How do I match a funding product to a beauty project?
Start with what the money buys and how long it keeps earning. Equipment that lasts years suits equipment financing over a similar term. A build-out suits a term loan. Short gaps, like a quiet January or a large color order, suit working capital or a line of credit. Paying for long-lived assets with short, expensive money is the most common mistake owners make.
- Chairs, stations, pedicure chairs, lasers and facial devices: equipment and device financing, where the equipment secures the agreement.
- Build-outs, renovations and second locations: build-out and expansion term loans with set payments over a longer term.
- Opening inventory, training, deposits and marketing: working capital for one-time needs with nothing to secure them.
- Slow seasons and recurring product buys: a business line of credit you draw from and repay as clients pay.
- Short-term needs for deposit-heavy businesses: revenue-based financing, repaid from future sales, usually at a higher total cost.
- Larger, longer projects where time allows: SBA loan options, which we help you compare alongside everything else.
What do funding partners look at across these options?
Requirements vary by product and funder; many look at time in business, monthly revenue and credit. For beauty businesses, card deposits and a steady client book show what the business earns, so they are weighed alongside credit. Strong credit tends to earn the best device and build-out terms, and a newer studio with a full book can still find real options.
Most applications start with recent business bank statements, card processing statements, a photo ID and a short description of the project, such as a device quote, suite lease or contractor bid. Keeping business and personal accounts separate makes deposits easier to read. See how it works for the full sequence.
How should I compare two funding offers?
Compare total repayment, not just the payment. Look at the term, whether payments are daily, weekly or monthly, any origination or draw fees, and what happens if you repay early. A lower weekly payment on a much longer term can cost more overall. The right offer is the one your slowest month can carry comfortably.
If you already carry an advance and the daily debits feel heavy, ask about options to lower your payment or stretch the term before adding new funding.
Frequently asked questions
Which option usually costs the least?
Term loans and SBA options often carry a lower total cost than revenue-based financing, but they take longer and ask more of your file. Equipment financing is often priced reasonably because the equipment secures it. The cheapest option on paper only helps if you qualify and it arrives when you need it, so compare total repayment across the offers you actually receive.
Can I combine more than one product?
Yes, and many beauty businesses do. A med spa build-out might pair a term loan for construction with equipment financing for devices and a line of credit for opening payroll. Funding partners count every payment you carry, so the combination has to fit your deposits. Plan the full stack before you sign the first agreement.
Do I need to know which product I want before applying?
No. Describe the project and how much you need, and the options are matched to it. Many owners arrive asking for a loan and find that equipment financing for the chairs plus a smaller amount of working capital fits better than one large lump sum. Every application is reviewed on its own finances, so nothing is promised in advance.
Find the funding that fits your next move
Tell us about your salon, studio, med spa or brand and see which options your file supports.
Updated September 14, 2026 · BeautyFundr Funding Team