What Is a Merchant Cash Advance? How Does It Work?

A merchant cash advance is now being offered in all 50 states in the United States. A merchant cash advance has become an increasingly popular source for short-term financing, especially given the current economic circumstances. The concept is simple enough: a merchant receives an advance cash payment from a customer's credit or debit account and then uses the funds to pay merchants who accept their card. Essentially, a merchant agrees to accept a specific percentage of card sales instead of paying interest on outstanding balances. By taking advantage of this type of advance, merchants avoid excessive interest costs and other expenses associated with traditional financing, while still receiving the money they need to operate their business.

There are a number of factors that may affect funding costs when applying for merchant cash advances. One such factor is repayment terms. Cash-out repayment terms typically range from one to 18 months in duration, although the exact term will depend on the lender, credit history, and cash flow of the company offering the funding. Additionally, most funding companies base the percentage of approval on the merchant's credit score at the time of application, so those with lower scores could see a smaller percentage approved.


It's also important to note that even if your credit score is excellent, you might not qualify for the lowest payback percentage available. Factors such as balance and payment history are taken into account when calculating the rate, and good credit score borrowers could see their applications rejected if they have poor history or no prior payments to make. Conversely, a good credit score borrower could get a higher percentage approved for a merchant cash advance.

Before accepting a merchant cash advance, business owners should make sure they can realistically afford to pay it back within a short amount of time. This is because a lump-sum payment option doesn't have the same interest penalties as traditional repayment terms. The amount of the loan typically isn't paid back until two to four business days after the business cash advance is made. This amount of time is determined by the lender and is usually between one and three business days. This allows applicants to pay off the advance as quickly as possible, and helps them avoid paying interest or fees in the months following the date the funds are due.


While it's usually best to repay a merchant cash advance on your own, the timing and terms of repayment are entirely up to you. If you need the money right away (such as following a layoff), it's usually best to contact the lender and work out a repayment plan. In this case, you should request a holdback amount equal to one month's repayment. Although you may have to pay the holdback amount immediately upon receipt of the funds, the repayment terms are designed to help you avoid interest and fees if payments aren't made for a reasonable amount of time.

Both of these options are great solutions to short-term cash needs and can help businesses avoid potential problems when they're faced with sudden expenses. When searching for a solution to an unexpected expense, it's important to look for the most affordable option. You can find the most affordable solution by comparing multiple business financing options. By comparing multiple lenders, you'll ensure that you get the best deal possible and allow yourself to focus on getting your problem solved rather than dealing with payments or interest.

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