The short answer
At a glance
| Credit | Scores from 500 considered; working capital commonly 600+, lines about 650+ |
|---|---|
| MCA guideline | Commonly from about $7,500 a month revenue, often 3+ months in business |
| Working capital loan | Commonly from about $17,500 a month, often 6+ months, commonly 600+ credit |
| Line of credit | Commonly from about $17,500 a month, usually 1+ year, commonly about 650+ credit |
| Equipment financing | Often 6+ months; vendor quote or invoice needed |
| Invoice factoring | Undisputed invoices to business or government customers, usually net 30 to 90 |
| Documents | 3 to 4 months of bank statements, ID, voided check, short application |
| Speed | Same-day decisions are common on complete files; never promised |
| Note | These are planning guidelines, not approval rules |
Before you apply: checklist
- Open or confirm a dedicated business bank account
- Download the last 4 months of statements as PDFs
- Know your average monthly deposits
- Count NSFs and negative days in the last 90 days
- Check your personal credit score
- List any current advances or loans
- Have ID and a voided business check ready
- Pick the funding type that matches the use
Check what your business qualifies for
Merchant Fund Express reviews business funding requirements 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 ExpressTypes of business funding and who each fits
| Type | Best for |
|---|---|
| Merchant cash advance | Fast, flexible money repaid from sales; credit flexible |
| Working capital loan | Planned needs with fixed payments |
| Line of credit | Repeating, uneven needs; draw only what you use |
| Equipment financing | Buying, repairing or replacing equipment |
| Invoice factoring | Businesses waiting on B2B or government invoices |
The best option is the one whose payment matches how your money comes in. For the full requirement list, see business funding requirements.
What underwriters actually look at
- Deposits. Steady monthly revenue counts more than one big month.
- Balances and NSFs. Frequent overdrafts and returned items weaken a file. Read do NSFs disqualify business funding.
- Existing positions. Each open advance reduces room for a new payment.
- Credit. It affects price and product more than the yes or no for an MCA.
- Industry. Many funders restrict residential remodeling, new residential construction and long-haul trucking.
Illustrative example: checking a file against the guidelines
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Assumed deposits, 4 months | $38,000, $45,000, $40,000, $45,000 |
| Average monthly revenue ($168,000 / 4) | $42,000 |
| Time in business | 2 years |
| Credit score | 620 |
| MCA guideline range (0.5x to 1.5x) | $21,000 to $63,000 |
| Working capital guideline ($17,500, 6+ months, 600+) | Fits |
| Line of credit guideline (about 650+ credit) | Credit below the common guideline |
These figures are illustrations, not offers. Real pricing, amounts and terms depend on the full file review.
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.
How to get a business loan: first-time steps
- Decide what the money is for and how much you truly need.
- Match the use to a product type from the table above.
- Gather statements, ID and a voided check.
- Fill out one short application and answer follow-up questions quickly.
- Read the offer: total payback, term, payment frequency, fees.
- Accept only what the business can repay from normal cash flow.
Common mistakes
- Applying with personal bank statements when business deposits exist.
- Leaving out a second operating account.
- Not mentioning an open advance.
- Applying right after a string of NSFs instead of waiting a few clean weeks.
- Choosing a product by speed alone.
How Merchant Fund Express handles this
The Merchant Fund Express business funding requirements page lists the published planning guidelines for each product. Sole proprietors and LLCs alike can apply, credit from 500 is considered, and larger requests can need financials or tax returns. Ready to go? apply with Merchant Fund Express. Help is available in English and Spanish.
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.