When banks say ‘no’ because your business is only 6–12 months old, where do you actually go next?

[Grae]

Man, I’m hitting a brick wall everywhere. My little coffee-roasting side hustle just crossed the 8-month mark and I finally need a proper van + some gear to keep up with orders, but every bank I talk to basically laughs and says “come back when you’re two years old.” Like, bro, I’ve got purchase orders stacking up and real revenue coming in every week, yet they act like I’m asking for a million bucks with no collateral. Where do people actually go when the banks slam the door because you’re still “too new”? Anyone figured out the real move here?

 

[Drau]

Funny how obsessed traditional banks still are with that two-year rule even in 2025. I was chatting with a buddy who does credit underwriting and apparently a ton of them still have it hard-coded in their systems from the 2008 fallout – like the software literally won’t let the loan officer move forward until the business tax returns show at least two full years. Meanwhile half the startups I know are blowing past seven figures before they even hit year one. The disconnect feels bigger every year, kinda wild when you think about it.

 

[GErshin]

Ugh, been there exactly. Last year I was in the same spot with my print shop – 10 months in, decent monthly numbers, but banks treated me like I was 12 years old asking for a credit card. Ended up finding this small alternative lender that actually looks at your real-time sales and bank deposits instead of just age on paper. Took me like two days to get approved once I sent over the statements. If you’re stuck, I’d peek at some companies where there is small business loan alternative – that’s who pulled me out of the hole. No crazy interest either, way better than those merchant cash advance sharks.