complex business topics. She wants to help business owners spend less time agonizing over their businesses so they can spend more time running them.
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