If your business already has regular inflows, you have a better chance of getting approved.

If you don’t have a registered business or transaction history, traditional bank SME loans become much harder to obtain. In that case, you might consider:

• A personal loan based on your salary or income.
• A digital business loan from a fintech if your business receives payments through supported platforms.
• Invoice financing or merchant cash advances if you sell to businesses or accept card/POS payments.

To advise you on the most realistic option, answer these questions:

1. Is your business registered with CAC?
2. Which bank do you currently use for your business?
3. How much do you need exactly—₦5 million or ₦10 million?
4. How quickly do you need the money—today, within 24 hours, or within a few days?

If your goal is today, I can narrow the options to lenders that have a realistic chance of same-day disbursement.