How to get a Small Business Loan in Nigeria

Updated on July 29, 2023

Are you dreaming of taking your small business to new heights but need that extra financial push to turn your vision into reality? Well, you’re in the right place!

Getting a small business loan in Nigeria can be a game-changer for your venture, and we’re here to guide you through the entire process.

Growing your business and satisfying the requirements of your consumers should be your top priority as a small business owner. That’s why getting a small business loan in Nigeria without collateral can be important for SMEs or business owners.

As demand for capital from businesses grows, unsecured lending, which is a loan that does not need security (collateral) is becoming the norm in Africa. If you need money for your business in Nigeria, then getting a business loan is a good option, especially collateral-free business loans in Nigeria, right?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll demystify the world of small business loans, making it easy for you to understand the ins and outs of securing the funds you need. Whether you’re a budding startup or an established business looking to expand, we’ve got you covered. From tips on how to improve your loan eligibility to comparing different loan options, we’ll equip you with all the knowledge you need to make informed decisions.

So, buckle up, aspiring business moguls! Let’s embark on this journey together and unlock the doors to your small business success with the perfect loan in Nigeria!

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Where to get a Small Business Loan in Nigeria

Getting a small business loan in Nigeria without collateral is no longer rocket science, there are a couple of legit ways to get a small business loan in Nigeria.

Here’re the best ways to get a small business loan in Nigeria:

Loan Apps: Loan apps have become the go-to for Nigerians when it comes to loans. people are no longer interested in going to banking halls and going through ridiculous processes. Also, these loans tend to be collateral-free. Getting a small business loan in Nigeria from loan apps usually takes a short amount of time like 5 – 10 minutes. Small business loan amounts in Nigeria can range between ₦50,000- ₦10,000,000. However you have to be careful with the loan apps you choose, there are plenty of fake loan apps in Nigeria you need to stay away from, and here are the legit loan apps in Nigeria you can consider.
Banks: Before loan apps became a thing, banks ( and maybe money lenders) were the only sources for small business loans in Nigeria. While loans from these banks were trustworthy, their interest rates were off the roof and they also requested for collateral. Nonetheless, banks in Nigeria have evolved and you can get a small business loan from them without collateral these days. But the interest rates on their loans are still high and they still require lots of documentation.
Government Loan Schemes: The Nigerian government in its own way is helping MSMEs and SMEs by providing them grants and low-interest loans through schemes like the Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). However, these loans are very competitive in the sense that a lot of businesses are vying for slots as they’re limited.

Best Small Business Loan in Nigeria 2023

Whatever your business needs are, there’s a business loan for you.

Here are the best low-interest small business loans in Nigeria for small businesses and startups:

1. ZEDVANCE

Zedvance is a consumer finance firm that specialises in extending personal loans to consumers. In less than 24 hours, you may borrow up to 3 million Naira.

The organisation specialises in providing loans to salaried individuals, but you may utilise the offer to fund your small business if you are a salaried individual with a side business.

2. Carbon’s SME Loans

Carbon SME loans enable you to “develop your small company with inexpensive, collateral-free financing”. You can get a small business loan in Nigeria from Carbon without collateral, guarantors, or paperwork, Businesses may borrow up to $1,000,000 with Carbon’s SME loans.

Also See: Carbon Loan App USSD Code & Interest Rate (2022 Review)

3. SMEDAN

SMEDAN is a government-backed project that provides a fast and cheap small business loan in Nigeria to businesses in need of capital. The organization’s main goal is to encourage Nigerians to create businesses and to offer financing to help them get started.

SMEDAN not only provides cash but also hands-on training and assistance to help company owners operate their operations. If you’d like to apply, go to their online application gateway by clicking here.

4. Kiakia Loans

Kiakia positions itself as “the financial marketplace to access and lend out personal and corporate cash,” which might be just what you’ve been searching for to help your company grow.

You can get a small business loan in Nigeria with competitive rates from this loan company.

Checkout: Best Business Apps in Nigeria

5. LYDIA

Lidya is a web-based platform that connects companies with lenders. Small and medium-sized firms may apply for a small business loan in Nigeria from Lydia of up to N2 million.

Lidya uses technology and algorithms to analyze risk before giving loans, which allows them to provide affordable financial solutions to these customers.”

6. FastCredit

FastCredit provides business loans to micro, small, and medium-sized businesses to help them expand. For company owners who match the requirements, a Fastcredit small business loan in Nigeria needs to be secured by guarantors and is for a maximum loan tenure of six months.

7. Aella Credit

Aella Credit is developing credit systems that make it simpler for Africans to acquire credit. The firm partnered with three major credit bureau agencies in Nigeria to give rapid and inexpensive loans to its consumers with little paperwork. Its primary emphasis was employee financing and empowerment.

Aella Credit uses a proprietary credit rating algorithm to assess the creditworthiness of its customers. The algorithm, which was developed after the team collected over five years of market data and research, considers socioeconomic and demographic characteristics as well as a borrower’s debt-to-income ratio when determining an applicant’s loan eligibility.

You can get a quick small business loan in Nigeria from Aella by signing up on the platform.

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8. QuickCredit for Small Business

If you own a GTBank account and your company is in the education, healthcare, trade, or service sectors, you should look into QuickCredit for Small Business, a loan product designed to help SMEs with their working capital requirements.

QuickCredit for Small Business is one of the best places to get a quick small business loan in Nigeria.

9. Brass

Brass Microfinance Bank Limited is a CBN-approved firm, headquartered in Lagos Nigeria, that provides financial services to micro-entrepreneurs and low-income earners in a sustainable, ethical, and lucrative way.

Brass offers small business loan in Nigeria to businesses that sign up to their platform. The company also offers a free business account as well.

You may also make payments and examine any payments that need your attention, as well as accept or reject pending payments.

10. EZ cash for SMEs

The Stanbic IBTC Bank’s EZ cash for SMEs is an immediate small business loan available to small company owners that match specific conditions.

Customers may choose a payback period ranging from one to twelve months.

11. Specta

Specta is an online lending platform that can provide you with a small business loan in Nigeria of up to $5 million in only 5 minutes!

There was no collateral, no paperwork, and no office visit. You may take care of important personal and commercial issues anywhere, at any time, using Specta.

Specta offers two loan products: MySpecta, which provides individual loan services, and Specta4Business, which provides corporate and company owners with fast and easy loans.

Checkout: Approved Loan Companies in Nigeria

12. Prospa

Prospa is a cutting-edge Nigerian Fintech solution designed to assist businesses and freelancers increase their productivity and efficiency.

Prospa offers a small business loan in Nigeria of up to N500,000 to all types of businesses.

The Prospa app also enables you to open a bank account for your company (corporate account), make invoices, create sub-accounts for other people, add team members to handle your cash, send and receive money, and much more all from a single dashboard.

13. Credpal

CredPal is a consumer finance company that provides credit cards and business loans in Nigeria to customers. Users may purchase things and divide payments into instalments, while retailers can enhance income by using the Buy Now Pay Later option from merchants on its Marketplace.

These services, as well as the ability to pay electricity bills, buy airtime and data subscriptions, and transfer money to your bank account, are all available via the Credpal app.

Also See: How Does Credpal Loan App Work (Review 2022)

14. C24 Capital

C24 Limited is a microfinance organisation that was founded with the express purpose of enabling individuals to take advantage of possibilities that exist around them by assisting them in obtaining cash loans when they are needed.

You can get a quick small business loan in Nigeria from C24 Limited in just a few minutes

C24 recognises the demand for rapid cash loans as well as the need for a faster loan processing time.

Their internet loan application procedure has been optimised to assist candidates to escape the stress that comes with dealing with other lenders.

Also See: Best Loan App without BVN in Nigeria

15. QuickCheck

QuickCheck is a cutting-edge financing platform that caters to both consumers and small companies.

QuickCheck makes financial credit available to people and small enterprises using mobile technologies.

According to the portal, customers may get fast and easy loans of up to 500,000 Naira for 15 or 30 days without putting up any collateral.

16. GTBank Business Loan

gtbank business loan code - How to apply for business loan from gtb

GTbank loans are very popular in the country. GTbank business loans are a wide array of business loans that are suitable for different SMEs in Nigeria.

GTBank Business loans include: Like Build or Buy Loans for Schools, Fashion Industry Credit, SME Invoice Discounting Finance (SME IDF), Overdraft & QuickCredit for Small Business.

See: How to be Eligble for First Bank Loan

17. Access Bank Business Loan

how to check access bank account balance

An Access bank loan is one of the most sought-after bank loans in Nigeria. Access bank business loan service provides capital.

Access bank business loan service offers loans like Access Bank Creative Sector Loan, Access bank Lending Against Turnover (LATO), Term and Time Loans, Fleet Financing, Plant & Machinery Financing, Contract Financing, Overdraft, Working Capital Finance and Access bank W Power Loan.

18. FCMB Business Loan

FCMB Business loan maximum account is N5 million. FCMB offers a wide variety of business loans in Nigeria like:

SME DEVELOPMENT FINANCE FACILITY
SME ASSET FINANCE FACILITY
SME WORKING CAPITAL FACILITY
QUICK LOAN
SME INVOICE DISCOUNTING FINANCE (IDF) FACILITY
SME LOCAL PURCHASE ORDER (LPO) FINANCE FACILITY

19. UBA Business Loan

UBA business loan service offers an array of credible credit financing options for businesses in Nigeria.

Some UBA business loans include: Working Capital Loan, UBA Asset Finance, UBA School Loans, UBA Health Loan and Young Entrepreneur Finance Scheme (YEF).

20. Starta Business Loan

Starta offers low-interest loans to businesses in Nigeria that are looking to expand their operation.

Starta has supported over 8,000 business ideas with more than N5.6 billion worth of loans since the company started.

Starta business loans range from N100,000 to N10,000,000.