Our Take
The bottom line:
Uplyft Capital offers fast, short-term merchant cash advances. The lender is a standout option for borrowers with bad credit — as it has one of the lowest minimum credit score requirements among competitors. Like other MCAs, however, Uplyft may be expensive.
Uplyft Capital- Merchant cash advance
Max Loan Amount
$500,000
Min. credit score
475
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- Funding in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
- Low minimum credit score requirement.
- Startups may qualify.
- No personal guarantee required.
Cons
- MCAs charge factor rates which makes it difficult to understand the true cost of financing.
- Only directly funds MCAs.
- Cost information not available on website.
Full Review
Editor's note: This review focuses on Uplyft Capital’s MCA program. Uplyft also operates an online marketplace, featuring lenders that offer other types of business financing.
Uplyft Capital is a direct lender that provides merchant cash advances (MCAs). Unlike traditional small-business loans, an MCA involves selling your future revenue in exchange for an advance of capital. Uplyft then allows you to repay your advance (plus fees) in one of two ways:
- Percentage of credit card sales. Uplyft will deduct a percentage of your credit card sales daily until the advance is repaid in full.
- Fixed withdrawals. Uplyft will withdraw daily or weekly fixed payments from your bank account. The payment amount is determined based on an estimate of your monthly revenue.
Uplyft’s MCAs can be used for a variety of short-term business purposes, such as buying inventory, managing cash flow gaps and covering emergency expenses.
❗Nerdy Tip: Merchant cash advances (MCAs) are typically one of the most expensive types of business financing. In general, you should consider all other small-business funding options before an MCA.
Consider Uplyft Capital if you:
✔️ Need fast access to funds.
✔️ Don’t meet the credit score requirements of other lenders.
✔️ Have strong credit card sales and can handle frequent repayments.
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.
Uplyft Capital features
Uplyft Capital issues merchant cash advances in amounts up to $
500000
. The lender offers three different funding programs tailored to specific business needs:Funding program | Maximum funding amount | Repayment term | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Starter | $50,000. | Six months. | New businesses looking to establish growth. |
Standard | $250,000. | 12 months. | Established businesses that want to scale operations. |
Premium | $500,000. | 18 months. | Significant business expansion. |
Uplyft quotes interest as a factor rate, with rates starting at 1.2 — according to a company representative.
Uplyft Capital requirements
To qualify for an MCA from Uplyft Capital, you’ll need to meet the following minimum requirements:
- Time in business:6months.
- Annual revenue: $102000($8,500 per month).
- Credit score:475.
You’ll also need a business bank account and to be located in the U.S.
» Compare the best merchant cash advance companies
Where Uplyft Capital stands out
Quick funding
If you need money quickly, Uplyft Capital can be a good option for fast business funding.
Uplyft offers a simple application process that took NerdWallet only minutes to complete. You input basic information about yourself and your business and then upload four months of business bank statements.
Uplyft uses artificial intelligence to help underwrite your application and can provide approvals as fast as the same day (sometimes within hours). Once you review and agree to your offer, you’ll receive funds within one to two days.
Flexible qualification requirements
Uplyft Capital offers flexible qualification requirements — making it a good option for startups and borrowers with bad credit. You only need a minimum credit score of
475
and at least 6
months in business to get an MCA.You will, however, need at least $102,000 in annual revenue to qualify. Although this is higher than certain competitors, like Giggle Finance or Reliant Funding, it’s similar to or lower than the requirement of many other online and bank lenders.
» Explore our lists of best business loans for: bad credit | startups | low revenue
Where Uplyft Capital falls short
May be expensive
Merchant cash advances, like those offered by Uplyft Capital, tend to be one of the most expensive forms of business funding, with APRs that can reach triple digits.
Say, for example, you have a $10,000 advance with a factor rate of 1.4. You’re going to repay the advance daily with 15% of your incoming revenue. This percentage, also called the holdback, usually ranges from 5% to 20%, but varies based on your lender, advance amount and sales volume.
If you make $10,000 in monthly sales, you’ll be repaying $50 per day. It will take you 280 days to repay the advance, with an APR of 93.08%. Although $50 per day may not seem like much, you’re actually paying significantly in fees for a relatively small amount of financing.
» Need to convert your factor rate into an APR? Use our MCA calculator here.
Limited website transparency
Uplyft Capital’s website doesn’t provide detailed information about its factor rates or fees. Although the website advertises “no hidden fees,” it doesn’t explain what fees it does charge and how much they may cost.
Uplyft’s website lists conflicting information in some places, which can make it difficult for borrowers to know which details are accurate. For example, certain pages list the minimum revenue requirement as $8,000 per month, whereas others list $8,500 — NerdWallet reached out to the company directly to confirm the correct amount is $8,500.
The website also mentions “funding up to $5 million,” but when you go to apply, you’re instructed to enter an amount between $5,000 and $500,000. It appears the $5 million maximum is referring to loans you can get through lending partners on Uplyft’s marketplace, but this isn’t clear based on the website language.
Uplyft Capital customer service
Uplyft Capital offers customer support by phone and email.
Borrower reviews on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau often praise the customer service they receive at Uplyft Capital. Reviewers call out sales representatives by name and mention that they are responsive, knowledgeable and professional.
Uplyft also tends to respond to any negative reviews on these sites and provide a direct contact, with a phone number and extension, for these borrowers to reach out to.
NerdWallet called Uplyft’s customer service line and found that the menu options were clear and helpful. After choosing to speak to a funding specialist, we were told that we were next in the call line and a representative picked up the phone after a few minutes. The representative was able to answer our questions and followed up with a phone number and email if we needed additional assistance.
NerdWallet has found less success in reaching out via email. We reached out to sales@uplyftcapital.com and support@uplyftcapital.com, and have not received a response after five business days.
Alternatives to Uplyft Capital
Fundbox
Fundbox
Fundbox - Line of credit
NerdWallet Rating
4.9
Min Credit
600
Read Review
Apply now
with Fundera by NerdWallet
For fast and flexible funding in the form of a line of credit, you might consider Fundbox as an alternative to Uplyft Capital. Fundbox offers business lines of credit up to $
250000
with repayment terms of 12 or 24 weeks.With Fundbox, you can draw from your credit line as needed and only pay interest on the funds you draw (with no additional fees). Interest rates start at 4.66% for a 12-week repayment plan — meaning this may be a more affordable option than Uplyft.
Fundbox can be a particularly good option for startups with low revenue, as you only need
3
months in business and $30000
in annual revenue to qualify. Although Fundbox’s minimum credit score requirement isn’t as low as Uplyft’s (600
vs. 475
), it can still be a good option for those with lower credit scores.SBA microloans
U.S. Small Business Administration
SBA microloan
Min Credit
620
Read Review
Apply now
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If you can wait longer to get funding, SBA microloans will be a more affordable alternative to Uplyft Capital. SBA microloans are available in amounts up to $
50000
with repayment terms up to 84
months. Interest rates typically range from 8
% to 13
%.SBA microloans are issued by nonprofit and community lenders. These organizations often focus their lending efforts on traditionally underserved business owners, such as women, minority groups and those located in low-income communities. As a result, SBA microloans are usually easier to qualify for compared with other types of SBA loans. These loans can be slow to fund, however, with timelines ranging from a week to 30 days or more.
Frequently asked questions
Uplyft Capital requires a minimum credit score of
475
. Although this may make it a good option for borrowers with bad credit, it’s important to keep in mind that a higher credit score can help you access more competitive rates and terms.Uplyft Capital is a legitimate merchant cash advance company. According to its website, Uplyft has funded over 57,000 small businesses and has a high 87% application approval rate. Uplyft is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, with an A+ rating and only one complaint (which has been resolved) in the last three years. Uplyft also has generally favorable customer reviews and strong ratings of 4.5+ stars on both the BBB and Trustpilot.
Yes, Uplyft Capital is a direct lender of merchant cash advances.
Apply now
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New elevated offer
