When applying for business financing, one of the most common concerns is whether the process will affect your credit score. Traditional lenders often perform hard credit pulls as part of the loan application, which can reduce your score and appear on your credit report for other lenders to see. However, many modern lenders now offer soft credit pulls during the initial stages. These allow them to review your creditworthiness without impacting your score. This means that when you’re just exploring your options or comparing rates, you can do so without worrying about any negative effect on your credit. That kind of transparency and flexibility can make the financing process far less stressful and more empowering.

That’s why Scout Lending now uses soft credit pulls during the pre-qualification process. This update gives business owners the ability to review tailored loan options and take the first step toward funding, without any effect on their credit score.

What Is a Soft Credit Pull?

A soft credit pull, also known as a soft inquiry, is a type of credit check that allows lenders to view a limited portion of your credit report without affecting your score. It provides general information about your creditworthiness, such as your credit history, payment behavior, and existing accounts, but does not include detailed data used for full loan underwriting.

Soft credit pulls are typically used for:

• Pre-qualifying loan applicants
• Providing rate estimates
• Performing background checks
• Generating pre-approval offers

Unlike a hard credit pull, which can lower your credit score by a few points and is visible to other lenders, a soft pull is not recorded on your credit report in a way that affects your score or public visibility. This makes it an ideal tool for exploring financing without risk.

Soft Credit Pull vs. Hard Credit Pull: Key Differences

Here’s how soft and hard credit inquiries compare:

Soft Credit Pull

• Does not affect your credit score
• Not visible to other lenders on your credit report
• May not require full borrower consent
• Used for pre-qualifications, background checks, and rate shopping
• Ideal for early-stage loan exploration
• Used by Scout Lending to help you view funding options safely

Hard Credit Pull

• May lower your credit score slightly (typically 3–5 points)
• Visible to other lenders and credit agencies
• Requires borrower consent
• Used for formal loan applications and approvals
• Appropriate when you’re ready to proceed with a specific funding option
• May be used by Scout Lending only after you accept and move forward with a loan

Why This Matters for Business Owners

As a business owner, you’re often balancing multiple priorities, from managing cash flow to evaluating growth opportunities. The last thing you need is to damage your credit score just by researching financing options.

Soft credit pulls give you the flexibility to:

• Explore available loan options without a credit score impact
• Understand what you may qualify for before committing
• Compare terms and make informed decisions in a low-pressure environment

By using a soft pull, Scout Lending ensures that your credit health remains protected while we identify the right funding solution for your business.

How It Works at Scout Lending

Our pre-qualification process is designed to be quick, secure, and credit-safe:

1. Submit a Short Application – Provide basic business and financial information online.
2. We Perform a Soft Credit Pull – Our team reviews your credit profile without affecting your score.
3. You Receive Loan Options – Based on your profile, we present offers that align with your needs.
4. Proceed When You’re Ready – If you choose to move forward, a hard credit pull may be conducted for final approval with your full consent.

Our Commitment to Transparent Lending

At Scout Lending, we’re committed to helping business owners grow with clarity and confidence. That’s why we’ve incorporated soft credit pulls into our process to remove barriers, build trust, and give you the tools to succeed.

You deserve the opportunity to explore your financing options without compromising your credit score or feeling pressured to commit before you’re ready. Soft credit pulls allow us to honor that commitment while still delivering accurate, customized solutions.

Explore Your Options, Without the Credit Risk.

Now that soft credit pulls are part of our process, there’s no reason to delay exploring the funding your business needs. You can check your options, compare offers, and take the next step toward growth, all with zero impact on your credit score.

Start your application today. No obligation, no risk, just smart, strategic lending.