Giggle Finance: Quick, Tiny Cash Advances at a High Cost
Giggle Finance offers fast, short-term cash advances. But it definitely won’t be your cheapest financing option, and you’re likely to be disappointed in customer support.
The bottom line:
Giggle Finance offers small amounts of capital to freelancers, contractors and self-employed individuals. The company doesn’t check your credit as part of the application process so may appeal to borrowers with bad credit. Although funding is fast, it is expensive. And customer support appears to be extremely lacking.
Loan details
Min. Loan Amount
$0
Max Loan Amount
$15,000
Max Term Length
6 months
Qualifications
Min. credit score
300
Min. Time in Business
3 months
Min. Annual Revenue
$18,000
Pros & Cons
Pros
No minimum credit score requirement.
Same-day funding available.
Offers prepayment discounts.
Cons
Funding maxes out at $15,000 ($20,000 for repeat customers).
Charges an origination fee.
Factor rate and origination fee details not available on website. (NerdWallet collected this information from a company representative.)
Not available in California, New York or Oregon.
Customer service is primarily SMS-based and unresponsive.
Giggle Finance doesn’t provide small-business loans — instead, it offers merchant cash advances. So, you’re selling your future revenue to Giggle in exchange for an advance of capital. Then, you repay that advance (plus fees) on a weekly basis as a percentage of your incoming revenue. Borrowers can use the funds for a variety of purposes.
❗Merchant cash advances (MCAs) are one of the most expensive types of business financing. NerdWallet recommends that you consider all other small-business funding options before an MCA.
Is Giggle Finance right for you?
| Consider Giggle Finance if you: | Skip Giggle Finance if you: |
|---|---|
| Need same-day access to funds. | Can qualify for a short-term online loan, line of credit or microloan. |
| Don’t meet the eligibility requirements of other lenders. | Are just starting up your business and can get a grant or financing elsewhere. |
| Have exhausted all other funding options. | Live in California, New York or Oregon. |
| Have the revenue and cash flow to manage weekly payments from card sales. | Need a loan larger than $15,000. |
How much do you need?
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.
Giggle Finance merchant cash advance details
Here’s what you can expect from Giggle’s merchant cash advance.
| Funding amount | Up to $15,000. (Repeat customers in good standing can access up to $20,000). |
| Estimated interest rate | Giggle quotes interest as a factor rate; factor rates range from 1.15 to 1.52. Average factor rate is 1.42. |
| Fees |
|
| Terms | Payments are based on your business’s revenue. You’ll make weekly payments until you repay the full advance amount. |
| Repayment schedule | Weekly. |
| Funding speed | Approval and funding as fast as the same day. |
Giggle Finance’s loan application process
This Writer's Take
I'm Karrin Sehmbi, editor and content strategist for small business at NerdWallet. I tested Giggle Finance’s pre-application flow and admittedly didn’t get very far.
The application didn’t work for me on my first attempt. I clicked the “Fund me!” link from Giggle’s homepage and got to the first screen of the application, which asked for my name, email address, phone number and (optionally) monthly business revenue.
I entered all this info and hit “Submit.” But before I was allowed to proceed, pop-ups informed me I would need to opt in to transactional and promotional SMS messages from Giggle Finance. Misleading, since these fineprint messages give the appearance of being optional boxes to tick.
Once I ticked those boxes and clicked to the next screen, I received an “Oops! Something went wrong” error message.
I tried the app flow again, this time clicking the “Get funded” CTA from the homepage. I also left out the optional monthly revenue amount and ticked the opt-in boxes right away before clicking to the next screen. That seemed to do the trick. But I didn’t get too far into the flow from there.
The next screen asked for my desired funding amount and supplied a dropdown menu to select my use for the funds.
The next page of the app flow caught me by surprise. Before asking for any further business details — industry, business structure, time in business, legal business name and address — it asked me to connect my business bank account. While this is a common ask for online loans, particularly MCAs, I haven’t previously encountered this step so early in the app flow. This is where my test ended, unfortunately.
I’d also note that although I entered my email address on the first page of the pre-app and only made it a few steps into the application process, I never received any emails nudging me to get back to the app and finish it. This is highly unusual in my experience. Most follow-up comms from lenders are overeager, bordering on aggressive, in their efforts to get potential borrowers to complete an application.
Where Giggle Finance stands out
Same-day funding
If speed is a priority for you, Giggle Finance can typically provide same-day business financing.
Giggle offers a streamlined application process that it says takes only eight minutes to complete. You’ll connect your bank account to the Giggle platform and provide basic information about your business. Giggle Finance can approve applications almost instantly, showing your approved amount and terms.
Once you agree to the offer, Giggle deposits the funds directly into your business bank account. Usually, funds are available within minutes.
Flexible qualification requirements
Giggle is designed to provide loans for self-employed individuals, independent contractors and similar small-business owners. As a result, the company has much more flexible qualification requirements compared with other business lenders.
You’ll only need 3 months in business and $1,500 per month in revenue to qualify — making this an option for both startups and businesses that are still growing their revenue.
Plus, unlike most small-business lenders, Giggle doesn’t check your credit as part of the application process.
» Explore our lists of best business loans for: bad credit | startups | low revenue
No personal guarantee required
Most lenders require a personal guarantee to secure your business financing. This holds you personally liable for the debt in the event your business can’t pay.
Giggle Finance doesn’t require a personal guarantee — making it a good option if you’re hesitant to put your personal assets at risk. If you start to miss payments, however, Giggle will file a UCC lien on your business. A UCC lien allows the company to claim your business assets to recover its losses if you can’t repay.
Where Giggle Finance falls short
Undoubtedly expensive
Merchant cash advances, like the Giggle Advance, are one of the most expensive forms of business financing, with annual percentage rates (APRs) that can reach triple digits.
Watch the video below to see NerdWallet Editor Karrin Sehmbi calculate the true cost of a $5,000 cash advance from Giggle using our merchant cash advance calculator.
Low funding maximum
If you need more than $15,000 in funding (or $20,000 for repeat customers), you’ll have to look for an alternative to Giggle Finance. Plus, keep in mind that not all customers will qualify for the maximum amount.
Poor customer service
One of the most common complaints among Giggle Finance reviews online is the company’s lack of customer service. Borrowers say that customer service representatives aren’t responsive and lament that they’re unable to talk to anyone on the phone.
In April 2025, NerdWallet tried calling the number listed on Giggle’s website. An automated message directed us to send a text instead and then hung up on us. In May and June 2026, NerdWallet tried calling the number listed on Giggle’s website again. We received the same automated message and immediate hang up. We followed up with text messages. Giggle never responded.
It’s also worth noting that nearly all complaints about Giggle Finance on Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot go unanswered by the company.
Alternatives to Giggle Finance
Uplyft Capital
Uplyft Capital
Uplyft Capital- Merchant cash advance
Min Credit
475
Apply now with NerdWallet Small Business
Consider Uplyft Capital over Giggle Finance if you:
- Need more than $15,000 in financing.
- Have considered all other financing types and an MCA is your only option.
Uplyft Capital issues MCAs of up to $500,000 with repayment terms up to 18 months. Like Giggle, Uplyft Capital is an option for both startups and borrowers with bad credit. To qualify, you'll need at least 3 months in business and a minimum monthly revenue of $10,000.
Headway Capital
Headway Capital
Headway Capital - Line of credit
NerdWallet Rating
4.8
Min Credit
625
with NerdWallet Small Business
Consider Headway Capital over Giggle Finance if you:
- Can meet this lender’s higher qualification requirements.
- Need a loan larger than $15,000.
Headway Capital offers business lines of credit up to $100,000. Like Giggle Finance, this line of credit can be a good option for fast access to working capital. Headway can approve your application in just minutes and issue funding in as little as 24 hours.
Although Headway’s qualifications aren’t quite as flexible as Giggle’s, it still can be a good option for startups and borrowers with bad credit. To qualify, you’ll need a minimum credit score of 625, at least 6 months in business and a minimum of $50,000 in annual revenue.
And while Headway’s APRs are higher than more traditional lenders, they’ll likely be lower than what you’ll pay for a Giggle Advance. APRs on Headway’s business line of credit range from 39% to 82%.
SBA microloans
U.S. Small Business Administration
SBA microloan
Min Credit
620
with NerdWallet Small Business
Consider an SBA microloan over Giggle Finance if you:
- Don’t need financing immediately.
- Have a personal credit score of at least 620.
An SBA microloan is a more affordable alternative to a Giggle Advance. SBA microloans offer funding up to $50,000. They have long repayment terms — up to 84 months — and interest rates that generally range from 8% to 13%.
SBA microloans are designed for traditionally underserved businesses, including startups, borrowers with bad credit and those located in low-income areas. As a result, the qualification requirements are more flexible than other SBA loans (although they’ll vary by lender).
SBA microloans are issued by nonprofit and community lenders. In addition to financing, these lenders usually offer business support services, such as training, mentorship and educational resources.
Frequently asked questions
Giggle Finance doesn’t check your credit as part of the underwriting process. Instead, approval is based on your business income and revenue streams.
Giggle Finance issues merchant cash advances, which are not the same as business loans. You sell your future revenue to Giggle in exchange for an advance of capital. Then, you repay that advance (plus fees) on a weekly basis as a percentage of your incoming revenue.