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6 Best Merchant Cash Advance Companies for 2024

By Randa Kriss
Last updated on February 29, 2024
Edited bySally Lauckner
✅Fact checked and reviewed

⏰ Estimated read time: 7 minutes

The best MCA companies are transparent about their products and how they work. However, consider other types of funding before turning to an MCA.

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Merchant cash advance companies provide you with an upfront sum of capital that you repay using a percentage of your debit and credit card sales, plus fees — otherwise known as a merchant cash advance, or MCA.
Generally, you’ll want to consider all other types of small-business loans before turning to an MCA because this product is expensive and can lead to a harmful cycle of debt. If you’re thinking about a merchant cash advance, however, it’s important to understand your options and know what to look for in a provider.
Here are our picks for merchant cash advance companies as well as tips to help you choose the best provider for your needs.

How much do you need?

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We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Here are 6 merchant cash advance companies

LenderNerdWallet Rating▼Max loan amount▼Min. credit score▼Next steps

Expansion Capital Group Merchant Cash Advance

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Best for Borrowers with bad credit

$300,000500

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Fora Financial Revenue Advance

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Best for Startups

$1,500,000570

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Libertas Funding Revenue-Based Advance

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Best for Established businesses

$5,000,000650

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Giggle Finance Merchant Cash Advance

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Best for Self-employed individuals

$5,000300

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Credibly Merchant Cash Advance

Best for Low starting factor rates

$400,000500

Reliant Funding Merchant Cash Advance

Best for Limited revenue

$400,000525

Here are 6 merchant cash advance companies

Best for Borrowers with bad credit

Expansion Capital Group

Max Amount

$300,000

Min. Credit Score

500

Best for Startups

Fora Financial

Max Amount

$1,500,000

Min. Credit Score

570

Best for Established businesses

Libertas Funding

Max Amount

$5,000,000

Min. Credit Score

650

Best for Self-employed individuals

Giggle Finance

Max Amount

$5,000

Min. Credit Score

300

Best for Low starting factor rates

Credibly

Max Amount

$400,000

Min. Credit Score

500

Best for Limited revenue

Reliant Funding

Max Amount

$400,000

Min. Credit Score

525

I'M INTERESTED IN:

Our pick for

Borrowers with bad credit

Expansion Capital Group provides funding to borrowers with a minimum credit score of 500 or higher.

Expansion Capital Group Merchant Cash Advance

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Max Loan Amount
$300,000
Min. credit score
500
Expansion Capital Group can provide fast and easy financing for newer businesses and borrowers with bad credit.

Max loan

$300,000

Min. Credit score

500

Expansion Capital Group can provide fast and easy financing for newer businesses and borrowers with bad credit.

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Our pick for

Startups

To qualify for a revenue advance from Fora Financial, you need a minimum of only six months in business.

Fora Financial Revenue Advance

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Max Loan Amount
$1,500,000
Min. credit score
570
Fora Financial has flexible qualification requirements and can offer large advance amounts.

Max loan

$1,500,000

Min. Credit score

570

Fora Financial has flexible qualification requirements and can offer large advance amounts.

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Our pick for

Established businesses

Libertas Funding requires that you have good credit and strong annual revenue to qualify.

Libertas Funding Revenue-Based Advance

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Max Loan Amount
$5,000,000
Min. credit score
650
Libertas can offer same-day funding for borrowers with good credit and strong business revenue.

Max loan

$5,000,000

Min. Credit score

650

Libertas can offer same-day funding for borrowers with good credit and strong business revenue.

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Our pick for

Self-employed individuals

Giggle Finance offers fast funding designed specifically for freelancers, contractors, online sellers and other self-employed individuals.

Giggle Finance Merchant Cash Advance

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Max Loan Amount
$5,000
Min. credit score
300
Giggle Finance provides capital to freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals.

Max loan

$5,000

Min. Credit score

300

Giggle Finance provides capital to freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals.

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Our pick for

Low starting factor rates

Credibly offers factor rates on its merchant cash advances that start as low as 1.11.

Credibly Merchant Cash Advance

Max Loan Amount
$400,000
Min. credit score
500
Credibly offers fast, flexible funding with low starting factor rates.

Max loan

$400,000

Min. Credit score

500

Credibly offers fast, flexible funding with low starting factor rates.

Our pick for

Limited revenue

You may be able to qualify for an MCA from Reliant Funding with a minimum of $5,000 in monthly revenue.

Reliant Funding Merchant Cash Advance

Max Loan Amount
$400,000
Min. credit score
525
You may be able to qualify for next-day funding from Reliant, even with bad credit or limited revenue.

Max loan

$400,000

Min. Credit score

525

You may be able to qualify for next-day funding from Reliant, even with bad credit or limited revenue.

How Much Do You Need?

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How to choose a merchant cash advance company

If you’re looking for a merchant cash advance, you’ll want to research and vet several companies before deciding which one is right for your business.
Some merchant cash advance companies have been criticized for confusing contracts and misleading sales tactics — leading businesses to fall victim to predatory lenders and cycles of expensive debt that are difficult to break.
Although some states have taken legal action to require transparency from MCA companies in recent years, bad actors still try to take advantage of business owners, promising things like “guaranteed approval” or “business loans with no credit check.”
Not all merchant cash advance companies are predatory, but it’s still important to watch for red flags — and look elsewhere if an offer doesn’t seem right.
As you compare MCA providers, consider these factors:

Funding availability

Merchant cash advance companies will have different maximum funding amounts. You should confirm that the provider’s requirements are in line with what you’re looking for. Some MCA companies also offer other types of financing — if you think you might be able to qualify for other options, you might explore those as well.

Costs of borrowing

MCA companies will charge fees as factor rates instead of annual percentage rates or simple interest rates. Factor rates can make it more difficult to understand borrowing costs, so you'll need to translate these rates into an APR, which can be done using an MCA calculator. Ask the merchant cash advance company if it charges additional fees and include those in your APR calculations as well.

Repayment options

Some providers will automatically take a percentage from your debit and credit card sales for repayment, while others will make automatic withdrawals from your business bank account. In addition, some companies may require daily or weekly repayments, while others will let you choose what works best for your business.

Qualification requirements

Compared with more traditional small-business lenders, merchant cash advance companies typically have flexible eligibility requirements. These companies will consider your personal credit score, time in business and annual revenue — but they’ll often be willing to work with startups and businesses facing credit challenges.
Many companies will also prioritize your debit and credit card sales or monthly bank activity when underwriting your application because you’ll be using your sales to repay your advance. The stronger your credentials, the lower the factor rate you’ll receive on funding.

Speed and application process

Most MCA companies offer simple applications with minimal documentation. You can usually apply and receive funding within a few business days. Some providers offer dedicated account managers to walk you through the process, which could be helpful if you prefer a more personalized experience.
» MORE: Compare the best fast business loans

Transparency and lender reputation

You’ll want to look for a merchant cash advance company that is upfront about its products and the way they work. Ideally, the company offers multiple ways for you to contact customer service — and you receive straightforward answers to your questions.
If you receive an MCA agreement from a provider, it should clearly lay out terms and conditions, fees and repayment information. In addition to talking to the company, reading reviews and reaching out to other business owners can help you verify the reputation and reliability of a merchant cash advance company.

Confession of judgment

Many MCA companies request or require you to sign a confession of judgment at closing, which is an agreement that allows an MCA company to file a judgment against you in court without letting you know. If you can, find out if your MCA company requires this document before you move forward with an application. If it is a requirement, that alone may be a reason to look elsewhere.

Alternatives to merchant cash advance companies

It’s worth exploring other options besides merchant cash advances, which can include:

Online lenders

If you need fast financing, or are struggling to qualify for a loan because of credit challenges, online lenders offer term loans that may be better options than an MCA. These short-term loans will have a set repayment period, and although they may require frequent payments, they won’t come directly from your debit and credit card sales.
These loans may also have a lower overall cost than MCAs and many lenders have reasonable credit score and time-in-business requirements.
» MORE: Best short-term business loans

Business lines of credit

If your primary need is revolving funding, you may consider a business line of credit before applying for an MCA. With a business line of credit, you only pay interest on the funds you use, similar to a credit card.
A business credit line can be useful for covering working capital needs, without requiring daily or weekly payments directly from your sales, like an MCA. Online lenders Headway Capital and Fundbox, for example, both offer lines of credit with flexible qualification requirements.

Invoice factoring

Business-to-business companies that are struggling to qualify for other loan options might consider invoice factoring.
Invoice factoring allows you to sell your unpaid invoices to a factoring company at a discount. You receive an advance of cash (up to 90% of the value of your invoices) and the factoring company takes responsibility for collecting repayment from your customers. Once your customers have paid, the factoring company sends you the difference, minus the agreed-upon fees.
Because factoring companies prioritize the value of your invoices and creditworthiness of your customers when evaluating your application, invoice factoring can be easier to qualify for than more traditional loan options, even if you’re a new business or have poor credit.

Small-business grants

If your business is growing and you have time to plan ahead for funding, you might consider looking for small-business grants. Unlike merchant cash advances and other types of debt financing, business grants are a free source of funding that doesn’t need to be repaid.
These grants can come from the federal or local government, large corporations or local initiatives. They can be used to start a business, in the event of an economic hardship or to fund businesses in underserved markets, like women-owned businesses or minority-owned businesses.

Find the right business loan

The best business loan is generally the one with the lowest rates and most ideal terms. But other factors — like time to fund and your business’s qualifications — can help determine which option you should choose. NerdWallet recommends comparing small-business loans to find the right fit for your business.
Last updated on February 29, 2024

Wondering if you qualify?

It’s possible to get a business loan even if you have bad credit. Bad-credit business loans are available from alternative sources, like online or nonprofit lenders.

Learn more

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