Founded in 1999 and headquartered in San Diego, California, National Funding is one of the country's largest private small business lenders. The firm has funded more than $3 billion to over 50,000 customers and operates as a direct lender rather than a marketplace, which means HVAC contractors deal with National Funding's own underwriters and funding team from application to close.
Two products matter most for HVAC operators. Small business loans range from $5,000 to $500,000 with fixed daily or weekly payments, giving owners predictable repayments that align with how home-services businesses actually collect. Equipment financing runs from $5,000 to $150,000 and covers service vans, rooftop units, split systems, and diagnostic tools, with typical terms of 2 to 5 years. National Funding markets an early-payoff discount that reduces total interest for contractors who retire the loan ahead of schedule, which is a differentiated benefit in a segment where most lenders charge prepayment penalties.
Because National Funding is a direct lender with nearly three decades of operating history, credit decisions are fast and the underwriting team understands trades seasonality. The company operates in all 50 states, carries an A+ BBB rating, and an "excellent" Trustpilot rating based on more than 2,000 customer reviews, making it a mainstream pick for HVAC shops that want a known alt-lender brand without going through a broker.