Time in Business
How long your business has been operating, usually measured from formation or first revenue — a core eligibility signal.
Time in business (TIB) is how long your company has been operating, typically counted from formation or from the first consistent revenue. It is one of the first things a funder checks because a longer operating history gives underwriters more data and, usually, more confidence.
Many programs look for a minimum — often several months to a year of activity — but TIB is rarely evaluated in isolation. A younger business with strong, steady deposits can sometimes outperform an older one with thin or erratic activity, because cash flow underwriting weighs the recent bank statement pattern heavily.
If you are early, the move is to build a track record deliberately: run revenue through a dedicated business account tied to your EIN, keep NSF activity clean, and right-size a first request so a clean repayment sets up a better second offer. Time plus performance is what widens your options.
Frequently asked
How is time in business measured?
Usually from business formation or the first steady revenue, whichever a funder uses. Consistent deposit history in a business account helps demonstrate it.
What is a common minimum time in business?
It varies by funder and product, often ranging from a few months to a year of operating history. It is one factor among deposits, credit, and account health.
Can a newer business still qualify?
Sometimes. Strong, steady deposits can offset limited history because cash-flow underwriting weighs recent bank activity. Building clean banking history early widens your options.
Related terms
Evaluating a business by reading its bank statements — deposits, balances, and account behavior — rather than relying on credit alone.
A federal tax ID the IRS issues to a business — used to verify identity and keep business finances separate from personal.
The requirement that funds be used for commercial purposes, not personal or household use — central to commercial financing.
An approval approach that weighs your real deposit activity and cash flow over the owner’s credit score.
The cash a business uses to cover day-to-day operations — payroll, inventory, and the timing gaps in between.
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