Small Business Loans in Houston
Need financing to buy equipment, purchase inventory or invest in growing your Texas business? Whatever your reason for seeking funding, you can turn to various lenders for a small business loan in Houston, including banks, credit unions, community development financial institutions and alternative lenders. In this guide, we’ll look at several financing options and the loans and products available.
The Small Business Landscape in Houston
The largest city in Texas is a sprawling metropolis where almost any business can turn a profit if given the right tools. Financing can fuel business expansion projects, help solve cash-flow problems and provide capital to hire more staff and improve operations, whether your business is a restaurant or a retail boutique.
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Number of Small Businesses in Texas
According to recent stats published by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Lone Star State is home to 2.6 million small businesses, of which just over 1 million are minority-owned. Small business owners contribute to the state’s workforce by employing 4.7 million workers. That’s nearly half of all employees in the private sector.
Top Industry Sectors in Houston
In Houston, some of the top industries among all businesses include:
- Construction and real estate
- Health care and social assistance
- Manufacturing (e.g., fabricated metal products, machinery, chemical, petroleum refining)
- Professional, scientific and technical services (e.g., architecture, engineering, computer systems design)
- Wholesale and retail trade
- Energy
- Innovation (e.g., clean energy, digital technology, health innovation)
Discover Your Best Business Loan Options
Small Business Lenders in Houston
1. Bank of Texas
With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a 5-star rating from Bankrate, this Houston bank makes our list of top lenders offering small business loans in Houston.
Additionally, Bank of Texas offers a program called BusinessLock, which allows borrowers to lock portions of their loan balance into separate fixed-rate term loans, subject to approval. Loans that qualify for this program must be at least $5,000. The maximum line of credit for a BusinessLock is $250,000. Lock terms range from 12-60 months.
Small business owners can apply for the following financing:
- Construction financing
- Commercial real estate lines of credit
- Commercial real estate term loans
- Corporate credit cards
- Equipment or vehicle term loans and leases
- Long- and short-term loans
- Revolving lines of credit
- SBA Express loans
- SBA 504 loans
- SBA 7(a) loans
If you’re wondering about the differences between SBA versus non-SBA loans, it’s important to note that SBA loans have lower down payment requirements and longer terms than many conventional bank loans. Collateral requirements are less stringent as well. Additionally, interest rates can be fixed or variable.
2. BBVA
BBVA is an SBA National Preferred Lender and was recognized by the agency as the city’s top lender by SBA loan amount and number of loans issued in 2017.
Business funding at this Houston bank includes:
- Business credit cards
- Fixed-rate business term loans (repayment terms up to 5 years or up to 10 years for healthcare professionals)
- Fixed and variable rate commercial real estate loans (no balloon payments and loan-to-value financing is available up to 85% in some cases; repayment can range from 5-25 years)
- SBA loans
- Small business lines of credit
For small business lines of credit, BBVA has options for individuals with collateral and without. Unsecured lines are available up to $100,000. Small business lines of credit have variable interest rates, which are tied to BBVA USA’s Prime Rate.
3. Central Bank
Central Bank has been helping small business owners obtain financing for more than 60 years. This bank is A+ rated with the BBB and has earned Bankrate’s 5-star rating.
Find the following small business financing at this Houston bank:
- Commercial and industrial loans
- Equipment financing
- Factoring
- Interim construction financing
- Professional funding (for medical professionals and attorneys)
- Working capital lines of credit
Bank locations include West Houston, Midtown, Post Oak Place and Heights.
4. Premier America Credit Union
Premier America Credit Union is also A+ rated with the Better Business Bureau and has two locations in the city: Woodlake Square and Rankin Center. In operation since the 1950s, Premier America boasts more than 100,000 members nationwide. Find the following small business financing at this Houston financial institution:
- Business credit cards (credit lines from $5,000-$35,000)
- Business use commercial vehicle loans (up to 120% financing, repayment terms up to 84 months)
- Secured business working capital loans
- Unsecured business lines of credit
- Variable and fixed-rate commercial real estate financing
Commercial real estate loans are available for purchases and refinances, with loan amounts up to $3.5 million. Loan-to-value financing is available up to 75% depending on the property type.
5. Wallis State Bank
In operation since 1906, this top SBA lender has several locations in the city, including Almeda Crossing, Fulshear, Galleria, Kempwood, Meadows Place and Northwest. Small business loans at this Houston, Texas, bank include:
- Business expansion loans
- Construction and development loans
- Equipment loans
- Farm, crop and livestock loans
- Real estate loans
- SBA 7(a) loans
- SBA CDC/504 loans
- SBA Export working capital program
- Working capital lines of credit
Alternative Forms of Financing in Texas
If you’re looking for small business loans in Houston, Texas, you might also consider alternative lenders. While alternative lenders may offer some of the same loan types as other lenders, including term loans, equipment financing and SBA loans, they also offer merchant cash advances and accounts receivable financing, which are fast funding options for individuals with bad credit or who need cash fast.
Additionally, alternative lenders are typically known for their speed; some can fund you as quickly as one business day. Compare this to conventional banks, which can take a few weeks to months to finalize loan decisions and typically have stringent credit score requirements.
Alternative lenders examine more than just your business’s borrowing history. They take into account your company’s annual operating revenue, years established and your personal credit history. And they’ll consider you even if you have a less-than-stellar credit score.
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What Our Customers Say
“We did not immediately get paid on big projects – and yet we needed manpower to keep moving forward…At first, we did approach a bank for a small business loan, but we were rejected due to our size and our lack of credit history.”
– Fast Capital 360 customer Margaret Hernandez of Texas-based HM3 Engineering
Small Business Resources in Houston
Now that we’ve covered the small business loans in Houston offered by some of the best credit unions and banks, let’s look at a few resources that could help you in your business endeavors.
SCORE
With locations throughout the country, including Houston, this nonprofit assists small business owners. Some of the complementary benefits you can take advantage of include free advice from business experts, workshops, webinars and a library of online guides, business articles and templates.
University of Houston Business Development Center
Head to UH’s Business Development Center and take part in a number of free resources, including webinars, complimentary advising sessions and free or low-cost online workshops. Get access to the SBDCNet National Information Clearinghouse so you can conduct research relevant to your small business, including demographic and market research.
Houston Women’s Business Center
This organization is funded in part by a cooperative agreement with the SBA. Whether you’re just starting your business or growing your existing company, the Houston Women’s Business Center of the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance can provide you with free consultation sessions on a variety of topics, such as business planning, marketing, financing, human resources and management. If you’ve already got a small business loan from a Houston lender in your sights, get help completing your loan application and package.