10 Best Small Business Loans in South Dakota
Key Terms
- Most small business loans can have 5-to-10-year terms, but some are longer, providing a more affordable monthly payment for borrowers that fits within their financial goals.
- The lowest rates for small business loans often come from those who have a strong credit history, a number of years in the business, and a profitable company.
- Be sure to have a business plan to present to small business loan lenders to use as a way to showcase the financial stability and viability of your company.
South Dakota is named for the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes and is a beautiful state in the north central region of the country. It’s known for many things, including its expansive natural landscape. It is home to Mount Rushmore, which is the largest tourism destination in the state. For those that live here, the area is best known for the Black Hills, the gold rush, and the area’s agricultural industry. The largest city is Sioux Falls, which is the largest metro area in the state as well. Pierre is the capital. With an overall population of under 900,000 people, South Dakota is mostly rural with wide open lands.
When it comes to its economy, a large component of it is dependent on tourism, but the largest industries are related to agriculture, including the growth of cattle, wheat, and hogs. The state also has a large service industry, including banking, retail, and healthcare industries. Though these large businesses are critical to the state, nearly 20% of the people of the population work for small businesses here. There are 90,274 small businesses within the state that provide jobs for 208,353 people in the state. They generate payroll for those employees of $8,045,521, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. There is no doubt that many people are dependent on these small businesses.
There are a lot of benefits to starting and growing a business in South Dakota, but at the heart of the process is the state’s availability of small business loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s data shows that states there are 766 small business loans active in South Dakota, providing a total loan value of $456,461,160. The average loan size here is $595,902, which can be used for many needs, from the expansion of the company to purchasing equipment or hiring more employees.
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How small business loans work in South Dakota
A small business loan is one created for a smaller company, which is typically one that has under 100 employees. These loans are a type of capital infusion that many businesses need to help ensure they have the ability to expand, meet financial needs, market, or simply operate with the best equipment available. Small business lenders in South Dakota offer loans to companies based on their ability to repay the funds, often providing highly competitive loan offers. They are taking on risk in providing these loans, which is why lenders will require repayment of the borrowed amount with interest.
The amount of interest small business loans have depends on the amount of risk present, as well as other factors. Most often, South Dakota small business lenders will require borrowers to provide a great deal of information outlining the type of industry they are in, the business management and ownership structure, as well as a core look into the company’s financials. Lenders nearly always need to see profit and loss statements and balance sheets to determine how much they can lend based on how much revenue the company generates and has available to repay the loan.
Other factors can play a role in the cost owners pay for these loans. For example, there are numerous types of loan structures available, some of which are backed by the federal government, reducing their interest rates and making them a bit easier to obtain for qualified borrowers. Other loans are based on assets, such as equipment financing, which is used to help cover the cost of new equipment. For those owners or businesses with a strong credit history, lenders may offer a business line of credit as another option, providing ongoing borrowing power.
Some of the most common small business loans in South Dakota include:
- Small business bank loans
- SBA loans from SBA.gov
- Business term loans – short and longer term
- Business lines of credit
- Equipment financing
In the early phases of your company, such as startup, you’ll probably need your own funds to get things started. Most lenders require that you’ve been in business for awhile, and even nonprofit grants want to see some proof of concept. Before digging in to business financing, most entrepreneurs see if they meet eligibility requirements for small business grants or credit cards. Of course, these funds are usually limited and may not be low-interest, especially in the case of credit cards. Your local office of economic development or small business development center may be able to recommend some other avenues to you, too in the state of South Dakota.
Small business lenders range widely themselves. Some are traditional banks and credit unions, while others are private lenders or specialized lenders. South Dakota business owners have a range of opportunities to work with well-qualified lenders who can offer flexible loan terms, generally between 5 and 10 years, and competitive interest rates on funds that can be used for many things.