Kabbage
Compare Kabbage to Ondeck and Funding Circle. Includes a detailed review, information on fees, and answers to common questions.
Updated on February 15th, 2022
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Kabbage, owned by American Express, provides small business funding as well as other financial services, including a business checking account and an online payment solution.
Updates:
Updated 19th of January 2022
We updated the review format and product information as well as company information, reflecting Kabbage's acquisition by American Express.
Updated 30th of January 2020
Made it easier to compare rates and terms among Kabbage, OnDeck and Funding Circle. Added info regarding the launch of Kabbage Payments.
Updated 18th of May 2020
Added Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan details and a further comparison to the popular small business lender Accion.
Loan Products:
Loan Type | Loan Amount | Payment Term | Monthly Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Line of Credit | $1,000.00 to $150,000.00 | 6 months | 2%-9% |
Line of Credit | $1,000.00 to $150,000.00 | 12 months | 4.5%-18% |
Line of Credit | $1,000.00 to $150,000.00 | 18 months | 6.75%-27% |
Other Products:
Product | Details |
|---|---|
Kabbage Checking Account | Provided by Green Dot Bank; no monthly fee; up to $4.95 cash deposit fee; $25.00 payment order fee; balances up to $100,000.00 earn a variable interest rate of 1.1% APY. |
Kabbage Payments | Payment processing solution; 2.25% transaction fee; limit of $10,000.00 per transaction. |
Review:
Kabbage is a reputable alternative lender that was acquired by American Express in 2021. Financial products provided under the Kabbage brand target small businesses and include funding, a business checking account, and a payment solution.
The platform provides small businesses with fast and easy access to funds, but their fees can be very steep, which may make them a reasonable option for established businesses but less suited for startups. Overall, Kabbage presents a convenient short-term cash-flow solution.
Pros:
- The application process for funding is quick.
- Kabbage does not charge origination, documentation, or monthly maintenance fees.
- There are no pre-payment penalties.
- Kabbage offers 6, 12, and 18-month payment terms.
- Borrowers have flexible access to funding with no obligation to use the entire amount they are approved for.
- Kabbage has lenient qualification requirements.
Cons:
- Potentially steep fees and short repayment terms make Kabbage less suited for startups.
- Kabbage does not offer any incentive for early repayment.
Reputation:
Kabbage is owned by the well-known, reputable financial service provider American Express, which is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ rating on the platform.
On Sitejabber, Kabbage has a user rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars based on more than 300 reviews. Users reported the loan application process to be fast and easy but gave mixed feedback about the customer service.
Kabbage also received a 3.5 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot, where it has more than 6,700 reviews. The user feedback is similar to that on Sitejabber, with the application and funding process generally being described as easy and fast, and mixed views about the quality of customer service.
At-a-Glance:
Online Dashboard | ✓ |
Mobile App | ✓ |
Lines of Credit | ✓ |
Term Loans | x |
Customer Support | Phone and email. |
24/7 Support | x |
Autopay | ✓ |
Kabbage vs. OnDeck:
Kabbage offers lines of credit for as little as $1,000 and up to $150,000, compared to OnDeck's minimum of $6,000 and maximum of $100,000. With Kabbage, borrowers have more flexibility when it comes to lines of credit with several payment terms instead of just one, as offered by OnDeck. Unlike Kabbage, OnDeck also offers term loans.
Kabbage vs. OnDeck Comparison:
Feature | Kabbage | OnDeck |
|---|---|---|
Loan type | Line of credit | Line of credit |
Loan amount | $1,000 - $150,000 | $6,000 - $100,000 |
Terms | 6, 12, or 18 months | 12 months |
Cost | Monthly fees between 2% and 27% | APR from 35.9% |
Repayment frequency | Monthly | Weekly |
Kabbage vs. Funding Circle:
Unlike Kabbage, Funding Circle offers several different loan products. While Funding Circle's minimum amount for lines of credit isn't as low as Kabbage's, their maximum amount is much higher at $250,000 compared to Kabbage's $150,000. Unlike Kabbage, Funding Circle charges an origination fee.
Kabbage vs. Funding Circle Comparison:
Feature | Kabbage | Funding Circle |
|---|---|---|
Loan type | Line of credit | Line of credit |
Loan amount | $1,000 - $150,000 | $5,000 - $250,000 |
Terms | 6, 12, or 18 months | 6 months to 5 years |
Cost | Monthly fees between 2% and 27% | APR from 10.99% |
Repayment frequency | Monthly | Weekly or monthly |
Kabbage vs. Accion:
Accion is more accessible to borrowers with poor credit scores than Kabbage, but the funding process can take time. What makes borrowing with Accion Opportunity Fund attractive is the community-based small business support it advocates and facilitates. Kabbage, on the other hand, is the better option if fast access to funding is needed.
Kabbage vs. Accion Comparison:
Feature | Kabbage | Accion |
|---|---|---|
Loan Type | Line of credit | Term loan |
Loan Amount | $1,000 - $150,000 | $5,000 - $100,000 |
Terms | 6, 12, or 18 months | 12, 24, 36, or 60 months |
Cost | Monthly fees between 2% and 27% | Interest rates from 5.99% |
Features:
Similar to its close competitors OnDeck and Funding Circle, Kabbage offers an easy application process and a fast funding process. Among these, Kabbage stands out with its convenient mobile app and other financial products, including a business checking account and payment solution.
Key Products:
Kabbage Funding.
Borrowers can get lines of credit up to $150,000 and can expect a fast and easy application process and quick processing times. Kabbage Funding is suitable for short-term cash-flow needs, although fees can be quite high.
Kabbage Payments.
Kabbage's payment processing solution was launched in 2019 and is designed to help small businesses streamline their incoming payment processes. Features include a customizable URL, a user-friendly dashboard, invoicing, free customer support, and a competitive fee structure.
Kabbage Checking.
Kabbage offers an online checking account for small businesses, provided by Green Dot Bank. There are no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements, and in-network ATM withdrawals are free.
Best Small Business Loans for 2023
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Dec 26, 2022
Key Information:
Legal Name | American Express Kabbage Inc. |
Founder | |
Founding Date | Jan 01, 2009 |
Address | 730 Peachtree St. N.E., Ste. 1100, Atlanta, GA 30309 |
Number of Employees | 250 |
Number of Customers | 500000 |
Telephone | |
Website |
News & Activity:
Date | News or Activity |
|---|---|
December 8, 2021 | |
June 14, 2021 | Kabbage, an American Express Company, Launches Kabbage Checking for U.S. Small Businesses |
FAQs:
Is Kabbage a legitimate company?
The legitimate online lending company Kabbage was acquired by American Express in 2021.
Is Kabbage a SBA lender?
No, the only funding products Kabbage by American Express currently offers are lines of credit for small businesses.
Is Kabbage still lending?
Yes, following Kabbage's acquisition by American Express, Kabbage Funding was launched, which offers small businesses lines of credit up to $150,000.
Is Kabbage still processing PPP loans?
Kabbage by American Express does not offer PPP loans.
Who bought Kabbage?
Kabbage was bought by American Express.
Who owns Kabbage?
As of 2021, Kabbage is owned by American Express.
How does a Kabbage loan work?
The Kabbage business loan application process can be completed in minutes via the Kabbage online platform. If you're approved, you can access your Kabbage funding immediately. You'll be able to access your funds via your business bank account.
What is the monthly fee for a Kabbage loan?
The monthly fees for lines of credit from Kabbage range between 2% and 27%.
Should I use Kabbage?
It depends on the small loan that your business needs. However, Kabbage offers financing of up to $150,000 in one day. Other products offered by Kabbage include a business checking account and online payment solution.
What type of Kabbage loans are there?
Kabbage by American Express only offers lines of credit.
What are Kabbage's loan terms?
Kabbage offers 6, 12, and 18-month loan repayment terms.
Does Kabbage offer personal loans?
No, Kabbage does not offer personal loans.
Who are Kabbage's biggest competitors?
Is Kabbage or OnDeck the better lender for your business?
Both Kabbage and OnDeck are popular lenders. See our comparison of the two.
Who is the founder of Kabbage?
Kabbage was co-founded by Rob Frohwein, Catherine Petralia, and Marc Gorlin in 2009.