What is an SBA microloan?
An SBA microloan is a small business loan of up to $50,000 issued through nonprofit intermediary lenders, with the SBA providing the funds those nonprofits lend out. Average loan sizes run much smaller than the $50K cap, and the program is aimed at startups, underserved entrepreneurs, and businesses that need modest amounts of capital. If you only need $5K-$50K, picking the wrong vehicle, or waiting months on a slow process, can stall a real opportunity. It's worth knowing how microloans compare to the faster small-dollar products Quordx Capital can match you with.
Part of our guide to Business Loans.
Last updated · Reviewed by Cody Dreis
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How SBA microloans work
Unlike 7(a) loans, you don't get a microloan from a bank. The SBA funds nonprofit community lenders, and those intermediaries underwrite and service the loans, often pairing them with required training or technical assistance. Maximum loan size is $50,000; typical loans are considerably smaller. Microloans generally can't be used to buy real estate or refinance existing debt. Because the lenders are mission-driven nonprofits, they're often more flexible on credit and time in business than banks, but the process can be slower and more paperwork-heavy than online alternatives, and you'll need to find an intermediary serving your area.
Other ways to get $5K-$50K
Quordx Capital doesn't broker microloans (those flow through nonprofit intermediaries), but its 50+ lender network covers several small-dollar products that fund much faster:
Working capital loans: $5K-$500K, short-term, built for operational expenses. Best for covering a gap or grabbing an opportunity quickly.
Business lines of credit: Starting at $10K, revolving, with interest only on what you draw. Best for recurring or unpredictable small expenses.
Equipment financing: From $5K, with the equipment serving as collateral. Best when the money is going toward a specific machine, vehicle, or tool.
Run the numbers on your loan
Pick a product, set the amount and term, and see a typical payment.
How Quordx Capital Works
One 10-minute application covers the whole network. Quordx Capital's matching process reviews your revenue, credit profile, and time in business, then surfaces 3-7 lenders ranked by how likely each is to approve you. Most decisions land within 24-48 hours; funding typically follows in 3-7 business days, with some products as fast as 1-3.
What to Expect
If a nonprofit microloan is genuinely your best path, say, you're very early-stage with thin credit, Quordx Capital will say so rather than push a costlier product. If you qualify for conventional small-dollar financing, you'll see real options side by side with every fee and term disclosed. There's no cost to you at any point; lenders pay Quordx Capital only when a deal funds.
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Written by
Cody Dreis
Founder, Quordx Capital
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Quordx Capital is a business funding broker, not a lender. Lenders make every credit decision and set the rate, fees and terms, and not every business qualifies. Quordx may be paid by a lender when a deal funds. Full disclosures