There is an alternative to applying for loans from a bank. If you only need a little funding or you are not fully set-up as business yet, then you may want to check out these sites where people (friends and strangers alike) can loan small amounts to you.

Lendingclub.com has a Facebook application where borrowers are linked with lenders who share similar interests.

At Prosper.com loans can be up to 25,000 so they are oftern for start-up businesses.

Virgin Money “facilitates loans between people who already trust each other.

Zopa is a UK-based personal listing/lending service which will be coming to the US soon.