Where to get a low cost loan to start or grow a small business

This page is about borrowing money for a small business. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. To set up the business itself, see Can I start a business without a Social Security number?

Can I get a business loan without a Social Security number?

Yes. Some lenders say so in plain words. Working Solutions, a nonprofit lender in California, states that it serves owners who have a Social Security number or an ITIN, whatever their citizenship, residency or documented status. Kiva U.S. lists its rules for borrowers, and a Social Security number is not on that list.

Many lenders still want one. For example, Accion Opportunity Fund's term loan asks that every owner be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. That is why it pays to check the rules first and apply only where you fit.

If you do not have an ITIN yet, get one. It lets you file taxes, and lenders often ask for your tax returns. See How to get or renew an ITIN.

Which loan fits me?

Start small if you are new. A small loan you can repay on time builds your credit, and that opens the door to a bigger loan next time.

Mission Asset Fund Business Loan: up to $2,500

Mission Asset Fund (MAF) is a San Francisco nonprofit. Its Business Loan is for small business owners in the Bay Area. What its page says today:

• Amount: up to $2,500, for any business cost, such as equipment, inventory, marketing or daily costs.
• Cost: 10% interest.
• Who: your business must be in the Bay Area and either just starting or already running.
• Credit: your on time monthly payments are reported to all three major credit bureaus.
• Extras: free one on one business coaching and free money classes.

How it works:

1. Pre apply online. Send proof of income and proof you can repay.
2. Take MAF's free money course and a first coaching session.
3. If you are approved, the money goes into your bank account.
4. Pay each month, on time.

You need a bank account to get the money. No account yet? See Open a bank account with an ITIN or consular ID.

MAF used to run a separate loan to pay the costs of forming an LLC. That page now sends you to the Business Loan page, which says the loan can pay for any business cost but does not name LLC filing fees. If that is your plan, ask MAF before you apply.

• Business Loans (Mission Asset Fund)

Kiva U.S.: $1,000 to $15,000 at 0%

Kiva U.S. is a nonprofit crowdfunding platform. People across the country lend small amounts, and together they fund your loan. Kiva says its U.S. loans have no interest, no fees and no collateral, and there is no minimum credit score.

Basic rules Kiva lists:

• You are 18 or older.
• You live in the U.S. and run your business here. Businesses in Nevada and North Dakota cannot apply.
• You are not in foreclosure or bankruptcy, and you have no liens.
• No violent or financial criminal conviction in the last 5 years.
• The loan is for the business, not to pay off other debt.
• You have a PayPal account. That is how you get the money and repay it.
• You ask a few friends, family or customers to lend to you first.

Some kinds of work cannot get a Kiva loan. Kiva names contract work for large companies such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Airbnb, and also tobacco, weapons, direct selling and a few others.

How long it takes: about 30 to 60 minutes to apply and 20 to 25 business days for a decision. Then about 10 to 15 days of asking your own circle to lend, and 20 to 30 days of public fundraising. Repayment starts one month after you get the money and usually runs 12 to 36 months.

If you cannot show the usual business papers, Kiva may accept other proof, but then the loan may be limited to $1,000 to $3,000. Only one Kiva loan at a time. Repay it, and you can apply again.

• Apply for a Kiva U.S. loan (Kiva)

Working Solutions: $5,000 to $100,000

Working Solutions is a nonprofit community lender. Its name includes CDFI, short for Community Development Financial Institution. It lends across California.

Loan terms it lists today:

• $5,000 to $100,000, over 3 or 5 years
• 11% fixed rate, set during review
• No minimum revenue, no minimum credit score and no collateral
• $50 application fee, a 5% closing fee and a $5 filing fee at signing
• Money arrives within 1 to 2 weeks after approval
• Free business consulting comes with every loan

Who can apply:

• The business is in California, or will be if it is new.
• Every owner of 20% or more is 18 or older, has an SSN or ITIN, has no past due accounts, tax liens or court judgments, and has had no bankruptcy in the last 12 months.
• At least one such owner lives in California and has at least 1 year of experience in the same kind of work. If the business is new, that owner also needs a second source of income.

Papers for ITIN holders (for loans of $5,000 to $10,000, from the lender's list):

• ID or driver's license
• 3 months of personal bank statements, or 1 year if you have no credit history
• Your most recent pay stub
• 2 years of complete ITIN tax returns
• A work history, like a short resume
• For a running business: 3 months of business bank statements or sales records
• Your business setup papers, such as a fictitious business name statement for a sole owner
• For a new business: a business plan with money projections

Bigger loans ask for more. For help in Spanish, email info@workingsolutions.org.

• Loan terms and eligibility (Working Solutions)
• Papers needed for ITIN holders (Working Solutions)

Main Street Launch: up to $350,000

Main Street Launch is an Oakland nonprofit lender and the sister group of Working Solutions. It offers loans up to $350,000, including SBA backed loans, for California small businesses. Call (510) 763-4297, Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Its website does not say whether it lends to ITIN holders (we checked October 21, 2026). Ask before you start: (510) 763-4297 or mainstreetlaunch.org.

• Main Street Launch

Do I need good credit?

Not for these lenders. Kiva has no minimum score. Working Solutions says your score alone will not approve or deny you, though it may change how much you can borrow. No credit history at all? Two good first steps:

• A small MAF loan reports your payments to all three credit bureaus, so it builds a history.
• A lending circle does the same with a personal loan.

For more starter tools, see Build credit without a Social Security number.

What should I have ready before I apply?

• Your ITIN or Social Security number
• A photo ID, such as a matrícula consular, passport or California ID
• A bank account, and a few months of statements
• Your tax returns, if you have filed. Filed as self employed? See How to pay taxes on self employment income with an ITIN.
• Proof the business is real: sales records, receipts, a business name filing or a permit
• A short plan: what you sell, who buys it, what the money is for and how you will repay

Free coaches can help you build the plan. See Free small business coaching in the Bay Area.

Which offers should I walk away from?

Online offers can look easy. Some cost far more than they seem. Watch out for a merchant cash advance. You get a lump sum now and pay it back with a share of your future sales. California's financial regulator, the DFPI, has asked small businesses to report unfair treatment with these.

California law protects you. Most companies that offer business financing must give you written terms before you sign, including:

• The total money you get
• The total dollar cost of the financing
• How long you will be paying
• How often you pay and how much
• What happens if you pay early

Compare the total cost, not just the monthly payment. Walk away if anyone:

• Asks for a fee before you are approved
• Pushes you to sign today
• Offers to use someone else's Social Security number for you
• Will not give you terms in writing

If a lender misled you or gave no written terms, file a complaint with the DFPI online or call 1-866-275-2677. For other money scams, see Warning signs of an immigration scam, which covers fake helpers too.

Common questions

I sell food from home or at events. Can I still apply? Yes, if you meet the lender's rules. You may need a permit first. See Permits to sell food or goods in East Palo Alto and San Mateo County.

I drive for a delivery app. Is that a business for Kiva? Kiva lists contract work for large app companies as a kind it does not fund. Ask MAF or Working Solutions instead.

Will a lender report me to immigration? We did not find any of these lenders saying they share your information with immigration. Working Solutions says plainly that it serves ITIN holders regardless of status. Read each lender's privacy notice before you apply. If you are worried about your own case, talk to an immigration lawyer first. See Free legal help in the Bay Area.

A bank turned me down. Should I still apply? Yes. Working Solutions says it lends to people who have been turned down by a bank, and to people with limited credit history.

Who can help?

These are nonprofit lenders and public offices. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Mission Asset Fund: Bay Area business loans up to $2,500, with coaching. 3269 Mission Street, San Francisco. missionassetfund.org
• Working Solutions: California loans of $5,000 to $100,000 for SSN or ITIN holders, with help in Spanish. info@workingsolutions.org. workingsolutions.org
• Main Street Launch: larger California loans. (510) 763-4297. mainstreetlaunch.org
• Kiva U.S.: 0% crowdfunded loans of $1,000 to $15,000. kiva.org/borrow
• Accion Opportunity Fund: free one on one business advice in English and Spanish. Its term loan requires owners to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. aofund.org
• California DFPI: complaints about business lenders and cash advance companies. 1-866-275-2677. Submit a complaint (dfpi.ca.gov)

Is there a checklist I can print?

We know asking for money can feel heavy. You are building something real. Take one step today.