The short answer
At a glance
| Typical amounts | Varies with revenue; MFE reviews $5,000 to $5,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Revenue guideline | Commonly from about $17,500 a month |
| Time in business | Often 6+ months |
| Credit | Commonly 600+; scores from 500 considered for other products |
| Repayment | Fixed daily, weekly or monthly payments over a set term |
| Speed | Same-day decisions common on complete files; funding often the next business day, never promised |
| Documents | 3 to 4 months of bank statements, ID, voided check; larger requests may need financials or tax returns |
| Best for | A known one-time need: inventory, equipment repair, a hire, a project |
| Avoid if | Needs are unpredictable and recurring; a line of credit may fit better |
Before you apply: checklist
- Write down the exact use and amount needed
- Check your average monthly revenue against the $17,500 guideline
- Confirm your time in business from your formation or first deposit date
- Check your credit score before you apply
- Pull 3 to 4 months of business bank statements
- Prepare financial statements or tax returns for larger requests
- Test the payment against your slowest recent month
- Ask for the total repayment amount in writing
Check what your business qualifies for
Merchant Fund Express reviews working capital 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 ExpressWhat working capital loans cover
Working capital is the money that keeps the business running between when you pay costs and when customers pay you. Common uses:
- Inventory ahead of a busy season
- Payroll during a slow stretch or while hiring
- Repairs to vehicles or equipment
- Marketing campaigns with a clear expected return
- Covering a gap while waiting on a large customer payment
For the full rundown, read our working capital loans guide.
Terms and requirements
Terms vary by product and file. Short-term working capital is often repaid over months, not years, with daily or weekly payments. MFE's published guidelines for a working capital loan commonly start around $17,500 a month in revenue, 6+ months in business and 600+ credit. These are guidelines, not approval rules.
Large working capital requests, into the hundreds of thousands or more, usually need extra documents such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets and business tax returns. Plan for that before you apply. See the funding amounts cheat sheet for how revenue maps to size.
Working capital vs line of credit
| Feature | Working capital loan | Line of credit |
|---|---|---|
| How you receive money | One lump sum | Draw what you need, when you need it |
| Payments | Fixed schedule on the full amount | Based on what you have drawn |
| MFE guideline revenue | About $17,500 a month | About $17,500 a month |
| MFE guideline time and credit | 6+ months, about 600+ | 1+ year, about 650+ |
| Best for | A known, one-time need | Recurring or uncertain needs |
More in working capital vs line of credit.
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.
Illustrative example: weekly payment vs weekly revenue
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly revenue | $45,000 |
| Average weekly revenue ($45,000 x 12 / 52) | $10,384.62 |
| Loan amount | $80,000 |
| Assumed total repayment | $96,000 |
| Cost of funds ($96,000 minus $80,000) | $16,000 |
| Weekly payment over 52 weeks ($96,000 / 52) | $1,846.15 |
| Payment as share of weekly revenue | About 17.8% |
Assumptions: a 12-month term, weekly payments, no fees beyond the stated total.
These figures are illustrations, not offers. Real pricing and terms depend on your file.
Common mistakes:
- Borrowing for a vague purpose with no plan to repay.
- Using short-term money for a multi-year project.
- Ignoring the slow month when testing the payment.
- Applying with missing statements, which slows everything down.
How Merchant Fund Express handles this
Merchant Fund Express reviews working capital requests from $5,000 to $5,000,000. If you fall short of the loan guideline, an MCA may still fit, since its guideline commonly starts at about $7,500 a month. Read the MFE working capital loans page and apply with Merchant Fund Express. Service is 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.