Amazon Business Line of Credit & 4 Alternatives
Tom has 15 years of experience helping small businesses evaluate financing and banking options. He shares this expertise in Fit Small Business’s financing and banking content.
This article is part of a larger series on Business Financing.
The Amazon Business Line of Credit is a financing option best suited for established businesses and government institutions that make purchases on Amazon.com and are willing to pay in full within 55 days of purchase. If you want a longer repayment period, you may want to consider one of our choices for the best small business lines of credit or perhaps utilize a credit card. We have also included four alternatives to the Amazon Business Line of Credit if you decide that this line of credit isn’t right for your business.
Provider | Maximum Repayment Term | Annual Percentage Rate (APR) Range | Minimum FICO Score |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 55 days | None | 680 |
 | Six months | 6.2% to 78% | 625 |
 | 12 months | 10.99% and up | 600 |
 | 24 months | 15% and up | 650 |
 | 24 weeks | 10% to 79% | 600 |
Amazon Business Line of Credit
What We Like
- Repayment term of 55 days is longer than the average pay-in-full requirement
- No annual fee
- Ability to give purchasing access to multiple individuals
What's Missing
- No option for revolving credit
- Some restrictions on Amazon.com purchases
- Requires two years in business to qualify
Features
- APR: None but full payment is due within 55 days of purchase
- Maximum Amount: Based on business profile
- Monthly Minimum Payments: Full balance
- Annual Fee: None
- Late Payment Fee: 2% of the adjusted balance per month
- Returned Check Fee: $29
- Time in Business: Two years
- Minimum FICO Score: 680
- Personal Guarantee: Required
- Approval Time: Seven to 10 days
What to know about the Amazon Business Line of Credit: The Amazon Business Line of Credit is a pay-in-full credit line that charges no interest and no annual fee; however, payments are due within 55 days of purchase. This credit line is best suited to established businesses, schools, and government institutions that need account management flexibility and can make payments in full. You’ll be able to give purchasing authority to multiple employees and set up accounts for different departments or locations.
You can only use the Amazon Business Line of Credit to make purchases on Amazon.com. Beyond that, Amazon prohibits numerous products and services from being used with the business line of credit. These include:
- Cell phones associated with a plan
- Textbook rentals
- Electronic documents
- Video games and software downloads
- Digital newspaper and magazine subscriptions
- Amazon Prime memberships
- Any “Subscribe & Save” and “Recurring Delivery” orders
- Print-at-home and emailed Amazon gift cards
Note: Synchrony Bank, Amazon’s credit line service partner, processes payments, but you can manage your credit line on Amazon.com’s Line of Credit page.
Alternatives to an Amazon Business Line of Credit
If you want an Amazon-branded revolving credit account that doesn’t require you to pay in full within 55 days and that gives you greater flexibility in how that credit can be used, there are several Amazon credit card options that we also recommend. The one that we consider best is the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card (for Amazon Prime customers).
One disadvantage with credit cards is that credit limits will often be lower than the limits set by lenders on lines of credit. With that in mind, we have selected four lines of credit that should meet your business needs and provide funding in a matter of days.
Bluevine: Best Amazon Line of Credit Alternative
What We Like
- Competitive rates
- Fast funding
- Online application
What's Missing
- High minimum revenue requirements
- Relatively short repayment time
Features
- Maximum Amount: $250,000
- Minimum Time in Business: 24 months
- APR Range: 6.2% to 78%
- Payment Frequency: Weekly or monthly
- Repayment Term: Six or 12 months
- Minimum Credit Score: 625
- Minimum Annual Revenue: $480,000
- Funding Speed: One day
Why We Recommend Bluevine: Bluevine is also our recommended choice for the best small business line of credit. Bluevine will provide up to $250,000 in working capital, with weekly repayments. Note that any financing will need to be repaid within a year. Bluevine’s qualification standards are relatively easy for businesses to meet, with a credit score requirement of 625 and 24 months in business required.
OnDeck: Best Option for Fast Funding
What We Like
- Competitive qualification requirements
- Fast funding
- Online application
What's Missing
- $20 monthly maintenance fee
- Higher interest rates
Features
- Maximum Amount: $100,000
- Minimum Time in Business: One year
- APR Range: 10.99% and higher
- Payment Frequency: Weekly
- Repayment Term: 12 months
- Minimum Credit Score: 600
- Minimum Annual Revenue: $100,00
Why We Recommend OnDeck: OnDeck’s line of credit offering is good for those who have been in business for a short period of time or have less than ideal credit and need quick access to funds. OnDeck only requires a business owner to be in operation for a year and will approve loans with credit scores as low as 600. OnDeck’s line of credit includes a maintenance fee of $20 per month, an origination fee for your line of credit, and its lines of credit can have high interest rates that average over 35% APR. However, you’re only liable to pay interest on what is borrowed, and there is no penalty for early repayment.
Credibly: Best Option for Those With Less Than Optimal Credit
What We Like
- Newer businesses are eligible
- Will provide financing to those with poor credit
- Quick funding speed
What's Missing
- Origination fees
- Interest rates can be quite high
Features
- Maximum Amount: $300,000
- Minimum Time in Business: Six months
- APR Range: 15% and higher
- Payment Frequency: Weekly or monthly
- Repayment Term: 24 months
- Minimum Credit Score: 650
- Minimum Annual Revenue: $20,000 average monthly deposits for 3 months
- Funding Speed: As fast as one day
Why We Recommend Credibly: Credibly offers lines of credit of up to $300,000, with interest rates starting at 4.8% for 26-week terms. It’s a good choice for businesses whose owners have poor credit, as Credibly will approve loans for those with credit scores as low as 650. However, the interest rates for those with poor credit will be substantially higher. Also, Credibly may assess an origination fee on initial financing.
Fundbox: Best Option for Newer Businesses
What We Like
- Competitive rates
- Quick approval times
- Online application
What's Missing
- High interest rates
- Short repayment periods
Features
- Maximum Amount: $100,000
- Minimum Time in Business: Six months
- APR Range: 10% to 79%
- Payment Frequency: Weekly
- Repayment Term: 12 or 24 weeks
- Minimum Credit Score: 600
- Minimum Annual Revenue: $100,000
- Funding Speed: Same day
Why We Recommend Fundbox: Fundbox is a good solution for newer businesses that only need a short period of time to repay the capital they borrow. Fundbox only requires a business owner to be in business for six months and have a minimum credit score of 600. Fundbox’s repayment terms are shorter than many of the lenders we evaluated, with repayment terms capping out at 24 weeks. This means that your weekly payments would be several thousand dollars if you borrow the maximum amount. However, Fundbox provides the opportunity for newer businesses to obtain a small business loan to help them make purchases.
Bottom Line
An Amazon Business Line of Credit is an inexpensive financing option for established businesses, schools, and government institutions that frequently make business purchases at Amazon.com. If you wish to consider using Amazon for financing purchases, it’s important to note that you’ll have less than sixty days to make payment in full. If you aren’t able to do that, there are several small business lines of credit that you can consider as worthy alternatives.
