Gone are the days when you can walk into a bank and get a loan based on good rapport with a loan officer. But today the banking industry isn't willing to spend the time — or to undertake the risk — in issuing loans this way.

Today banks focus primarily on personal credit scores. If you have a checkered credit history, big banks won't be your best bet for funding your business. Not only will you almost certainly be denied, but each inquiry into your credit may actually lower your credit score. Here are some alternatives to big banks to fund your business:

Local lenders
Community lenders and regional or local banks are more likely to consider other factors in addition to your personal credit score, such as your business credit score. Your business credit score is determined by similar factors as your personal credit — outstanding debt balance on credit accounts, bill payment history — but is associated with your business's tax ID number, not your Social Security number.