Loan guides
Plain answers about borrowing, written by the FastLoan editorial team from primary sources and reviewed on the date shown.
Personal loans
How fast can you get a loan?
Approval is only one step. Here’s what happens between applying and seeing the money in your account, and what slows it down.
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Soft vs hard credit checks: what checking your rate does
Checking your rate and applying for a loan look similar but do different things to your credit report. Here’s the difference.
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Personal loan or business loan: which fits your situation
If you run a small business, you can often borrow either way. The difference is who’s on the hook, what’s reported, and which rules protect you.
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How to cover an emergency expense this week
A loan isn’t always the cheapest way through a surprise bill. Start with the bill itself, then work down this list.
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Business loans
SBA 7(a), 504 and microloans compared
The SBA’s main loan programs side by side: who lends, how much, what for, the rate caps and how long each takes.
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Working capital loan or term loan: how to choose
Short-term working capital is fast and expensive; a term loan is slower and cheaper over time. A worked example shows when each wins.
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Equipment financing: lease or buy
Loan or lease? Compare ownership, monthly cost, total cost and what happens at the end, with an illustrative cost table.
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