The short answer
At a glance
| Banks | Usually lowest cost; slower, more paperwork, stricter credit and time in business |
|---|---|
| Online fintech lenders | Faster applications; pricing and terms vary widely |
| Platform advances | Offered by your payment processor or selling marketplace; repaid from your sales on that platform |
| Private lenders | Flexible but uneven; read every fee and default clause |
| Merchant Fund Express | Reviews $5,000 to $5,000,000; credit from 500 considered; MCA, working capital, lines, equipment, factoring |
| Compare by | Total payback, total cost in dollars, term, payment frequency, fees, prepayment terms |
| Speed | Banks often take weeks; same-day decisions are common at MFE on complete files, never promised |
| Avoid if | An offer will not show the total payback in writing |
Before you apply: checklist
- Get every offer in writing with the total payback amount
- Write down the amount you actually receive after fees
- Note the payment frequency: daily, weekly or monthly
- Ask what happens if you pay early
- Ask what happens if sales drop for a month
- Check whether the offer requires closing out another account or advance
- Compare at least two offers on the same worksheet
Check what your business qualifies for
Merchant Fund Express reviews alternatives to online lenders and bank loans requests from $5,000 to $5,000,000. Scores from 500 are considered, and same-day decisions are common on complete files.
Check funding options with Merchant Fund ExpressThe four kinds of alternatives
- Banks and credit unions. Best price when you qualify. Expect tax returns, financial statements, collateral questions and weeks of review.
- Online fintech lenders. Term loans and lines with digital applications. Pricing can range from close to bank levels to much higher.
- Platform advances. Payment-processor advances and marketplace advances are repaid as a share of sales that run through that platform. Easy to accept, but they only see one sales channel and can tie you to it.
- Private lenders. Individuals or small funds. Terms are negotiable, which also means terms can be unusual. Read the default and collateral sections twice.
Illustrative example: two offers, one worksheet
| Offer A: advance | Offer B: term loan | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Assumed pricing | Factor 1.35 | $11,000 total interest plus $1,500 fee |
| Total payback | $67,500 | $61,000 plus $1,500 fee |
| Total cost in dollars | $17,500 | $12,500 |
| Term | About 126 business days | 12 months |
| Payment | About $535.71 daily ($67,500 / 126) | About $5,083.33 monthly ($61,000 / 12) |
Offer B costs less in dollars but takes twice as long and may need stronger credit. Offer A is faster to repay. Neither is automatically better; it depends on what the money earns and how fast.
These figures are illustrations, not offers. Real pricing, amounts and terms depend on the full file review.
How to read any offer
Look for five numbers: amount funded, amount received after fees, total payback, number of payments and payment size. If you have those, you can compare anything. For deeper product comparisons, read line of credit vs MCA and MCA vs working capital loan.
Funding brings customers. Is your website ready for them?
Funding usually pays for growth: more stock, staff, equipment or marketing. Make sure the customers that growth brings find a website that explains what you do and makes it easy to call, book or buy. Cheap Cheap Websites builds professional sites from $399, with Website Care at $30/month.
Red flags
- Pressure to sign the same day before you see the contract.
- Upfront fees requested before any approval.
- No total payback figure anywhere in the paperwork.
- An offer far above what your deposits can support.
- A platform advance that quietly takes a bigger share of every sale than you expected.
- Promises that funding is certain before anyone has reviewed your statements.
How Merchant Fund Express handles this
Merchant Fund Express reviews several products on one application, so you can compare a merchant cash advance, a working capital loan, a line of credit, equipment financing or factoring without starting over each time. The Merchant Fund Express comparison page lays the products side by side. Credit scores from 500 are considered, and stronger credit usually means better offers. When you have your statements ready, apply with Merchant Fund Express.
Related
Cheap Cheap Websites builds websites. It does not lend or make funding decisions. Funding is offered by our funding partner, Merchant Fund Express, and every request is subject to its review and approval. Figures on this page are illustrations, not offers. Updated October 16, 2026.