SC · State guide

Business loans in South Carolina

South Carolina businesses can reach three separate pools of money: lenders that publish availability here, the state's own financing programs, and federal SBA lending through local participants. We have 6 state programs on file with published terms.

5 cities covered Checked 14 Sep 2026
Get funding in South Carolina See the shortlist

Where to start in South Carolina

No lender here publishes a state-by-state availability list naming SC, so this is the directory ranked by how much each one puts on the record. Absence from a list nobody publishes means nothing.

  1. 100%

    Forward Financing

    $5K – $500K Same day Credit from 500
    9/9 on the record
  2. 100%

    ROK Financial

    $10K – $5M 1-3 days Credit from 500
    9/9 on the record
  3. 100%

    South End Capital

    $1K – $5M Same-day funding available Credit from 650
    9/9 on the record
  4. 89%

    Bizcap US

    Up to $2M Same day Credit from 550
    8/9 on the record
  5. 89%

    ByzFunder

    Up to $500K Same day Credit from 525
    8/9 on the record
  6. 89%

    Fora Financial

    $5K – $1.5M As little as 24 hours Credit from 570
    8/9 on the record
  7. 89%

    Fox Business Funding

    Up to $1M As little as 2 business days Credit from 550
    8/9 on the record
  8. 89%

    National Funding

    $6K – $500K As fast as 24 hours Credit from 600
    8/9 on the record
  9. 89%

    Straight Line Source

    Partner
    $5K – $10M Same day Credit from 500
    8/9 on the record
  10. 78%

    Biz2Credit

    $25K – $2M Decision as fast as 24 hours Credit from 650
    7/9 on the record
  11. 78%

    CAN Capital

    $2K – $400K As fast as the next business day Credit from 600
    7/9 on the record
  12. 78%

    Credibly

    $5K – $10M As fast as 4 hours after approval Credit from 550
    7/9 on the record
published not published Ordered by disclosure, not by what anyone pays us. The score is a count of what a lender publishes, not a rating of the lender.

What South Carolina itself funds

State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) ProgramAdministered by South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA). Federal SSBCI capital deployed to help South Carolina small businesses expand operations, create jobs and strengthen communities, through two components: a venture capital component led by InvestSC, Inc. and a loan participation program run with financial institution partners. Published amounts: "$101 million in federal funding" administered by SC JEDA over several years. Venture capital component: InvestSC, Inc. providing "$51 million to South Carolina's entrepreneurs ecosystem over the next 10 years". Per-business loan terms are set by the loan participation component (see separate entry). Eligibility as published: South Carolina small businesses. The program prioritises socially and economically disadvantaged individuals: "55.66% of South Carolina SSBCI capital will be invested into SEDI-owned and controlled businesses." SEDI qualification requires 51% ownership/control by individuals meeting criteria including racial/ethnic minorities, veterans, women, those in underserved communities, rural residents, and persons with disabilities.
SSBCI Loan Participation ProgramAdministered by Business Development Corporation of SC (BDC), a non-bank commercial lending company established in 1958, in partnership with JEDA and participating financial institutions. Owner-occupied real estate purchases, manufacturing equipment, term loan financing, and interim/construction loans. BDC takes a participation alongside the bank lender to "reduce the risk for the lender". Published amounts: BDC participation $50,000-$1,000,000 (the BDC's own page states a maximum BDC participation of $500,000 - see status_note). BDC typically covers 10-25% of a loan, though up to 49% is allowable. Maximum total loan $20 million. Amortization "Up to 25-year" terms; 5% minimum down payment. Rates are "determined by the bank lender, subject to BDC concurrence"; BDC published current rates as of 08/7/2026 of 6.275% for 25-year 504 loans and 6.033% for manufacturers' 25-year loans. Bank fees are shared proportionally; no additional program fees are charged to borrowers. Eligibility as published: For-profit corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or sole proprietorship with 500 or fewer employees; entities exceeding 750 employees are ineligible. Loan requests averaging $5 million or less; minimum 5% borrower equity; all owners with a 20%+ stake must provide a personal guaranty.
Industrial Revenue Bond ProgramAdministered by South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA). Tax-exempt bond financing for "acquisition of land, construction of a building and acquisition of equipment", focused on "the core manufacturing component and certain ancillary facilities". Published amounts: "most efficient for companies with construction projects in excess of $2 million"; maximum "under $10 million" for manufacturing enterprises. $1,000 non-refundable application fee. "The entire process from application to delivery of bonds typically requires between 45-90 days." Interest rates and terms are not published. Eligibility as published: Manufacturing facilities; 501(c)(3) healthcare organizations (hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, wellness centers); 501(c)(3) educational institutions (universities, colleges, charter and private schools); and solid waste disposal companies.
Taxable Bond ProgramAdministered by South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA). Taxable bond financing for manufacturing, medical facilities, office buildings, multifamily housing, commercial developments, acquisition financing, debt restructuring and general corporate purposes. Supports both construction and permanent financing. Published amounts: No minimum or maximum is stated. "Amortization may be customized to the specific transaction; terms may run as long as thirty (30) years", and "principal can be repaid at any time without penalty". Bonds can be issued in approximately 45 days. Interest rates are not published. Eligibility as published: "Any corporation, partnership, LLC or similar entity with the authority to issue taxable bonds should consider this program." Targets middle and small private enterprises that traditionally lack public debt market access. Uses a bank letter of credit, so SEC registration is not required.
Job Development Credit (Enterprise Program)Administered by South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development (SC Department of Commerce). Cash reimbursements for eligible capital expenditures including "land, building, site development, pollution control equipment or infrastructure" associated with job creation. Funded from personal income tax withholding on new employees, who receive offsetting credits so there is no net employee impact. Not a loan. Published amounts: Capped at approximately "$3,250 per employee per year", generally limited to a 10-year collection period. Eligibility as published: Manufacturing, agricultural packaging, processing, corporate office, warehouse/distribution, research and development, agribusiness, tourism, or qualified service-related facilities; minimum 10 new full-time jobs; a comprehensive health plan covering at least 50% of employee premium costs. $4,000 non-refundable application fee and $500 annual renewal fee.
Retraining Credit for Existing IndustryAdministered by South Carolina Department of Commerce (described in the state Business Incentives Booklet). Funds for retraining existing employees at established South Carolina industry. Published amounts: Up to $1,000 per employee annually, and $5,000 per employee over five years. Eligibility as published: Existing South Carolina industry. Detailed eligibility is not reproduced in the section reviewed.

Federal money behind these programs

South Carolina was allocated up to $101.3 million under the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative, which is what funds most of the credit enhancements above. SSBCI money reaches businesses through participating lenders rather than from the state directly, so the application still goes through a bank or a CDFI.

What we could not confirm

AGENCY SPLIT: the SC Department of Commerce runs incentives and tax credits but does not itself operate a small business loan fund; South Carolina's business lending and bond financing, including its entire SSBCI allocation, runs through the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA, https://scjeda.com/), with the SSBCI loan participation component delivered by the Business Development Corporation of SC and the venture component by InvestSC, Inc. CONFLICTING OFFICIAL FIGURES: JEDA's SSBCI loan participation page gives a BDC participation range of "$50,000 - $1,000,000" while the BDC's own page gives a maximum BDC participation of $500,000; both are recorded in the program entry rather than one being selected. JEDA describes the total as "$101 million in federal funding" while Treasury's July 18, 2022 press release says "up to $101.3 million" - these are consistent (rounding), so the Treasury figure is used. NOT FOUND: no Rural Infrastructure Fund, Set-Aside Program or economic development bond program details were located on sccommerce.com or in the January 2026 Business Incentives Booklet section reviewed; those fields are omitted rather than estimated. The SC Commerce homepage and incentives page carry very little program-level financing detail. NO CLOSED PROGRAMS were found for South Carolina - unlike Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, no expired or suspended program pages surfaced. PROGRAM STATUS CAVEAT: none of the JEDA pages posts an affirmative open/closed statement; appears_active values rest on absence of closure language plus dated current artifacts (a March 2025 application form for the IRB program, and BDC rates dated 08/7/2026). CITIES: 26 municipalities at 20,000+ population, 2020 Census. The Wikipedia table was verified complete, running to the end of the alphabet (last rows Woodruff, Yemassee, York) across 271 municipalities; an initial extraction pass silently omitted Rock Hill, Summerville, Hilton Head Island, Anderson and Hanahan, so the list was re-verified name by name. Multi-county municipalities carry the primary county plus a county_note, as given by the source. Note that several large South Carolina population centers (Socastee, Taylors, Ladson, St. Andrews, Wade Hampton, Five Forks, Berea) are census-designated places, not incorporated municipalities, and are correctly excluded.

Cities in South Carolina

CharlestonColumbiaGreenvilleNorth CharlestonRock Hill

More for South Carolina

GuideSmall business funding in South Carolina: hospitality is the biggest small business employer here South Carolina is one of few states where accommodation and food services out-employs health care in the small business base.

Business funding in South Carolina — common questions

Can I get business funding in South Carolina?

Yes. 12 funders in this directory serve businesses in South Carolina, and 0 of them name South Carolina explicitly in their published availability rather than being included by default.

Does South Carolina require lenders to disclose the cost of business financing?

South Carolina's position is set out on this page. As of 2026 only a small number of states require a commercial financing disclosure, and in the rest you will not receive one — which means you have to ask for the total dollar cost, the term and every fee in writing yourself.

Are there state programmes for small business capital in South Carolina?

3 state-level programmes are recorded here with a link to the administering agency. Programmes open and close, so confirm the current position on the agency's own site before relying on one.

Is a merchant cash advance legal in South Carolina?

Commercial financing generally sits outside the consumer credit rules most people have heard of, and most state usury caps do not reach business-purpose transactions. What varies is disclosure, broker registration and lender licensing. This is general information, not legal advice for your situation.

How do I check for liens filed against my business in South Carolina?

Through South Carolina's UCC filing office, which is named on this page. Search your exact registered entity name — a filing under a slightly different name will not come back, and neither will a stale one nobody terminated.

Which lenders will not fund in South Carolina?

Where a funder publishes an excluded-states list, this page shows it. Many publish nothing, which is not the same as being available — it means you have to ask.

Does being based in South Carolina change what I pay?

Not directly in most cases. What changes is what you are told before you sign, and what recourse you have afterwards, both of which depend on your state's rules and on the jurisdiction clause in the contract.

What should I have ready before applying?

Three months of business bank statements, your time in business from a verifiable date, average monthly deposits, your entity's good standing, and a clear figure for what you need and what for.

How current is this page?

Every figure carries the date it was checked. Where a check has passed its review date the page says so rather than presenting as current.