Is Shield Funding legit?
Yes, Shield Funding — a brand owned and operated by New York-based Ascendancy Corp. — is a legitimate business loan broker founded in 2008. To date, it’s helped more than 2,500 businesses acquire funding to the tune of over $1 billion.
It uses multiple measures to secure your data, including SSL encryption and authentication procedures to protect your information from theft, fraud or misuse. Unlike some lenders, Shield Funding doesn’t sell your personal data, but it may share some info with its partners. You can view its privacy policy on its website.
What makes Shield Funding shine?
Shield Funding stands out by offering loans to startup businesses and those with poor credit. By contrast, many business lenders require good-to-excellent credit scores and at least two years in business to qualify. Shield Funding could be a great option for business financing as long as you meet its minimum revenue requirements.
It also offers a variety of loan types, including business lines of credit, debt consolidation, short-term loans and business cash advances. Some loan types require higher credit scores than others, but there’s a loan type for business owners with a wide range of scores.
Where Shield Funding falls short
Rates can get a little high on some financing options, as much as 49% on certain loan types, especially if you don’t have the best credit. However, Shield offers refinancing, meaning you might be able to qualify for a lower rate down the road.
Shield Funding also has relatively short loan terms — three to 36 months — compared to some lenders that offer loan terms up to 25 years. So, if you need longer-term financing, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
How Shield Funding compares to other lenders
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What is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches 12+ types of business loans across 35+ lenders. It takes into account the product’s interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate – this gives you a simple score out of 10.
To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you’re comparing the best business loans for startups loans, you can see how each business loan stacks up against other business loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.
Read the full Finder Score breakdown
Shield Funding loan details
| Minimum credit score/credit range | 500 |
| APR | 5% to 49% |
| Loan amount | $5,000 to $1 million |
| Terms | 3 to 36 months |
| Approval turnaround | As soon as same-day |
| Availability | Available in all states (in California d/b/a Ascendancy Corp.West) |
| Fees | Varies by lender, but may include:
|
| Other fees | Unknown |
Shield Funding contact info
| Phone number | 888-870-2363 |
| Customer service hours | Weekdays: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| sales@shieldfunding.com | |
| X, formerly Twitter | @shieldfunding |
| @shieldfunding |
How to qualify for Shield Funding
Here are the basic requirements to qualify for a Shield Funding business loan:
- At least four months in business
- $10,000 in monthly gross revenues
- 500 minimum credit score
- At least two monthly deposits
The minimum credit score to apply is 500, but you may need 600 or higher to qualify for certain loan options.
How to apply
You can apply online or by phone. A loan specialist will work with you to explore your options and find the best deal for your business.
- Fill out the loan application. You can fill out the online application or call and have a loan representative walk you through it.
- Get preapproved. Shield Funding should contact you within a few hours to discuss your loan options.
- Final steps. If you decide to proceed, submit the required documentation and (typically) undergo a hard credit check.
- Get funded. Shield claims you could receive funding as soon as the same day you apply or within five days.
Shield Funding reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited |
Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating |
A+ |
| BBB customer reviews |
1 out of 5 stars, based on 7 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score |
4.9 out of 5 stars, based on 704 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of |
29 May 2025 |
There are very few reviews or complaints on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but there are a few reports of unprofessional loan representatives and inconsistent rate quotes. But Shield Funding provided detailed responses to each reviewer, and its two complaints have been closed.
The company earns 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Customers praise good communication, attention to detail, fair rates and fast funding. A few reviewers cited poor customer service, high rates and the inability to refinance.
What do people on Reddit say?
There isn’t much talk about Shield Funding on Reddit. But a few months ago, someone posted asking for advice on finding an unsecured line of credit (LOC). One respondent said they’d recently gotten an LOC from Shield, and it was quick and easy, with funding the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to get approved for a loan through Shield Funding?
Probably. The company says it has a “very high approval rate.” If you have poor credit, you’ll most likely be steered toward a merchant cash advance (MCA), so you’ll need the revenue to qualify, but your credit score won’t be as much of a factor.
How do repayments work with Shield Funding?
For most loan options, you’re required to make weekly or daily repayments.
Is Shield Funding a direct lender?
No. Shield is a loan broker. It works with direct lenders to fulfill your business financing needs.
