A slow month in a side business
Updated 2026-11-11 · Sources: CFPB, MyCreditUnion.gov (NCUA)
When a market stall has a quiet Saturday, a sewing order pays late or the clipper chair sits empty, the rent still comes due. Start with the routes that cost least: talk to the company you owe, look for local help, then consider a credit union or a lower rate card. A short term loan is the dearest step, so keep it for last.
This guide walks through those steps in order. eFundingFlow is not a lender. We list these routes because the cheapest fix is the one worth trying first.
Step 1: write down the gap
Before you call anyone, list what is due, when it is due, and what money you expect and when. A slow month is often a timing gap rather than a missing sum. If an invoice will be paid in three weeks, a later due date may solve more than a loan would.
Step 2: ask for more time or a smaller payment
The CFPB suggests negotiating with the creditor or debt collector about the bill you owe, and notes that a smaller repayment amount may make repayment easier. MyCreditUnion.gov gives the same advice: talk with your creditors to negotiate more time to pay bills. Call before the due date, explain the slow month, and ask what they can offer.
Step 3: look for local help
MyCreditUnion.gov suggests contacting your state or local government to see if emergency assistance programs are available. The CFPB adds that some employers, nonprofit organizations and community groups offer advances or emergency credit. If you also hold a job alongside the side business, ask your employer about an advance.
Step 4: family or friends you trust
Both the CFPB and MyCreditUnion.gov list help from family or friends. If you go this way, agree the amount and the date you will pay it back, and write it down so nobody is left guessing.
Step 5: a credit union loan
If you have been a member of a federal credit union for at least one month, you may be able to get a Payday Alternative Loan. MyCreditUnion.gov says PALs range from $200 to $1,000, run one to six months, and carry a maximum APR of 28%, with an application fee of up to $20. Our guide on joining a credit union to borrow a small amount has the details.
Step 6: a lower rate credit card
MyCreditUnion.gov suggests shopping for a credit offer with lower costs, like a low rate credit card. The CFPB puts credit card APRs at about 12 to 30 percent, far below a typical payday loan.
Step 7: a short term loan, last
The CFPB gives this example: borrow $300 with a typical fee of $15 per $100, and you pay back $345 in a couple of weeks. If the loan is rolled over, you pay the $45 fee again and still owe $345. That is why this step comes last.
If the steps above do not cover the gap, eFundingFlow can send one request for $100 to $5,000 to lenders in its network. It is free to ask and you are never obliged to accept. Read the APR, the fees and the payback date before you say yes.
After the slow month
The CFPB suggests that if you expect a tax refund or an increase in income, you could use it to start saving for the next emergency. For a side business, setting part of each good week aside can soften the next quiet one.
Quick answers
Is side business income counted by lenders?
Each lender sets its own rules on what income it accepts. If you send a request, answer honestly about all your income; the lender decides.
Should I take a loan to cover a timing gap?
Try the cheaper steps first. A later due date or a smaller payment often costs less than any loan.
Related reading: Ranking payday loan alternatives by APR.