An unsecured loan, sometimes referred to as a signature loan or a merchant loan, is a special type of financing available to business that is different from traditional lending. Instead of requiring collateral to obtain financing, unsecured lending uses several other factors to judge the eligibility of a loan applicant. These could include things such as your credit score and sales records from the business. This type of financing may be advisable for small business owners who do not want to risk their personal collateral in order to obtain the financing they need. Since the loan requirements differ from traditional bank loans, the interest rates and speed of approval can be much different. Oftentimes these merchant loans are reviewed and approved in a very short time frame, making them ideal for anyone who is in need of immediate capital.