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Credibly logo representing business financing and lending services.
Credibly logo representing business financing and lending services.
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Merchant cash advance for small business

Secure the business capital you need to drive your business with a merchant cash advance.

Trusted by:

Trusted By

Trust Pilot

Loan Amount

$3+
Billion in financing

time to fund
Funding
As fast as 4 hours

Credibly logo representing business financing and loan services.

Approval
As fast as 2 hours

INTEREST RATE

55,000+
Small businesses financed

How a merchant cash advance works

A merchant cash advance (MCA) is an alternative financing option for small business owners who need liquid capital fast.

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Where the money comes from

A merchant cash advance is a purchase of a portion of your future receivables. Credibly provides a lump sum of capital upfront in exchange for a set amount from your future sales.

Because remittances are tied to your revenue history rather than a fixed repayment schedule, MCAs can be a great option for businesses with variable or seasonal sales, like restaurants or retail stores.

Requirements to qualify

What it’s used for

An MCA lets you advance your business with additional capital — whatever that means for you.

  • Purchase equipment, inventory, or supplies
  • Cover payroll
  • Invest in marketing or advertising
  • Finance additional overhead for peak times
  • Cover costs for a short-term project or repair emergencies

The capital from a small business cash advance is yours to use for any business purpose.

cash advance for small business

How it works

Like a working capital loan, a Credibly Merchant Cash Advance gives you immediate access to capital you can put to work right away. The key difference is in how your remittance is structured.

With a loan, payments are sized to a repayment schedule; the amount is fixed to the terms of the agreement, regardless of how your business is doing month to month. With a Credibly MCA, your daily or weekly remittance is calculated based on your actual revenue at the time of approval, so the amount reflects what your business can realistically support.

Remittances are withdrawn automatically via ACH, daily or weekly. If your actual sales in a given month fall short of projections, Credibly’s reconciliation process allows you to request a credit for any overage back to your account.1

Benefits of a small business cash advance

A small business cash advance gives you room to act on opportunities by tapping into your future receivables. By accessing capital from your future receivables, you can invest in your business today and remit as your sales come in.

Predictable remittances

The daily or weekly remittance amount is set at approval and stays the same for the life of the agreement. If a previous month came in slower than expected, you can request a credit for the difference.1

Fast funding

Approval for an MCA can happen in as fast as 2 hours, with funds available as fast as 4 hours after approval.1

No collateral or personal guaranty required

You don’t have to put up property, equipment, or personal assets to qualify. Your future receivables secure the advance.

Transparent, fixed cost

Your total cost is set at approval using a factor rate and does not compound, so you know exactly how much you owe from day one.

Less stringent credit requirements

MCAs offer more lenient credit score requirements than traditional loans.

With a Credibly Merchant Cash Advance, you can access:

  • Business financing from $5,000 to $600,000
  • Terms from 3–24 months1
  • Factor rates as low as 1.112
  • Automatic daily or weekly remittances
Partner with Credibly for small business financing

Who qualifies for a merchant cash advance

Qualifying for MCAs is simpler and faster than traditional loans. Even if your small business doesn’t meet the qualifications for traditional financing products, a merchant cash advance may still provide an accessible option.

To qualify for a Credibly Merchant Cash Advance, your business needs to meet a few basic criteria:

  • At least 6 months in business
  • Minimum $20,000 in average monthly revenue
  • A credit score of 550 or higher
  • U.S.-based operations
  • Revenue deposited into a bank account

Merchant cash advance vs loans and other financing options

A merchant cash advance is not a loan, but a sale of a portion of future receivables for money you can use right away. Depending on the nature and needs of your business, an MCA can offer advantages over traditional loans and other financing options. When choosing the right financing option for your business, consider:

  • What you need the capital for, and how quickly
  • How consistent your sales are, and what your slower months look like
  • The total cost of the advance and how it fits your cash flow
  • The credit score and documentation required to qualify

To make things simpler, let’s compare three common financing options for small businesses: merchant cash advances, working capital loans, and business lines of credit.

Feature Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) Working Capital Loan (WCL) Business Line of Credit (LOC)
Usage

Businesses with fluctuating sales or in need of quick cash.

Businesses looking for predictable and manageable repayments to cover short-term expenses.

Businesses looking for flexible, on-demand access to funds on a recurring basis.
Eligibility Requirements
  • At least 6 months in business
  • $20,000+ in average monthly sales
  • Credit score of 550+
  • At least 6 months in business
  • $20,000+ in average monthly sales
  • Credit score of 550+
  • At least 6 months in business
  • $20,000+ in average monthly sales
  • Credit score of 700+
Approval Speed

As fast as 2 hours1

As fast as 2 hours1

As fast as 4 hours1
Funding Speed

As fast as 4 hours1

As fast as 4 hours1

As fast as 24 hours1
Remittance Structure

Fixed daily or weekly ACH transfer sized to your revenue at approval; monthly reconciliation available if actual sales fall below projections1

Fixed daily or weekly payments depending on the loan terms

Flexible, revolving credit with weekly or monthly payments
Financing Amount

$5,000 – $600,000

$25,000 – $600,000

$25,000 – $300,000
Collateral

Percentage of future receivables

No collateral required for unsecured loans

No collateral required for unsecured LOCs
Factor/interest rates

Factor rates as low as 1.112

Factor rates as low as 1.112

Rates vary by deal3

If you’re not sure which financing option is right for your business, Credibly can help you estimate your financing costs to find the most appropriate solution.

Business professional holding documents in office for bridge loan solutions.

Why choose Credibly as your financing provider

Credibly provides fast and flexible financing solutions tailored to the unique needs of small businesses. As one of the leading merchant cash advance companies in the US, Credibly has helped over 55,000 small businesses leverage opportunities, scale effectively, and achieve their dreams.

We offer small business cash advances with achievable qualifications and a straightforward application process, with approvals and funding in hours. We don’t just rely on credit score: Our data-driven approach considers over 130 factors to create an accurate picture of your business’s health, which means more flexibility than you’d typically find with traditional financing.

In addition to MCAs, we offer a range of small business financing resources to help your company grow. We want to see you succeed.

  • Trusted and certified funding
    Credibly is SOC 2-certified. Our fast processes, trustworthy programs, and friendly experts are why we have a 4.8 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot.
  • Best-in-class customer service
    Credibly business experts are here from your first application through renewals and beyond, ready to help at every stage.
  • Effortless automatic remittances
    Remittances are withdrawn automatically from your bank account, so you can focus on running your business.

Visit our reviews to see how businesses use Credibly financing to take the next step in their growth.

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trusted by:

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Secured business loans

How to apply for a merchant cash advance

Ready to get started? You can explore your options without damaging your credit score. Easily apply for a merchant cash advance for a small business in 4 steps:

  • Apply online
    Click “Get Started” to apply for a merchant cash advance.
  • Gather required documents
    We require certain documents from you during the approval process. Be ready with bank statements and a government-issued ID to start.
  • Approval in as little as 2 hours1
    We’ll review your application and let you know if you’re approved in as little as 2 hours.
  • Receive funding in as little as 4 hours1
    If approved, your requested financing can be transferred to your bank account in as little as 4 hours.
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Frequently asked questions about merchant cash advances

Visit our full FAQ page

for more information about our small business financing services.

Merchant cash advances are purchases of future receivables for an upfront, discounted purchase price. Because they are true sales and do not come from a traditional bank, the cost is expressed as a factor rate, not an interest rate, and state usury and/or lending laws do not apply. With a factor rate, your total cost is fixed at approval; it does not compound over time, so what you owe on day one is exactly what you owe at the end. Applying for a merchant cash advance with Credibly involves a soft credit pull, which does not affect your credit score. Additionally, many of our financing solutions may help you build business credit over time. While other financing providers may perform hard credit inquiries that impact your FICO score, inquiring with Credibility will not affect your credit score in any way.
Cash advances are priced as a total cost of capital with fees and factor rates included. Factor rates are typically based on the risk associated with funding your business. Unlike many business loans, obtaining a merchant cash advance for a small business does not require you to provide any additional assets as collateral. This can be beneficial for smaller businesses that might not have major assets, like vehicles or real estate, to offer.
Each merchant cash advance provider has different criteria for approval, but most check your credit score before approving an application. Although small business cash advances are often attainable with credit scores that would disqualify you from traditional business loans, that doesn’t mean your credit score isn’t a factor. The Credibly MCA credit score requirement is 550.
Funds from a merchant cash advance can be used for many different business purposes, but since it is a type of short-term funding, an MCA is best used for covering temporary cash flow shortfalls. Small business owners use cash advances to buy inventory, pay employees, or make emergency repairs. Other uses include marketing expenses, purchasing equipment, and short-term expansion projects.
Credibly offers merchants an Early Remittance Discount. When you remit your full outstanding balance in a single lump sum, Credibly can reduce the factor (cost) component of your Amount Sold by 20%, allowing you to keep more capital in your business. This offer is subject to the terms and conditions of your Receivables Purchase Agreement. 4
Applying for a merchant cash advance for a small business is a much simpler process than applying for a traditional business loan. You’ll be asked to provide some basic information and documentation, such as:
  • Bank and credit card statements for the past 3–4 months
  • A copy of your business lease
  • Your business tax ID number
  • Your personal social security number
  • References
  • A copy of your driver’s license or another type of government-issued photo ID
  • A copy of your business tax returns
Applications can be approved in as fast as 2 hours, with funds deposited in your account as fast as 4 hours after your offer is signed. 1 To learn how much you qualify for, fill out our online application. Submission is free and easy and will not affect your credit score.

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Trustpilot

Credibly merchant cash advances and working capital loans to merchants in California are provided by Retail Capital LLC. All other Credibly products in all other jurisdictions are provided by Credibly or Arizona LLC. 

 

1 Financing terms are based on a good-faith estimate and assume consistent monthly revenue. Actual time to satisfy the MCA may vary.

2 Factor rates as low as 1.11.

3 Some products are made available through Credibly’s network of external funding partners.

4 This Early Remittance Discount Offer is subject to all terms and conditions of your Receivables Purchase Agreement. Discount applies to the factor portion only. Eligibility requires no Events of Default and a timely remittance history. Credibly reserves the right to require a wire transfer for early remittance and to verify the originating account and source of funds used for the Early Remittance Discount.