Business Line of Credit Requirements: What You Need to Qualify

A business line of credit is the single most flexible working-capital product a small business can have. You're approved for a limit, you draw what you need, and you only pay interest on what's outstanding. Because it's revolving, lenders price it for prime-credit borrowers — at Northwood, that means a 680+ personal FICO is required across every line of credit program.

Why lines of credit require 680+ FICO

Revolving credit carries more lender risk than a one-time advance: the borrower can draw again at any time, and pricing has to support that ongoing exposure. The 680 floor protects the program's pricing and lets us keep approvals fast, limits high, and the application short.

What underwriters look at beyond FICO

Credit gets you to the table. Three other factors size the line and set the rate:

• Time in business (12+ months is the typical floor)
• Average monthly bank deposits ($15K+ for most programs)
• Consistent cash flow with no rolling negative balances

Northwood line of credit program

With a 680+ FICO, Northwood writes unsecured lines from $25,000 up to $500,000. You only pay interest on funds drawn, draws wire same-day, and terms renew on 12–24 month cycles. Soft pull during application — no impact to your credit to get a quote.

If your FICO is below 680

You're not out of options — you're just on a different product. A merchant cash advance or short-term working capital loan underwrites primarily on revenue and accepts FICO scores as low as 500. A bridge loan can cover a specific transaction. Many of our line-of-credit clients started on one of those products and refinanced into a line as their credit recovered.

Next step

Northwood prequalifies lines of credit with a soft pull — no impact to your credit score. See full program details on our business lines of credit page, or call (714) 679-8886 to talk to a working-capital specialist.