The questions below come up most often. Each answer links to a longer explanation elsewhere on the site, and the blog and topic guides go deeper. For what to do before you apply, see next steps to prepare for funding.
No. GoHarvest is an educational library only. We don't lend, broker, refer, take applications or get paid by lenders.
A file can appear within months once suppliers report, and Dun & Bradstreet issues a PAYDEX once three approved accounts are reporting. Credit that carries real weight with lenders usually takes years of history, revenue and on-time payments.
It's free from Dun & Bradstreet and it's how D&B identifies your company. Some government contracting and supplier programs ask for one. Experian and Equifax keep separate files that don't depend on it.
Partly. Trade credit and some business accounts report only to business bureaus. But most bank and SBA loans to young companies require the owner's credit check and a personal guarantee; SBA generally requires one from each 20% owner.
Dun & Bradstreet says 80 or above is generally considered good. An index of 80 reflects paying suppliers on time; higher means paying early.
As of November 2026: standard 7(a) up to $5 million, SBA Express up to $500,000, microloans up to $50,000. Since July 4, 2026, a borrower can combine 7(a) and 504 financing for up to $10 million.
Convert both to APR using the amount you actually receive, the payments and their timing. A 1.30 factor collected over 126 business days is about 109% APR. Our APR calculator does it.
It varies by lender and loan. SBA's guidance since March 2026 sets a 1.1x minimum for 7(a) Small Loans; many lenders want more cushion. Below 1.0x means debt payments exceed the cash flow available for them.
Under Regulation B, if your business had gross revenues of $1 million or less, the lender generally must notify you within 30 days of a completed application and you have a right to a statement of specific reasons. Larger businesses can request reasons in writing within 60 days.
Most steps (EIN, D-U-N-S, bank account, supplier accounts, consistent records) are free or cheap to do yourself. Be wary of large upfront fees, promises of big unsecured limits for new businesses, or any advice to misstate information.
No. They're invented to illustrate how options and math work, are labelled as hypothetical, and report no real outcomes.
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