What are the requirements to get a business loan as a new cleaning startup (under 2 years)?

As a cleaning startup under two years old, you won't qualify for a traditional bank loan (banks want two-plus years), but you can still get funded. Online lenders fund businesses with as little as six months of operating history, a personal credit score around 625, and roughly $100,000 in annual revenue, while SBA microloans and equipment financing serve true day-one startups using personal guarantees and the equipment itself as collateral.

The key shift for a new cleaning company is that lenders stop relying on your business track record (you don't have one) and instead underwrite you — your personal credit, your monthly bank deposits, and any asset you're buying with the loan.

What lenders actually require at the startup stage

Personal credit. With limited business history, your personal FICO score carries the application. Traditional and SBA-backed bank loans generally want a FICO score of 670 or higher, while online and short-term lenders are far more flexible — some approve scores as low as 500. For SBA microloan intermediaries, 620 or higher is preferred, though some approve borrowers in the 500s with strong collateral or business potential.

Time in business. This is the make-or-break filter for a sub-2-year cleaning startup. Banks typically require at least two years; online lenders commonly accept six months. The SBA microloan program is explicitly aimed at early-stage firms — it's open to startup, newly established, or growing businesses, funding over 4,500 of them in FY2025.

Revenue. Online lenders weigh recent deposits over tax returns. As a benchmark, OnDeck requires $100,000 in annual revenue — roughly $8,300/month — and many will review your last three months of bank statements instead of full financials. A brand-new firm with no revenue yet leans on the SBA microloan or equipment financing instead.

Collateral and personal guarantee. Expect to personally guarantee the debt — SBA 7(a) loans above $50,000 require collateral plus a personal guarantee from every owner of 20% or more. For equipment financing, the floor buffer, scrubber, or truck-mount you're buying serves as the collateral, which is why it's one of the easiest products for a startup to land. SBA microloan lenders are encouraged to be creative with collateral, accepting the equipment or inventory you're purchasing.

Realistic 2026 options for a cleaning startup

• SBA microloan — built for startups: up to $50,000, averaging about $13,000, with repayment terms up to seven years and rates roughly 8%–13%. Best fit for a true day-one cleaning business.
• Equipment financing — the machine secures the loan, so approval hinges on credit plus the asset, not years in business. See our janitorial equipment financing guide.
• Online term loans / working capital — fastest to fund (often 24–48 hours) once you have ~6 months of deposits; see startup capital options.
• Business line of credit — revolving cash for payroll and supplies between contract payouts.

Apply for the product that matches your stage: no revenue yet means microloan or equipment finance; six-plus months of deposits opens up online term loans and lines of credit. Always read the personal-guarantee terms before signing.

Sources

• SBA Microloan Program
• NerdWallet — How to Qualify for a Small Business Loan
• Nav — SBA Microloans Guide
• Lendio — Minimum Credit Score for a Business Loan
• ABC Biz Loans — Startup Business Loan Requirements 2026