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Best Merchant Cash Advance Companies of 2024

Becky Hanson

If you’re running a business, you’ve undoubtedly considered increasing its cash flow. One way to do that is by using a merchant cash advance company. These companies provide emergency funding to companies needing cash for expenses like payroll and vendor payments.

No prepayment and origination fees

$2,000 - $250,0001

Loan Amount

12 months1

Time In Business

at least $3,0001

Avg. Monthly Revenue

6601

Min. Credit Score

Overview

If you require cash due to a cash flow shortfall or have a less than perfect credit score, American Express Business Blueprint™ could be a promising option.

What we like

  • Borrowers with fair credit can apply
  • No prepayment penalties
  • Streamlined application journey
  • No origination fees

What we don't

  • Late payment fees are applicable
  • Short repayment terms
  • Business assets required

1All businesses are unique and are subject to approval and review.

Range of a business loans available

$5,000,000

Max. Loan Amount

12+ months

Time In Business

$16,000+

Monthly Revenue

620

Min. Credit Score

Overview

Fundera does not lend money directly but offers a digital marketplace where you can connect with lenders to provide a financing solution for your business.

What we like

  • Range of business loans
  • Funding advisor available
  • Soft credit pull
  • Fast application process

What we don't

  • Eligibility criteria varies between lenders
  • Fees vary between lenders

Business loans tailored to your needs

$500,000

Max. Loan Amount

6+ months

Time In Business

$10,000+

Monthly Revenue

600

Min. Credit Score

Overview

National Funding offers small businesses working capital and equipment financing loans that are suitable for a broad range of businesses, and you could receive approval and funding within 24 hours.

What we like

  • Early payoff discounts
  • Fast approval and funding
  • High approval rates for loan applications
  • Personalized experience

What we don't

  • Daily or weekly repayment
  • High minimum annual revenue

Considers applicants with bad credit profiles

$500,000

Max. Loan Amount

6+ months

Time In Business

$8,000+

Monthly Revenue

500

Min. Credit Score

Overview

Uplyft Capital provides fast funding turnarounds and a straightforward online application process.

What we like

  • Bad credit businesses are eligible
  • Fast funding turnaround
  • Transparent factor rates
  • Simple online application process
  • Range of funding options

What we don't

  • High factor rate
  • Daily or weekly repayment
  • Low revenue businesses do not qualify

What is a merchant cash advance?

A merchant cash advance (MCA) is a business loan that allows companies to pay for their day-to-day expenses, such as employee salaries, office supplies, and other costs. In exchange for the loan, the lender takes a percentage of your daily credit card sales as repayment.

The popularity of merchant cash advances has grown tremendously over the last few years, thanks to easy access to funding through online lenders. However, there are some things that you should know before applying for this type of financing.

How merchant cash advances work

Merchant cash advances (MCA) are financing that allows businesses to receive a lump sum of money upfront. The borrowed amount is paid back over time, usually between six months and two years. The MCA is typically used to cover the costs of equipment or inventory, but it can also be used for other purposes such as paying off debt or improving working capital.

Advance amount

The advance amount is the total amount the business receives from the lender. It is typically repaid within an agreed-upon time frame, which may include interest and fees.

Payback amount

The payback amount is the total amount that must be paid back by the company to the lender at the end of the loan term. This includes the principal, interest payments, and other fees associated with your MCA agreement.

Holdback

Some MCAs require cash from future sales until all costs have been covered by earnings from those sales and any additional funds provided by the lender. This process is called holdback, which helps ensure that your business has sufficient funds to repay its debts without borrowing additional money from another source.

What are the requirements for a merchant cash advance?

These are the guidelines that your business must meet to qualify for a 

merchant cash advance.

1+ years in business

Merchant cash advances are designed for established businesses with at least one year of operating history. This allows the lender to verify that your business is stable and has enough cash flow to repay their loan.

$50,000+ in annual revenue

The minimum annual revenue requirement for most merchant cash advances is $50,000. The lender needs to see that your business generates enough revenue to pay back their loan plus interest on time each month.

500 minimum credit score

Many lenders require a minimum credit score of 500 or higher before granting an application for a merchant cash advance. This can make it more difficult for some businesses to qualify for financing because they don’t have enough operating history or revenue.

Financial statements

You’ll need to provide recent financial statements, including your most recent balance sheet and profit and loss statement (profit and loss statement). These documents show how much money your business makes and how much it owes on its current debts.

Recent credit card processing statements 

You’ll also need to provide recent credit card processing statements showing how much you’re charging customers each month and how much money you’re making from their payments. This information helps lenders determine whether they will approve your application.

Business tax returns 

Most lenders will also want copies of your federal, state, and local tax returns from the past few years to ensure your business has not been operating at a loss for an extended period.

What do merchant cash advance companies charge?

Merchant cash advance providers deduct a daily (or weekly) percentage —typically around 10%— of debit and credit card sales until the amount is repaid in full. In contrast to other business loans, merchant cash advances don’t have typical repayment terms. Instead, the business owner repays the advance in full once their revenue exceeds the advance amount.

There’s no set time frame for paying back a merchant cash advance. The cost of borrowing funds from a merchant cash advance provider is determined by how much money you need and how much your business makes in transaction fees.

For example, if you borrow $25,000 at an annual interest rate of 8% with a term of two years, your monthly payment would be $1,500 ($1,000 principal plus $500 interest). However, suppose the same loan was made through a merchant cash advance provider without any set repayment schedule. In that case, you’d pay 10% on every transaction processed through your business until the entire amount is paid off.

How to use merchant financing to grow your business

Here are ways you might be able to use merchant financing to grow your business:

Purchasing inventory

Merchant cash advances are often used to purchase inventory. A merchant cash advance is an advance given to a business that has been preapproved for a line of credit. This type of funding is ideal for businesses that sell products on consignment or require upfront capital for inventory. If you need $10,000 to buy new inventory, this type of loan may be your answer!

Purchasing equipment

Equipment financing refers to using a loan to purchase equipment for your business, such as computers, printers, furniture, and more. This financing is ideal if you need money for new equipment but don’t want it in your bank account or don’t have enough cash flow yet. 

Cash flow relief

Merchant financing provides immediate cash flow relief for startups and small businesses that need money now but don’t have access to traditional bank loans. Without merchant financing, these companies would have to resort to high-interest credit card debt or other expensive sources of capital. With merchant financing, they can grow their business without worrying about paying off debt every month.

Marketing support

Merchant financing enables businesses to purchase marketing materials and services such as signage, website development, and other marketing tools that help them get the word out about their products or services. The funds can also be used to create promotional campaigns to build brand awareness among potential customers who may not have heard of your business before.

Hire more employees

If you’re like most small business owners, one of your biggest challenges is finding enough qualified employees. Merchant financing allows you to hire more staff members and increase productivity without worrying about cash flow issues.

Pay for unforeseen expenses

Sometimes unexpected expenses arise that can put a dent in your monthly budget. When this happens, merchant financing allows you to pay for those costs without worrying about having enough cash on hand to cover them. You don’t have to wait until next month’s payday arrives or take out a personal loan just because an emergency arises.

How to find the best merchant cash advance service

Here are some tips to help you find the best merchant cash advance service:

Check qualifications

Before doing anything else, ensure that your business qualifies for an MCA. Many businesses do not qualify because they have bad credit or are not yet established enough to show revenue history. If your business is too new, consider applying for a traditional loan instead of an MCA because it may be easier to qualify.

Read reviews and testimonials

The best way to find the best merchant cash advance service is by reading reviews from other businesses that have used their services in the past. You can find reviews on most major websites and blogs about merchant cash advances, but you should also look deeper into the review sites themselves. If a site has been around for a long time and has thousands of reviews, it’s probably worth looking at.

Compare rates

Before applying for a merchant cash advance, it’s essential to ensure you’re getting the best rate possible. The rates vary quite drastically between companies, so comparing them is necessary before deciding which one to use. An excellent place to start is with Merchant Cash Advance Pro, an easy-to-use tool that lets you compare the top providers.

Call and ask questions

Before signing up for a merchant cash advance, call the company and ask questions about the service. How much does it cost? What terms do you offer? What kind of credit score do I need? These questions help determine whether or not a merchant cash advance is right for your business.

Check the contract

Look over your contract before signing it with any merchant cash advance lender. Make sure that it includes all the information you discussed with them on the phone, including interest rate, repayment schedule, and fee,s charged for late payments or other problems that may occur during repayment. If anything is missing or unclear, ask for an explanation before you sign anything.

Conclusion

Merchant cash advances are one the fastest and safest methods to get your business funded fast. If you have a bad credit rating, it can seem almost impossible to find lenders, but merchant cash advance companies are willing to lend to all types of businesses.