The term payroll business loan is often lumped together with other business financing solutions well-suited for payroll funding. This might include funding options such as invoice financing,
merchant cash advances, working capital loans, business lines of credit, and term loans.
You can use any one of these financing options to finance payroll because their funding processes are quick.
However, in this post, we’re going to focus on the pros and cons of payroll business loans. Then, we’ll summarize the other payroll financing options and provide resources to help you learn more about all your funding options.
The Pros of Payroll Business Loans
1. Will help you retain employees
As mentioned in the introduction, missing payroll is never good for your relationship with your employees. After all, your workers rely on their job to ensure their own financial stability. If they don’t think your business can provide reliable income, they’ll look elsewhere for employment.
To avoid losing valuable employees, you may benefit from a payroll loan. Once you receive this type of loan, you could have money in your bank account
within one business day.
2. Provides funding so you don’t have to cut costs
Facing the prospect of missing payroll, many entrepreneurs opt to cut costs elsewhere. While that’s better than failing to pay your employees, it’s not ideal.
With a payroll business loan, you can avoid missing payroll without using funds earmarked for other purposes, such as rent, inventory, or credit card payments. By taking out a loan, you can keep your employees happy and continue to
invest in your business.
3. Access to additional cash flow
Even otherwise successful businesses can run into cash shortages. Maybe a big customer is late on their payment. Or, perhaps your costs suddenly spike more than you expected. Whatever the reason, the quick funding of payroll loans makes them ideal for managing short-term cash shortages.
The Cons of Payroll Business Loans
1. Must be used to cover payroll
As you might expect, the funds you receive from payroll business loan programs can only be used on payroll expenses. Assuming you need the business loan for payroll only, this shouldn’t be a problem.
However, If you need more flexibility, you should consider a different funding option. Instead of applying for a payroll loan, you may want to seek a traditional business loan or merchant cash advance.
2. Short repayment periods
Payroll funding companies want to be repaid as quickly as possible, so expect a short repayment period. In fact, payroll lenders will typically require that you provide a postdated check for the full loan amount. If you can’t pay your loan back on the date indicated, you’ll incur fees from both your bank and online lender.
3. High interest rates
Short-term loans have less time to accumulate interest expense. That means short-term lenders must charge higher interest rates to make their business profitable. Plus, payroll business loans are generally considered higher risk than, for example, a traditional term loan from a bank. For these reasons, expect to pay between 15 and 30 percent interest rates on a payroll business loan.
Other Business Loans for Payroll
Alternative financing options that work well for funding payroll include:
Invoice financing: While not technically a loan, invoice financing can work well for short-term cash shortfalls. With this type of financing, you sell your invoices at a discount to a factoring company in exchange for a cash advance.
Merchant cash advances: Also not a loan, merchant cash advances (MCAs) can work for businesses that process many debit or credit transactions. With an MCA, you agree to sell a portion of your future credit and/or debit sales in exchange for a cash advance.
Working capital loans: A short-term loan you can use for everyday expenses (such as payroll). You’ll need a decent credit score, but working capital loans can help you meet payroll and fund other expenses.
Credit lines and term loans from alternative lenders: Unlike banks, alternative lenders can fund credit lines and term loans in a matter of days. Plus, the funds from these financing options can be used for payroll, sales and marketing expenses, renovations, and much more.
Final Note: Don’t Mistake Payroll Loans for Payday Loans
Although the names sound similar, payroll loans are not the same as payday loans. Payday loans provide cash advances to consumers that must be repaid when the employee receives their next check.
Notably, payday lenders charge an average interest rate of 400 percent and are illegal in many states. We recommend that you and your employees avoid these kinds of business loans if at all possible.
Editor’s Note: This post was updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in January 2022.