How we picked
Filtered to lenders with documented HVAC and trade-contractor track records. Equipment lenders that fund HVAC service vehicles and shop equipment are ranked alongside working-capital lenders comfortable with seasonal revenue patterns. SBA included for established multi-truck operators.
Top picks at a glance
| Lender | Best for | Amount | Speed | Min credit | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon Funding | Best equipment financing for HVAC trucks + tools | $5,000 – $1,000,000 | Funding in 1 – 5 business days | 550+ | Apply → |
| Crest Capital | Best for combined truck + equipment packages | $5,000 – $1,000,000 | Approval in 4 hours; funding 1 – 3 days | 650+ | Apply → |
| Credibly | Best fast working capital for seasonal bridges | $5K – $600K | As fast as 4 hours | 550+ | Apply → |
| Rapid Finance | Best for equipment + working capital under one roof | $5K – $1M (across products) | Same-day to 3 days | 600+ | Apply → |
| OnDeck | Best term loan + LOC for established contractors | $5K – $400K (term); $6K – $200K (LOC) | Same-day for approved files | 600+ | Apply → |
| Live Oak Bank | Best SBA for HVAC acquisition or shop expansion | $25,000 – $25,000,000+ | 30 – 90 days underwriting (SBA standard) | 680+ typical | Apply → |
Advertiser disclosure: Fundnode may earn referral fees from funders listed on this page when you apply through us. This does not affect editorial rankings — see our methodology.
Detailed reviews — our 6 picks
#1 · Best equipment financing for HVAC trucks + tools
Beacon Funding
Max amount
$1,000,000
Cost
APR 8 – 25%
Speed
Funding in 1 – 5 business days
Min credit
550+
Why we picked it
Equipment lender that comfortably finances HVAC service trucks, recovery machines, vacuum pumps, manifolds, and shop equipment. 550+ credit acceptable, 10-20% down typical. Section 179 friendly for end-of-year equipment purchases.
The strength
Equipment financing with broader industry acceptance than larger competitors. Will fund specialty equipment (food trucks, photography gear, fitness equipment, salon equipment). Lower credit threshold (550+).
The watch-out
Higher rates than bank equipment financing for prime credit. Smaller deal cap. Industry specialization can mean less depth in any single vertical.
Qualifications
12 months
$10,000+
550+
#2 · Best for combined truck + equipment packages
Crest Capital
Max amount
$1,000,000
Cost
APR 7 – 22%
Speed
Approval in 4 hours; funding 1 – 3 days
Min credit
650+
Why we picked it
Will bundle service truck financing with shop equipment and diagnostic tools into a single facility. 600+ credit, 24+ months operating typical. Application-only up to $250K means no full financials needed for most contractors.
The strength
Online-first equipment financing — application to funding in 1-3 days for clean files. Strong commercial vehicle program. Section 179 tax-deduction-friendly structures.
The watch-out
Higher credit + TIB requirements (650+, 24+ months). Equipment-only. Limited to specific equipment categories.
Qualifications
24 months
$10,000+
650+
#3 · Best fast working capital for seasonal bridges
Credibly
Max amount
$600K
Cost
Factor 1.11+ (MCA)
Speed
As fast as 4 hours
Min credit
550+
Why we picked it
550+ credit, 6+ months TIB, $15K+/mo revenue. Multi-product (MCA + LOC + term) means you can use LOC for predictable seasonal bridging and term for larger expansion — cheaper structure than MCA for both.
The strength
March 2026 API V2 + Cloudsquare integration — most modern submission UX in MCA. $3B+ deployed, 60K+ SMBs. Publishes factor rates honestly (starting 1.11 for A-paper).
The watch-out
The 1.11 headline is the A-paper floor; average factor is closer to 1.32. ISO commission terms aren't public.
Qualifications
6 months
$15,000
550+
#4 · Best for equipment + working capital under one roof
Rapid Finance
Max amount
$1M (across products)
Cost
Up to 5% of financing per archived partner page
Speed
Same-day to 3 days
Min credit
600+
Why we picked it
Equipment financing AND working capital from a single underwriter. Reduces friction for HVAC contractors needing both at once (e.g., new install truck + cash for materials). 550+ credit, 6+ months operating.
The strength
Most explicit embedded-lending narrative in our list. Partners with vertical SaaS platforms (POS, payroll, accounting). Strong product diversification.
The watch-out
Public ISO commission ceilings lower than Greenbox or Accord. Less broker-friendly for new ISOs.
Qualifications
12 months
$10,000
600+
#5 · Best term loan + LOC for established contractors
OnDeck
Max amount
$400K (term); $6K
Cost
Term APR 27%+
Speed
Same-day for approved files
Min credit
600+
Why we picked it
Term loans and revolving LOC for HVAC operators with 12+ months TIB, 625+ credit, $8K+/mo revenue. LOC structure fits HVAC's project-based draw pattern (draw for material, repay on customer pay-out).
The strength
Direct-lender brand trust. Same-day funding on approved files. Term loan product fills the gap between SBA and MCA.
The watch-out
Their broker/ISO program has a high entry bar (2+ years, $1M+/mo volume). Most merchants access OnDeck directly, not via brokers.
Qualifications
12 months
$8,000
600+
#6 · Best SBA for HVAC acquisition or shop expansion
Live Oak Bank
Max amount
$25,000,000+
Cost
SBA 7(a) APR prime + 2.75% to 4.75%
Speed
30 – 90 days underwriting (SBA standard)
Min credit
680+ typical
Why we picked it
SBA 7(a) for buying an established HVAC business, opening a second location, or purchasing a shop building. $250K-$5M typical. Prime + 2.75-4.75% APR dramatically cheaper than alt-fin for 5+ year capital needs.
The strength
Largest SBA 7(a) lender in the US by dollar volume for 7+ consecutive years. Industry-specialty teams (veterinary, dental, funeral homes, self-storage, agriculture, hotels). Deep understanding of niche-vertical underwriting. Dramatically cheaper than MCA for qualifying merchants.
The watch-out
Long underwriting timeline (45-90 days typical). Requires strong credit (680+), 2+ years operating, clean financials. Industries outside their specialty get less attention.
Qualifications
24 months
$20,000+
680+ typical
Frequently asked questions
- Can I finance HVAC equipment with bad credit?
- Yes — Beacon Funding accepts 550+ credit on equipment-secured financing because the truck or unit serves as collateral. Expect 15-30% down vs 10% for higher credit. Smarter Finance USA and Currency Capital are alternatives if Beacon declines. Equipment financing is almost always cheaper than MCA for the same dollar amount.
- How do HVAC contractors handle seasonal slow periods?
- Best structure: pre-arranged line of credit during peak season (Credibly LOC, OnDeck LOC, Fundbox), drawn during the slow shoulder season. Avoid taking a one-shot MCA in the slow season — daily ACH against slow-season deposits is exactly when MCA reconciliation problems happen. Set up the LOC during summer/winter peaks when underwriting offers are strongest.
- Will lenders fund a single-truck HVAC operation?
- Yes for working capital — Credibly, OnDeck, Greenbox all fund single-truck operators at 6-12+ months TIB. Equipment financing for a second truck typically needs 12-24 months operating history. SBA generally wants 24+ months and multiple revenue trucks before approving.
- What's the typical funding for an HVAC business acquisition?
- $400K-$2M typical via SBA 7(a) for established HVAC service businesses with recurring service contracts. Live Oak Bank and Byline Bank are the most active HVAC acquisition lenders. 10-15% down, 10-year amortization on goodwill/equipment, 25-year on real estate. Service-contract base materially improves underwriting.
Related reading
Methodology
How we chose
Ranking criteria
- Use-case fit — funder must qualify the merchant profile this page targets (credit, time-in-business, revenue, industry).
- Pricing transparency — published factor-rate or APR-equivalent disclosure outweighs marketing-only quotes.
- Speed-to-fund — verified time from signed contract to ACH deposit, not 'as fast as' marketing claims.
- Contract terms — daily/weekly debit structure, prepayment treatment, COJ / personal guarantee posture.
- Customer-experience signals — BBB profile, Trustpilot, ISO chatter, and direct merchant feedback collected via Fundnode applications.
Sources consulted
- Funder-published rate cards, contract templates, and disclosure pages (refreshed quarterly).
- Public regulatory filings — California DFPI commercial-financing disclosures, New York commercial-financing disclosure law filings.
- Direct merchant feedback collected through Fundnode's /qualify funnel (n > 200 since 2026-01).
- ISO desk operator interviews — anonymized commentary on approval patterns and stipulations.
Update cadence
Reviewed quarterly. Last updated 2026-06-24.
Conflict of interest
Fundnode may earn referral fees from funders listed on this page when merchants apply through us. Rankings are editorial and independent of fee economics — funders cannot pay for placement.