Business Funding Questions,
Answered.

Absolutely nothing. Our service is 100% free to the business owner. We're compensated by the lender when your deal closes — which means we're only motivated to find you the best deal, not just any deal. No hidden fees, no application fees, no obligation.

Fill out our short online form — it takes about 2 minutes. Tell us your business name, monthly revenue, time in business, and how much you need. We review your profile and match you to the best lenders in our network. No paperwork upfront, no commitment required.

To pre-qualify, you need nothing upfront. Once we identify your best options, lenders typically request: 3–6 months of business bank statements, a voided business check, and a government-issued ID. We guide you through exactly what's needed for your specific offer.

Most lenders require at least 6 months in business. Some programs are available for businesses as new as 3 months. If your business is brand new, reach back out once you've been operating 3–6 months and have bank statements showing revenue.

A funding broker connects small businesses with lenders. Instead of applying to one lender at a time, a broker submits your application to their entire lender network simultaneously, finds the best offer for your situation, and presents it to you. The service is free to the business owner — the broker earns a fee paid by the lender when a deal closes. Full broker guide →

Yes — legitimate business funding brokers are completely free to the business owner. We're paid a fee by the lender when a deal closes. This is the same model used by mortgage brokers and insurance brokers. You never pay a broker fee out of pocket.

The lender pays the broker fee — not you. When your deal closes, the lender pays us a referral fee from their margin. The rate a lender offers through a broker is typically the same as or better than going direct, because broker relationships create competition.

One application gives you access to 50+ competing lenders — all without a credit pull. Going direct to one lender means accepting whatever they offer or spending weeks applying to many lenders with multiple hard inquiries. Brokers have relationships that often result in better rates and terms than going direct.

Yes, legitimate MCA brokers are a standard part of the small business financing market. Warning signs of problematic brokers: charging upfront fees before funding, guaranteeing approval, or pressuring you to accept offers quickly. The Broker Shop never charges upfront fees and has no obligation requirement — you see offers before committing to anything.

We're paid a referral fee by the lender when your deal closes. This fee comes from the lender — never from you. This aligns our interests with yours: we only get paid if you get funded, so we're motivated to find the best deal possible.

Good questions to ask any broker: Do you charge upfront fees? (Correct answer: No.) How many lenders are in your network? What happens if I don't like any of the offers? Will my credit be pulled to see my options? How do you get paid? A transparent broker will answer all of these clearly and without pressure.

We work with funding from $5,000 to $5 million. The amount you qualify for depends on your monthly revenue, time in business, credit profile, and type of funding. Most businesses can access 50%–150% of their average monthly revenue through an MCA. Most clients qualify for more than they expected.

Most lenders require at least $10,000–$15,000 in average monthly revenue and a minimum of 6 months in business. The more consistent your monthly revenue, the more options and better terms you'll get.

We fund 50+ business types — restaurants, contractors, trucking, salons, retailers, medical offices, law firms, auto shops, manufacturers, and many more. If you run a legitimate US business with revenue, we can almost certainly find options for you. Browse all industries →

Yes — we serve small businesses in all 50 states. Find your state →

Yes — that's the core value of working with a broker. Instead of one offer (or rejection) from one lender, we submit your profile to our entire network and bring back all qualifying offers. You compare them side by side and choose the one that fits your business best.

Yes. MCA lenders accept credit scores as low as 500. They primarily evaluate your monthly revenue ($10,000+/month) and business history — not just your FICO score. A business with consistent $30,000/month revenue and a 550 credit score will often get approved when a high-credit business with low revenue will not. Full bad credit guide →

Most MCA lenders accept credit scores starting at 500. Some will consider scores as low as 450 if monthly revenue is strong ($25,000+/month). The higher your revenue, the more flexibility on credit score requirements.

Yes — MCA lenders typically do a soft credit check during underwriting, even though credit score is not their primary approval factor. Revenue and bank statement health matter more. The soft check at pre-qualification does not affect your score.

Yes. Merchant cash advances and some revenue-based financing options are available at 500. Your monthly revenue ($10,000+ minimum) and bank statement health are more important than your credit score for these products.

MCAs typically do not report regular payments to personal credit bureaus. However, if you default and the lender obtains a civil judgment against you (which can happen with a personal guarantee), the judgment can appear on your credit report.

No — not during normal repayment. Pre-qualification uses a soft pull. MCAs don't report to credit bureaus in the normal course. Your credit score is not impacted by taking an MCA unless you default and a judgment is obtained against you.

It depends on the type and timing. A discharged bankruptcy (Chapter 7) that is 1–2+ years old with strong current monthly revenue may still qualify with certain lenders. An open bankruptcy typically disqualifies you from most MCA products. Disclose your situation honestly — some lenders specialize in post-bankruptcy businesses.

A merchant cash advance (MCA) gives your business a lump sum upfront in exchange for a percentage of future daily credit and debit card sales. Repayment is automatic — a fixed percentage (called a retrieval rate) is deducted from daily sales until the advance is repaid. MCAs fund in 24 hours, require no collateral, and accept credit scores as low as 500. Full MCA guide →

MCA amounts typically range from $5,000 to $2,000,000, with most businesses qualifying for 50%–150% of their average monthly revenue. A business doing $50,000/month might qualify for $25,000–$75,000. Same-day deals typically fall in the $10,000–$500,000 range.

No. An MCA is technically a purchase of future receivables, not a loan. This means MCAs are not subject to usury laws that cap interest rates on loans. Instead of an interest rate, MCAs use a factor rate. There are no fixed monthly payments — repayment fluctuates with your daily sales.

The retrieval rate (also called the holdback) is the percentage of your daily card sales automatically deducted to repay the MCA. Typical rates are 10%–20%. A higher retrieval rate means faster repayment; a lower rate means slower repayment but more daily cash flow flexibility.

No — you can apply directly to individual MCA lenders. But using a broker means one application goes to 50+ lenders simultaneously, creating competition that typically results in better offers than going direct to a single lender. And it's free. Most business owners who understand how brokers work choose to use one.

A factor rate is a decimal multiplier (typically 1.1–1.5) used to calculate total MCA repayment. Multiply the advance amount by the factor rate to get total repayment. Example: $50,000 × 1.3 factor rate = $65,000 total repayment. The $15,000 difference is the cost. Full factor rate guide →

Typical factor rates in 2026 range from 1.1 to 1.5. Most businesses qualify in the 1.2–1.4 range. Rates of 1.1–1.2 are excellent (strong credit, solid revenue). Rates above 1.45 are high-risk territory. The key drivers: credit score, monthly revenue, time in business, and industry type.

A factor rate is a fixed multiplier — it doesn't change based on how long repayment takes. APR (annual percentage rate) accounts for time — the same factor rate produces a higher APR if repaid in 6 months than 12 months, even though the dollar cost is identical. MCA factor rates expressed as APR can appear very high, but the actual dollar cost is fixed upfront.

Total payback = Advance Amount × Factor Rate. Example: $50,000 × 1.35 = $67,500. The daily deduction = your daily card sales × retrieval rate percentage. If you process $3,000 in card sales and have a 15% retrieval rate, $450 goes toward repayment that day. Higher sales = faster repayment.

Unlike loans, paying off an MCA early does not reduce your total cost — the factor rate determines a fixed payoff amount regardless of timing. Some lenders offer early payoff discounts (sometimes called "early buyout"), but this is not standard. Always ask about early payoff terms before accepting an offer.

Key factors: credit score (lower score = higher rate), time in business, monthly revenue level and consistency, bank statement health (NSFs raise rates), industry risk profile, and whether you have existing MCA balances. Improving any of these factors can meaningfully lower your rate.

Yes. Same-day MCA funding is genuinely available. To maximize your chances: apply before 10 AM EST, have your last 3 months of bank statements ready to upload immediately, and respond to document requests within minutes. Most wire cutoffs are 3–5 PM EST. Full same-day guide →

Merchant cash advances are the fastest — same-day to 24-hour standard. Revenue-based financing is close. Online business loans take 1–3 business days. SBA loans take 30–90 days. Traditional bank loans take 2–4 weeks.

Yes. $50,000 is well within same-day range. You'll need $30,000+ in monthly revenue, clean bank statements (no NSFs), and to apply early (before 10 AM EST). A broker can identify which specific lenders prioritize fast funding for your amount.

Have these ready before you apply: last 3 months of business bank statements (PDF), a voided business check, and a government-issued ID. Having these prepared eliminates the back-and-forth that delays funding to the next day.

Many clients receive approval within hours and funds within 24 hours of approval. Same-day funding is common for MCAs. Business term loans from alternative lenders: 1–3 business days. SBA loans: 2–8 weeks. We'll give you a clear timeline before you commit to anything.

We offer: Merchant Cash Advances, Business Term Loans, Lines of Credit, SBA Loans, Equipment Financing, Invoice Factoring, and Revenue-Based Financing. We match you to the right product for your revenue, credit, and timeline.

A business term loan provides a fixed lump sum you repay in set weekly or monthly installments over a defined period (6 months to 5 years). Predictable payments, ideal for planned purchases, expansion, or equipment. Learn more →

A revolving credit facility — draw funds as needed up to a set limit, pay interest only on what you use, and as you repay, the funds become available again. Most flexible option for ongoing cash flow needs. Learn more →

Finance business equipment (trucks, machinery, kitchen equipment, medical devices) without paying cash upfront. The equipment itself serves as collateral — often easier approval and better rates than unsecured options. Learn more →

Sell outstanding invoices to a lender at a discount for immediate cash. Instead of waiting 30–90 days for customers to pay, you get the majority of the invoice value upfront. Ideal for B2B businesses with long payment cycles — contractors, staffing, manufacturers.

An MCA funds in 24 hours, requires 500+ credit and no collateral, but costs more (factor rate 1.1–1.5). An SBA loan is significantly cheaper (10–13% APR) but requires 640+ credit, 2+ years in business, collateral, and takes 30–90 days. Full MCA vs SBA comparison →

Most businesses choose an MCA because they don't qualify for SBA (credit below 640, less than 2 years in business, or urgency of need). A restaurant with a broken HVAC in July can't wait 60 days for SBA approval. Speed and accessibility are the primary reasons.

Top alternatives: MCAs (24-hour funding, 500+ credit), revenue-based financing, online business term loans (3–5 days), business lines of credit, invoice financing, and equipment financing. Each suits different revenue profiles and needs. Full alternatives guide →

Bank denial is the most common reason businesses come to us. Alternative lenders evaluate your actual business performance — not just a credit score cutoff. A business doing $40,000/month with a 580 credit score that a bank rejected often has multiple competitive offers through our network.

Yes. Some businesses use an MCA for immediate needs while simultaneously applying for an SBA loan for longer-term capital. SBA underwriters will factor in existing MCA repayments as debt service obligations — disclose everything accurately.

Stacking means taking multiple MCAs simultaneously from different lenders. Each creates a separate daily deduction from your revenue. Multiple simultaneous holdbacks can consume 30–40% of daily sales before operating expenses — a fast route to cash flow collapse. Stacking also raises future factor rates significantly and can violate contract covenants. Full stacking guide →

Yes. The cleanest approach is a buyout/refinance: a new lender pays off your existing MCA and advances you more capital — one daily payment replaces the original. A true second position (two simultaneous payments) is riskier and carries higher rates. Discuss buyout options with a broker first. Full second MCA guide →

A reverse consolidation program makes daily payments to your MCA lenders on your behalf while you make one larger weekly or monthly payment to the consolidation company. It restructures cash flow without eliminating debt — but can prevent default and provide breathing room when you're overextended.

Communicate with your lender before missing payments — most will negotiate rather than pursue collections. Default consequences include: demand for full remaining balance, collections referral, and possible legal action. Never block ACH or change banks without notifying your lender first — that triggers immediate default. Full default guide →

Yes — many MCA lenders will negotiate proactively if you approach them before defaulting. Options include: reduced daily holdback percentage, temporary payment suspension, or a lump-sum settlement for a reduced amount. Your leverage is highest before you miss the first payment.

Options in order of preference: (1) Refinance with a single lender buyout — simplifies to one payment and may get you better terms. (2) Reverse consolidation — restructures multiple MCA payments into one. (3) Negotiate directly with each lender for modified terms. (4) Consult a business attorney if you're facing aggressive collection or confession of judgment enforcement.