How long does a business loan approval process take?

Business loan approval timelines vary widely by lender and loan type. Online lenders and fintech platforms can approve and fund in as little as 24–72 hours for smaller amounts. Traditional bank loans typically take 2–6 weeks. SBA loans generally take 30–90 days from application to funding, with SBA Express loans (up to $500,000) promising a 36-hour SBA response time. Commercial real estate loans take 30–75 days depending on appraisal and environmental review. Preparation is the biggest factor — having complete, accurate documentation ready significantly speeds up the process. A pre-application meeting with your banker helps identify and resolve potential issues early.