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Why a Merchant Cash Advance is Better than a Business Loan

Why a Merchant Cash Advance is Better than a Business Loan

18
Sep 2020
24
Jan 2025

There are many funding options available for small business owners like you. You may be thinking of a business line of credit or even a business loan.Another, newer option is the merchant cash advance (MCA). This option is quickly gaining traction with business owners. Why? MCAs are often better than business loans.

A Merchant Cash Advance Fits Your Needs

Business loans are traditionally for large business purchases. Some lenders may not offer business loans unless they’re a certain size, such as $100,000 or more. If you need less than that, you may not be able to qualify for a loan.A merchant cash advance is different. It can be as big or as small as you need, giving your business more flexibility when it comes to funding. If you just need a little bit of cash to stay afloat, an MCA could be a great option.

MCAs Are Flexible

A merchant cash advance may also be the right choice because it’s flexible in terms of payment. MCAs are assessed on your future sales.The lender will look at your past sales and estimated future sales. They’ll then offer you a percentage of those sales as an advance on them.As you make sales, you pay back your advance. If your sales are higher, you can pay the advance off more quickly. If your sales are lower, then you don’t need to struggle to meet a certain minimum payment.This makes a merchant cash advance much easier for business owners like you to manage.

They’re Great for Startups

Many lenders require an extensive business history before they’ll extend a formal business loan. They want to see past proof of success.A merchant cash advance looks to the future, not the past. Even if you’ve only been in business a couple of months, you may be able to qualify for an advance.If you’re thinking about the future of your business funding, then it’s time to consider a merchant cash advance.

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5 Ways to Boost Your Business Cash Flow

A business in its prime has sufficient cash flow to carry out all the operations of the firm. When sales and profits are high, companies can take their guard off by increasing the expenses. When records are left unchecked and minimal attention is given towards the cash, bankruptcy becomes the fate of the business. When companies are progressing exceedingly, they need to pay extra attention to their affairs and the cash flow. Sustaining cash is one of the most common challenges that firms face. Therefore, they must exhibit vigilance in the maintenance of cash flow to progress optimally. So, if you’re looking to boost your cash flow and, in turn, boost your business, here are five ways to do just that.

Lease

Real estate, automotive, and machinery can be more expensive on full payment leading to delirious prospects. Lease payments are an effective approach for business. They can spare a portion of the total income and designate it to the lease payments.

Avoiding Complete Purchases

In the case of complete payments, companies may end up compromising their other practices. If profit exceeds the usual amount, then companies can use it for other developmental strategies instead of paying the entire purchase. They can open up further avenues from the supplementary profits.

Improving Receivables

On certain occasions, payables can exceed the receivables. When the payables are due before receivables, then cash flow becomes affected. In such a scenario, the probability of bankruptcy is high. Companies should analyze accounts payable and receivables. They should garner the receivables before the payables to pay off the debts, carry out the purchases, and stock the inventory.

Early Notifications

Notify the customers and clients of their payments and plan a strategy to manage the payables. Send out the invoices early and conduct electronic payments to ensure safety and accessibility.

Merchant Cash Advance

Merchant Cash Advances are one of the most underrated and efficient ways of maintaining the cash flow. It doesn’t just enable companies to sustain cash but also enhance their prospects. The principle of MCA dictates that certain companies give out money to those business that require investments. Such companies can use it to raise capital and execute payables. They can utilize the cash flow to function productively. The companies have to pay a certain percentage each month they generate revenue. In case of lower cash flow, they can skip the payment and release them later when they gain sufficient cash flow. Moreover, MCA providers also hand out funding to businesses with low credit scores. So, if a bank is turning you down for a loan, you still quality for an MCA and will receive the funds regardless of your credit score.

Conclusion

Maintaining cash flow can be daunting but specific protocols and funding options like MCA ensure that companies retain handsome amounts of cash in their organization. If you run a business and require MCA, then 2M7 is here to help you out. We’re a financial organization that was designed to help small to medium-sized businesses scale in the market. Give us a call today at 1-844-932-0418, and we’ll have your MCA sent to your account within the week!

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August 10, 2020
January 24, 2025

Understanding Small Business Loans

What is a small business loan?

Generally speaking, a business loan is borrowed by a business owner or a company in order to finance and manage its operations including, but not limited to, purchasing equipment or inventory, investing in expansion, hiring new employees, and more. A business loan has terms and conditions directing how and where the money can be used, what the interest rate is, and what would be the repayment schedule. Every financial institution has its own criteria and requirements for lending and offering the best business cash advance loans; each will assess your credit rating differently in order to estimate how risky it is to lend you money and will offer you several lending options.  A small business loan is fundamentally the same, where the money borrowed for small business needs to be used to purchase equipment or hire employees. For entrepreneurs who are looking to get their venture off the ground, the small business start-up loans are a great alternative. New business owners say that the biggest challenge in starting a business is to get financing. In this case, private lenders and government programs offer financing options to help out new businesses.  At the federal and provincial levels, Canada offers startups various financial aid programs within specific sectors and regions. For instance, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) offers loans to entrepreneurs to set up a new business, build or renovate facilities, buy equipment, develop new products, expand into new markets, improve IT infrastructure, and even sell the business.

Getting approved for your business loan

In order to get approval for small business loans in Canada, the owner has to provide a business plan as well as have all their documents in order. Firstly, you should ask yourself the following questions which will help you with your loan application:

  • Why does your business need the money?
  • What is the right type of loan for you?
  • What type of lender should you approach?
  • Do you think you qualify? If unsure, how can you improve your situation?
  • Do you have all the documents required by the bank?

Financial institutions are reluctant to provide business loans unless there is sufficient security or collateral to guarantee the loan. Numbers show that less than 25% of small startup business loan applications are approved by major lenders. That is why private lenders have become such a practical financing option in the last decade. Unlike venture capital or angel investors, they do not require you to put up a percentage of your business. Moreover, it is easier to obtain a business loan from private lenders as they are more flexible with the loan terms. The paperwork is not as difficult and loans approvals happen faster than in major financial institutions.  Below are a few types of small business loans and financing options:

  1. Lines of credit
  2. Peer to peer (P2P) loans
  3. Merchant advances
  4. Investor loans
  5. Term loans
  6. Commercial Bank Loans
  7. Equipment Loans for Startup Businesses
  8. Online Invoice Financing
  9. Traditional Equity Financing
  10. Personal Loans

Types of startup business loans

Startup needs differ from established and even small business needs. Moreover, the startup most likely generates zero or negative revenue in the beginning. Entrepreneurs who are looking to borrow money for their business are usually asked for personal guarantees and collateral. This means that the business owner may put up his house or any other assets as collateral for the loan. That said, start-up business loans may not be the best option – especially if there are not enough assets available. As mentioned above, small business start-up loans from private lenders are better alternatives. Whether obtained through crowd-funding, private lenders, or the government, small loans can help a business owner pave the way for his business. Currently, equipment loans for startups are very popular. These are relatively small loan amounts, so the equipment that is purchased can be put up as security. Merchant cash advances and peer to peer funding can help small businesses with their cash flow and managing operations. Business lines of credit (LOC), sometimes called corporate credit loans, are like credit cards but for businesses. It is a revolving credit system, where the business owner can withdraw the amount of money they need, up to the credit limit allowed by the lender. The borrower only pays interest on the amount that is borrowed. A business LOC can help a small business owner meet its cash flow requirements and manage their debt effectively.

A merchant cash advance for start-up businesses

Known as a “business cash advance”, merchant cash advances work on different terms compared to traditional loans. Unlike bank loans, a merchant cash advance does not evaluate credit score. Small business owners can typically receive up to $300,000 startup business Cash advance, without having to offer security for the loan!Under a merchant cash advance, the business receives a lump sum of advanced cash with the condition that the lender will receive a percentage of your future sales. Therefore, the merchant cash advance is a simple and fast way of getting capital right away. A merchant cash advance for startup businesses is a great financing option, allowing flexibility in repayment. For instance, if your sales in one month are lower, then the repayment amount will be lower; similarly, if your business performs very well the next month, your loan repayment will be higher. The private lender also takes care of repayments, ensuring there are no delays in payments from your end. Most of them have agreements with major payment processors, so private lenders can set up repayments based on your daily sales received by credit cards, which eliminates any headache of repayments on your end.   For business borrowers who need the money as soon as possible, merchant cash advances are one of the fastest ways of getting cash flow. Once the business loan is approved the cash advance is directly deposited into your account within one or two days. If you think it might be a good solution for you, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

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June 5, 2019
January 24, 2025

How to Expand Your Business with Merchant Cash Advance Benefits

Cash flow issues are a concern for most small and mid-sized business owners. In fact, many SMBs find it difficult to manage growth because of concerns about funds. Having access to the right funding makes it easier to support business growth. There are many different choices out there, but a merchant cash advance might be one you want to consider. Not convinced an MCA is the right choice for your business? Take a look at these Merchant Cash advance benefits and discover how MCAs could help you grow.

Lightning-Fast Access to Funds with a Merchant Cash Advance

One of the biggest benefits of an MCA is how fast you can access the funds you need to grow your business. Whether you need to cover a bill or you want to put a new marketing strategy in place, an MCA helps you do it sooner.Traditional loans can take months to arrive in your bank account. That’s after all the work of preparing your application and waiting for approval too.With an MCA, you could have the funds in your account in a matter of hours.

Think about the Future, Not Your Past

Most traditional forms of business funding rely on your financial history. Lenders will look at your credit score. If you’ve missed a payment or two, you might not qualify for a loan.An MCA is more forward-thinking. Instead of checking your credit score, the lender estimates future credit and debit sales.The lender then offers you a lump sum based on where you’re going, not where you’ve been. If your credit score is less than stellar, an MCA could be the right choice to help your business grow.You also don’t need to provide personal guarantees like you would with a loan.

Merchant Cash Advance Benefits Include More Flexibility

Flexibility is another reason to consider merchant cash advances for your expanding business.A traditional loan offers you a one-time, lump-sum payment. You’ll then pay the amount back with monthly scheduled payments.Merchant cash advances are different. Instead of paying the same fee every month, the MCA is repaid by a percentage of your credit and debit sales.If your sales dip one month, so too will your payment to the MCA. If you have higher than expected sales, your payment will increase too. This can help you pay back the MCA faster.This flexibility makes it much easier for a growing business to manage repayment. With merchant cash advances, you can stop worrying about making your loan payment.

Use Funds as You See Fit

With a traditional bank loan, you may have to tell the lender what you’ll use the funds for. Loan approval is then tied to buying equipment or investing in real estate.What if your needs change from month to month? Market conditions change quickly, and businesses like yours need to stay one step ahead.With a merchant cash advance, you’re in control of how the funds are spent. If you need to pay bills today and invest in a new website tomorrow, an MCA can make it happen.

Ready, Set, Grow

If you’ve been wondering how to fund your business’s growth, consider a merchant cash advance. The easy application process means you could have the funds you need in short order.If you’re not sure an MCA is right for your business, get in touch with us. We can help you discover the right alternative lending solution for your business.

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