The days when a bank would lend to small businesses on the strength of a good business plan are gone. While private investors may still take on that kind of risk, financial institutions do not. It would be much more accurate to say that ‘Lines of credit are relatively easy to get – if you have collateral’. No bank or large financial institution will give you a line of credit unless you have some easy to liquidate asset such as real estate.  In addition, your credit score and business cash flow will be taken in to account.  Finally, most lenders will require that you have been in business for at least 2 years.