Business valuation requirements for small business loans depend on the lender and the type of loan. The US Small Business Administration (SBA) requires approved lenders to obtain an appraisal (along with other extensive documentation) for most SBA loan types.nnHowever, some SBA loans might not require it. Always check with your SBA-approved lender if you are unsure about the documentation requirements.nnMany traditional lenders (commercial banks and credit unions) also require a business valuation, especially for larger, long-term loans. For example, commercial lenders typically order an appraisal for commercial real estate loans.nnFortunately, many alternative lenders provide various working capital loans with much more lenient documentation requirements. Alternative lenders are non-bank, online funders using fintech tools to quickly analyze your business's financial health.nnThe flexible underwriting requirements also result in fast approval and funding times. Some examples of small business loans you could obtain from an alternative lender or marketplace without an appraisal include:nnBusiness term loans.nBusiness lines of credit.nEquipment financing.nBad credit business loans.nMerchant cash advances.nInvoice factoring.nERTC advances.