Over the past decade, MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) have emerged as one of the most significant driving forces of the Indian economy. These MSMEs contribute largely to Indian exports and the GDP (gross domestic product). However, majority of the MSMEs struggle to grow beyond a certain limit and realise their full potential, mainly because the business owners lack funds to expand their business operations. This is where business loans come into play.
A business loan is a type of credit that specifically caters to the financial needs of the business owners in India. As a business owner, you can use this credit to meet different business-related expense like buying or stocking raw materials/inventory, buying a new machinery to increase production, adapting modern technology, expanding your business, opening a new unit, etc. To get a clear picture of the potential loan amount and EMIs, it’s advisable to use a business loan calculator before applying
Today, with the business loan calculatorgrowing demand for business loans, many lenders in India offer this type of loan. However, all the lenders have strict eligibility criteria, including a good CIBIL (Credit Information Bureau India Limited) score. If you are not sure what a CIBIL score is and what the minimum CIBIL score is required for a business loan, then this guide is just for you.
Understanding what is CIBIL score
A CIBIL score is basically the credit score that is assigned by CIBIL, one of the reputed credit bureaus in India. The score assigned by the bureau is basically a three-digit number, ranging from 300 to 900, that reflects your creditworthiness.
The credit bureaus determine your CIBIL score based on your past credit history and personal financial habits. The lenders in India use this score as one of the critical factors to determine your loan eligibility. A high CIBIL score of more than 700 and closer to 900 means you have a high creditworthiness.
It also implies that you are most likely to repay the loan on time, and when you apply for a Secured business loan from NBFC, chances are hight that you get the credit at concessional interest rate and more favourable repayment terms. In contrast, if you don’t meet the minimum CIBIL score for loan as required by the lender, i.e., less than 650, chances are high that the lender will reject your loan application.
Why is a high CIBIL score important for business loans?
As a business owner trying to get a business loan, you must understand the importance of the CIBIL score, as it has a direct impact on the whole loan application and approval process.
- Assessing the creditworthiness
When you apply for a secured business loan or an unsecured business loan, the lender will inevitably conduct a hard inquiry into your credit history and pull out the CIBIL score. The lenders do this mainly to assess your personal and business creditworthiness and determine the risk involved in approving your loan application.
- Interest Rates
Your CIBIL score and the business loan interest rates are corelated. If you have a high CIBIL score, say more than 800, you may get the credit at a lower interest rate. This allows you to manage your repayments better.
If you don’t meet the minimum CIBIL score for business loan as required by the lender, you may still get the loan, but the lender may levy a higher interest rate. This means, your EMI will be higher, and it can cause a financial burden.
- Quick approval
If you have a high credit score of more than 800, and have an excellent credit history, i.e., you have never defaulted on your EMI payments before, you can get your loan application approved faster.
- Loan limit
CIBIL score also plays a vital role in the maximum loan amount you can borrow. If your CIBIL score is high, it increases your chances of getting a larger loan. This, in turn, allows you to use the funds to facilitate your business growth.
No matter, the type of business you own, and irrespective of the size of your enterprise, the CIBIL score is one of the key factors that lenders consider determining your eligibility for business loan and getting the approval for the same. Your CIBIL score affects your business loan’s interest rate, loan limit, and approval time.
Minimum score required for different types of business loans
The minimum CIBIL score required for a business loan may vary from one lender to another, as well as the type of business loan you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a term loan, the minimum CIBIL score required may be different than the secured business loan.
- Term loan
The ideal CIBIL score, as required by most of the lenders in India, for a term business loan is 750 and above.
- Line of credit
A line of credit is a flexible loan offered by financial organisations that allows you to borrow a pre-determined fixed amount that you can access as and when needed. A line of credit offers more flexibility than traditional business loans. You do not need a high CIBIL score to qualify for the loan.
Tips for improving your CIBIL score
As a business owner, if your CIBIL score is low and you face difficulty in getting the loan approved, you have no reason to be dejected. You can improve your CIBIL, and it is quite easy than you can imagine. All it takes is to be more disciplined with your finances. Here are a few simple but effective tips that can help you improve your CIBIL score.
- Pay off the EMIs of your existing loans and credit card bills on time. Ensure to make the full payments instead of only paying the minimum amount. As you continue to make the payments, your CIBIL score will improve over time.
- Another simple way to improve your CIBIL score is to maintain a low credit utilisation ratio below 40% of the credit limit available to you.
- Avoid applying for loans with multiple lenders at the same time, as too many credit inquiries can impact your CIBIL score in a negative way.
- Keep a good mix of both secured and unsecured loans. This will indicate a responsible credit management behaviour and your CIBIL score will improve.
- Review your credit report regularly to spot inaccuracies and errors. If you find any such errors, report them to the credit bureaus immediately and get them rectified.
Final Word
Understanding the minimum CIBIL score requirement for a business loan is necessary to ensure that you have a smooth borrowing experience. It is always advisable to maintain a high credit score as it will positively reflect your financial credibility, and you will not face any issues while applying for a business loan.