In the United States, commercial finance is the function of offering loan

Loan

A loan is a type of debt. Like all debt instruments, a loan entails the redistribution of financial assets over time, between the lender and the borrower....

s to business

Business

A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...

es. Commercial financing is generally offered by a bank or other lender. Most commercial banks offer commercial financing, and the loans are either secured by business asset

Asset

In financial accounting, assets are economic resources. Anything tangible or intangible that is capable of being owned or controlled to produce value and that is held to have positive economic value is considered an asset...

s or alternatively can be unsecured, where the lender relies of the cash flows of the business to repay the facility.

Assets used to collatoralize commercial finance loans include:

• Real Estate
• Receivables from invoices
• Equipment or supplies

While qualifying for financing is generally easier for large, well established companies, some small businesses can qualify for commercial financing from the Small Business Administration

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...

 (SBA). The SBA may provide either financing or insure a lender who takes a risk on a smaller company to provide commercial finance.

Businesses can also seek the assistance of Commercial finance advisors in the structuring and sourcing of commercial finance.