Find the right merchant cash advance provider
Compare MCA funders by max advance amount, factor rates, funding speed, and qualification requirements. Independent, comprehensive, free.
Top-Rated Providers
See all 25 →Stripe Capital
MCA for Stripe businesses with automatic repayment from payments.
altLINE
Bank-owned receivable-based funder offering direct working capital and MCAs.
OnDeck
Online small business lender offering term loans and lines of credit up to $250K.
Lendio
Free marketplace matching businesses to 75+ lenders. Over $1.5B facilitated.
Shopify Capital
MCA and loans for Shopify merchants, repaid from store sales.
PayPal Working Capital
MCA for PayPal merchants with repayment tied to PayPal sales. Over $3.5B disbursed.
SmartBiz
SBA loan specialist also offering working capital and MCA products.
BlueVine
Business checking, invoice factoring, and MCA products.
Amazon Lending
Short-term loans and cash advances for Amazon marketplace sellers.
Forward Financing
Direct funder specializing in revenue advances with fast decisions. Over $1B funded.
Kabbage
Business checking and funding platform, acquired by American Express in 2020.
Funding Circle
Leading small business loans platform connecting businesses with investors.
What is a Merchant Cash Advance (MCA)?
A merchant cash advance (MCA) is a form of alternative business financing where a funder provides a lump-sum payment to a business in exchange for an agreed-upon percentage of future credit card sales and/or bank deposits. Unlike a traditional loan, an MCA is a purchase of future receivables, which means repayment adjusts with your business's daily cash flow.
MCAs are popular with small businesses that need fast access to capital and may not qualify for traditional bank loans. Funding can happen in as little as 24 hours, and because qualification is based on revenue rather than credit score, businesses with lower credit can still access capital.
How to Choose an MCA Provider
When comparing merchant cash advance providers, the most important factors to evaluate are:
- Factor rate: The multiplier applied to your advance (e.g., a 1.30 factor rate on a $10,000 advance means you repay $13,000). Lower is better. Typical range: 1.10 to 1.45.
- Max advance amount: The largest amount you can receive. Ranges from $5,000 to over $2,000,000 depending on the funder.
- Funding speed: How quickly you receive funds. Many funders offer same-day or next-day funding.
- Qualification requirements: Minimum time in business, monthly revenue, and credit score thresholds.
- Repayment structure: Whether repayment is via daily/weekly ACH debits or a percentage of card sales.
Direct Funders vs. Brokers vs. Platforms
Understanding the type of MCA provider you are working with matters:
- Direct funders use their own capital to fund your advance. Dealing direct can mean lower rates and no broker fees.
- Brokers and marketplaces connect you with multiple funders. They can shop your deal around but typically charge a commission on top.
- Platform / embedded MCA refers to funding offered through payment processors like PayPal, Square, and Stripe. These are only available to existing merchants of that platform.
Our directory lists all three types so you can compare and choose the best fit for your business.