An unsecured small business loan is a type of loan where you are able to fund a part of the business without needing collateral.  This is opposed to a secured loan which is tied to assets as collateral in case of default on payments.  There are pros and cons to unsecured small business loans to both the borrower and the lender.  

 The Risks Of Unsecured Small Business Loans

For the borrower, an unsecured small business loan looks like a blessing.  But there is a catch to this.

The interest rates are usually higher and sometimes double the normal rate.

The terms and payments are more stringent in regards to grace periods and time lines.

The payback comes with a usually high cost being much greater than the original loan.

There is more fine print to consider and follow.

For the lender, an unsecured business loan is also riskier for the following reasons.

The potential for default is higher

The maintenance cost of the loan is higher

The amount of time to recover the initial loan is greater

Funding a small business can get expensive.  Because of this, an unsecured small business loan may not be enough to cover the need.  Most unsecured small business loans are well below $100,000; and those that are up to that limit have very high interest rates to cover the amount and risks of the lender.  

The Benefits Of An Unsecured Small Business Loan

While there are risks involved to both borrower and lender with unsecured small business loans, there are potential benefits as well.

For the borrower the benefits would include:

Less risk at startup

Loss of valuable assets such as the house or investments

Greater time to repay the loan

Greater flexibility to use the money for overall expenses

For the lender, there are the following benefits:

Higher interest rates mean more return for the money lent

More chances of future business with the borrower in regards to future loans and accounts

Most small business owners simply do not have the available finances to completely fund their business.  This is why they need to apply for a business loan.  While there are many stories of business failing because of adequate planning or resources; there are also as many stories of business where the owner started out with no financial resources and built the business into a huge success.