VT · State guide

Business loans in Vermont

Vermont 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 11 state programs on file with published terms.

1 city covered Checked 14 Sep 2026
Get funding in Vermont See the shortlist

Where to start in Vermont

No lender here publishes a state-by-state availability list naming VT, 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.

Lenders that exclude Vermont

A published no is worth as much as a published yes, and almost nobody shows it.

Biz2CreditBriteCap Financial

What Vermont itself funds

VEDA Direct Loan ProgramAdministered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). Real estate purchase, construction or renovation, and purchase of machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures - usually alongside bank financing. VEDA "cannot finance or refinance existing company assets or debt." Published amounts: "up to $5 million, and $6 million for certain energy-related projects." VEDA "may not fund more than 40% of the cost of the project." "Attractive variable rates, adjustable on a quarterly basis"; fixed rates available on large loans. Real estate: 10-year term "generally amortized on a 20-year basis"; machinery/equipment "generally 5-7 years based on the useful life." Eligibility as published: Individuals, partnerships, corporations and LLCs in multi-unit housing construction (at least five units), manufacturing, processing, warehousing, research and development, recycling, travel and tourism, and information technology. Must demonstrate potential to create or retain Vermont employment or import capital.
Vermont Small Business Loan ProgramAdministered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). Fixed assets (land, buildings, machinery, equipment) and working capital. Cannot refinance existing debt or establish lines of credit. Published amounts: "may make loans of up to $1,000,000 for fixed asset acquisition or for working capital purposes." Working capital limited to "50% of the project cost" and fixed asset loans to "40% of project cost"; loans under $100,000 may reach 75% of project cost. Minimum 10% borrower equity. Machinery/equipment 5-7 years; real estate up to 10 years (typically 20-year amortisation); working capital maximum 3 years. Eligibility as published: Applicants must be U.S. citizens or "51%-owned by U.S. citizens, and unable to access conventional credit," and must demonstrate potential to create or retain Vermont employment.
VEDA Entrepreneurial Loan ProgramAdministered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). "Purchase of capital assets and/or working capital" for early-stage Vermont businesses. Published amounts: Maximum individual loan $350,000; aggregate outstanding limit per borrower $500,000. Borrower must contribute at least "ten percent (10%)" of project costs. Borrowers must maintain Vermont operations for "a minimum of five years." Terms depend on assets financed. Eligibility as published: Vermont sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations or LLCs in "seed, start-up or early growth stage" lacking access to traditional financing; must show potential for "long-term organic growth" with innovative offerings, often with intellectual-property-based assets; must create or retain Vermont employment.
Vermont Loan Participation Program (SSBCI)Administered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). SSBCI-funded participations that enhance VEDA's commercial, agricultural, forestry and energy lending, often in a subordinate position behind a partner lender. Serves small businesses, nonprofits and agricultural enterprises. Published amounts: "funded with $29 million from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) run by the U.S. Treasury." Treasury's Vermont capital program summary records the Vermont Loan Participation Program at "$29.0M." No published per-loan rate or term. Eligibility as published: Total project financing under $20 million; fewer than 750 employees worldwide; loan must be for business purposes; not for passive real estate investment; no concurrent SBA or USDA-RD loan for the same purpose; refinancing allowed only if the debt is 150% or more of the previous balance and proceeds do not fund extraordinary dividends. Speculative ventures, gambling and pyramid sales ineligible.
Vermont Equity Capital Program / Venture Capital (SSBCI)Administered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), deployed through five external venture capital fund managers. Equity investment into "new Vermont companies or existing firms for the purpose of expansion," through FreshTracks Green Mountain Fund, Features Capital SSBCI Fund, Green Mountain Accelerator Fund, Hula Community Partners Fund and RDF Ventures. Published amounts: VEDA has deployed "$28.9 million in State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) funds" through five managers. Treasury's Vermont summary splits the equity allocation as "$12.9M" (Funds) and "$16.0M" (Direct). As of 30 June 2026, "$6 million in SSBCI funds leveraged more than $40 million in private funding" across 26 portfolio companies, average investment "$232,404." Eligibility as published: Vermont-located companies; specific criteria are set by each fund manager rather than by VEDA.
Vermont Capital Access Program (VCAP)Administered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), through participating lenders. Pooled loan loss reserve enabling small businesses to access commercial credit: "a Reserve Fund, established with premiums paid by the borrower and/or the bank and matched by VEDA, is set up for each bank to insure loans enrolled in the program." Covers "any legitimate business expenditure relating to a commercial, industrial or agricultural enterprise" in Vermont. Published amounts: Enrolled loan "principal balance" cannot exceed "$500,000." The participating lender independently determines "interest rate, term, down payment, collateral, etc." Eligibility as published: Corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, sole proprietorships, cooperatives or other entities, for-profit or nonprofit, authorised to operate in Vermont. Proceeds cannot finance residential housing, passive real estate ownership, or refinance a prior loan from the same lender.
Northeast Kingdom Special Loan ProgramAdministered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), with USDA participation. "Fixed asset acquisition (land, buildings, machinery and equipment)" and "Working capital." Cannot be used for refinancing existing debt or lines of credit. Published amounts: "The NEK Program may make loans of up to $150,000." Typically "40% of project up to $150,000, financing up to 90% of project (when partnered with another lender)"; borrower must contribute "at least 10% of the project cost in the form of equity capital." "Fixed 3.0% interest rate for five years" with "No closing fees, reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs." Eligibility as published: "Business must operate within Essex, Caledonia or Orleans counties"; for agricultural applicants, "over 50% of household income must come from sale of Agricultural products."
VEDA Local Development Corporation ProgramAdministered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). "Purchase of land for industrial parks; Industrial park planning and development; Construction or improvement of speculative buildings; Small business incubator facilities." Published amounts: Industrial park loans capped at "80% of the appraised fair market property value"; no overall maximum stated for other project types. "Loan terms vary with the purpose of the loan." VEDA requires a first mortgage on the financed land, leasehold improvements or building. "Loans exceeding $1 million are presented to the VEDA Board for monthly consideration." Eligibility as published: All nonprofit Local Development Corporations (LDCs) and Regional Development Corporations (RDCs).
Vermont Agricultural Credit Corporation (VACC)Administered by Vermont Agricultural Credit Corporation, a subsidiary of VEDA. Farm Ownership Loans (acquiring or enlarging farms, purchasing real estate, capital improvements, refinancing farm debt) and Farm Operating Loans (livestock and equipment purchases, annual operating expenses, lines of credit). Published amounts: Interest rates variable or fixed "based on VACC's cost of funding." Maximum term 20 years, "matched to the life of the asset being financed." Loans may qualify for USDA Farm Service Agency guarantees. No published minimum or maximum loan amount. Eligibility as published: Vermont residents engaged in agriculture or forestry who will "help expand the agricultural economy of the state" and who operate or propose to operate an eligible business.
VEDA Disaster Recovery Loan Fund (DRLF)Administered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). Helps Vermont businesses, farms, foresters and nonprofits "repairing or replacing damaged property, inventory, or working capital" after a declared disaster. Published amounts: Maximum $100,000 per loan. Interest rate "To be determined at time of application." All loans must be secured; personal guarantees required from owners with 20%+ stake (nonprofits exempt); automatic monthly ACH payment required. Eligibility as published: The entity was operational when the disaster occurred; can demonstrate economic harm from the declared disaster; remains open or plans to reopen soon.
VEDA Brownfields Revitalization FundAdministered by Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA), with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. "site clean-up" of contaminated properties that are "vacant, abandoned, substantially underutilized or to be acquired by a municipality"; occasionally "site assessment or characterization." Published amounts: "Maximum loan amounts vary based on available funds." Interest rates negotiable. Repayment typically "within fifteen (15) years"; payments may be deferred until the project generates cash flow, but "repayment must commence no later than one (1) year after the project is completed." No application fee; $50 credit report fee and $18 flood insurance certificate fee where applicable. Eligibility as published: Applicant must first obtain approval from the Agency of Natural Resources under Vermont's Redevelopment of Contaminated Properties Program. Eligible borrowers are "for-profit, not-for-profit and municipal entities" that own or have an interest in an EPA-defined Brownfields property.

Federal money behind these programs

Vermont was allocated up to $57.9 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

Census figures taken verbatim from QuickFacts BZA010223 for Vermont, all reference year 2023. SSBCI: Treasury press release JY0875 (18 July 2022) states Vermont was "approved for up to $57.9 million." Treasury's Vermont capital program summary (https://home.treasury.gov/node/985161) breaks that into Vermont Loan Participation Program "$29.0M", Vermont Equity Capital Program (Funds) "$12.9M" and Vermont Equity Capital Program (Direct) "$16.0M". Note a minor internal inconsistency: VEDA's own venture capital page says it deployed "$28.9 million in SSBCI funds" through five managers, against Treasury's combined equity total of $28.9M - consistent - while the loan participation side is $29 million; the two are separate pots. VEDA's financing index also lists these programmes, which were NOT individually opened in this pass and are therefore omitted rather than described from inference: SBA 504 Program, Revenue Bond Program for 501(c)(3), Revenue Bond Program for Manufacturers, Commercial Energy Loan Program, Agricultural Energy Loan Program, Forestry Loans, Broadband Expansion Loan Program, C-PACE, EV Charging Station loan programs, Montpelier Heating District Loan Program, State Infrastructure Bank Program, Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund, Export Finance Assistance, Forgivable Loan Program, Commercial Housing Lending and Infrastructure Loans. Cities: source is the Wikipedia list of Vermont municipalities, whose population column is the 2020 US Census. Vermont's incorporated units are mostly towns rather than cities, so the type (city/town) is appended to each name. Threshold used: 5,000+, giving 29 municipalities; the next entry down is Georgia (town) at 4,845. Essex (town, 11,540) and Essex Junction (city, 10,590) are listed separately because Essex Junction incorporated as a city in 2022; at the 2020 census Essex Junction was still a village within the town of Essex, so the two figures should not be added together as a 2020 total without care. Barre appears twice (city 8,491 and town 7,923) and St. Albans twice (town 6,988 and city 6,887) - these are genuinely distinct municipalities, not duplicates.

Cities in Vermont

Burlington

More for Vermont

GuideState licensing that reaches non-bank commercial lenders Two states make the point clearly: California licenses finance lenders including commercial ones, and Vermont licenses anyone soliciting commercial loans to a Vermont business.

Business funding in Vermont — common questions

Can I get business funding in Vermont?

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

Does Vermont require lenders to disclose the cost of business financing?

Vermont'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 Vermont?

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 Vermont?

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 Vermont?

Through Vermont'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 Vermont?

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 Vermont 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.