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Merchant Cash Advance vs. Cheques Factoring

Merchant Cash Advance vs. Cheques Factoring

4
Apr 2022
12
May 2026

Managing a small business is challenging. One of the common challenges for business owners is financing. Your company might not have a lengthy credit history or collateral to apply for a bank loan. Whether you want to grow your business or cover unforeseen expenses, you have come across other financing options. Merchant cash advance and cheques factoring are some of the available options for small businesses.

What Is Merchant Cash Advance?

A merchant cash advance is an alternative financing option for small businesses. You can take the funds upfront and pay them off with a percentage of future sales. The MCA is an ideal solution for businesses that need fast funding and might not be eligible to take a bank loan. The availability of funds is another excellent advantage. If your business needs the funds fast to proceed with the operations, the cash advance will be approved within a day or two.

PROS

Fast access to funds

When timing is crucial and you can't go through the lengthy bank approval process, the MCA is your solution. Small businesses can get funds within a day or two from submission. Unlike the traditional bank process, the financial institutions that issue MCAs don't do rigorous checks. They will check the business's past sales to determine whether they qualify for a cash advance.

Ideal for businesses that work with cash and credit cards

Retail and restaurant businesses rely on a high volume of credit card sales, making them ideal for obtaining MCA. If your business depends on cash or credit cards, a cash advance is the ideal financing method. This opportunity is perfect for the ones that don't rely on invoices. Instead, they take a percentage of the credit card sales to repay the loan.

CONS

High-interest rates

Merchant cash advance comes with higher interest rates than traditional bank loans. The convenience of having the funds fast will cost more. However, the price is worth paying when you need urgent funds to proceed with the business operations.

What Is Cheques Factoring?

A post-dated cheque is a cheque that can be cashed on the indicated date on the document's face. It is a form of advance payment and can be cashed on a specific date. According to Canadian laws, a cheque can't be cleared before this date. If you still need cash to keep your business's liquidity, you can sell the cheque to a factoring company.

PROS

Fast approval

Depending on the date indicated on the check face, you might have to wait long to receive the payment. If you need to meet your business needs urgently, factoring your cheques will provide you with funds quickly. They will pay off a particular value of the face value while keeping a specific percentage as a fee.

No credit score checks

When applying for a traditional bank loan, they will do a rigorous check on your financial history. When your small business is relatively new and doesn't have a credit history, you might be restricted from obtaining such loans. Your ability for cheque factoring isn't assessed with credit history, and you aren't required to disclose collateral. This is very important, as you don't need to put your property or equipment at risk. The factoring company will check the check for authenticity.

Not deal with cheques

Having to deal with cheques is a tedious job. Passing this responsibility to a third party means less time spent sorting out cheques so that you can focus on the more important aspects of your business.

CONS

Higher cost

The factoring company will charge fees to provide you with the cash in advance. They will usually pay 80% of the amount indicated on the face. However, the high cost might pay off if you need money urgently.  

Requirements

Cheques factoring companies might have specific requirements for cashing out your document. For example, the check drawer should be a reputable entity. Also, the factoring company might have particular requirements on the cheque's active time.

Merchant Cash Advance vs. Cheques Factoring

For cheques factoring, you will pay a fee to the factoring company expressed as a percentage of the total amount. On the other hand, you will pay off your MCA as a percentage of your future sales. When choosing the suitable financing method for your company, select the one that is a better fit for your needs. We at 2M7 are dedicated to providing the needed funds to enhance your business's liquidity without restrictions on how to use them. Get in touch with us, and we will answer your specific needs!

How to qualify for funding

Your business is located

IN CANADA

You’ve been operating at least

3 MONTHS

Your revenue is at least

$15,000/MONTH

And you have no open bankruptcies
YES, YES, AND YES - approve me for funding

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If you are looking to grow your business, then you may find it challenging if you have poor credit. However, there are a number of options that can help your business get the financing with poor credit. Here’s a look at the steps you can take to secure fencing for your business with poor credit.

1) Check your credit score

The first thing that you should do is know your credit score. If your credit score is below 700, then your credit will be considered subprime. Also, this can prevent you from the top business financing options. You can credit your credit score for free on Credit Karma. You can also request one credit report, per year, from the two major credit reporting agencies.

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  • Merchant cash advance - A merchant cash advance is an advance based on the credit card sales deposited into your business’s bank accounts. In short, a merchant cash advance can help you get access to your money faster for a small fee. Many businesses used merchant cash advance to gain faster cash flow.
  • Short-term line of credit - A short-term line of credit allows you to draw from a pool of funds. When you pay back the loan with interest, then you can draw from the line of credit again.

3) Create a business plan

If you are looking to secure a short-term business loan, it is a good idea to have a business plan. After all, the bank will want to know what type of business that you are in and how you intend to generate revenue. A well-organized business plan will increase your chances of being approved for a short-term business loan.

4) Have collateral

If you have any form of collateral, then you can secure a loan much more easily. Here are some types of collateral that can allow you to get the funds that your business needs:

  • Vehicle
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5) Find a co-singer

Finally, you can find a co-signer that can help you secure a loan or financing with poor credit. A co-signer can be anyone from a member of the family to a business partner. The co-signer should be aware that they are liable for the loan if you don’t pay back the principal or the interest.

Getting your business up and running

Bad credit doesn’t have to stop you from funding your business. At 2M7 Financial Solutions, we do not require a credit score to issue a merchant cash advance. Apply now to get a merchant cash advance today.

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Rapid shifts in new technologies, increased competition, and the state of the economy have led to an increased need for financing, but it is becoming increasingly more difficult from small businesses to access funding from traditional lenders,” said Avi, when asked about the challenges that small businesses face when it comes to securing funding. “Most small businesses need loans to bridge the gaps during uncertain times such as these, but small business owners continuously struggle to secure working capital.”

For over a decade, 2M7 has been dedicated to leveraging its expertise in the Canadian lending landscape to help as many small businesses as possible to get access to the working capital they need. This dedication has led to the development of a proprietary algorithm which uses a unique approach to evaluate risk and determine credit worthiness – enabling 2M7 to fund businesses that might not otherwise qualify for a traditional loan.

Furthermore, the 2M7 team strives to provide an alternative lending solution that better meets the needs of small Canadian businesses than traditional loans. With minimal requirements and simple terms, 2M7 has designed a straight-forward borrowing option that essentially provides small business owners with a cash advance that is deposited directly into their bank account within 24-48 hours, to use immediately within their business as they see fit.2M7 Financial Solutions continues to be at the forefront of the innovative technologies and processes that are transforming the Canadian financial industry in order to help grow the small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. As the industry continues to evolve, the 2M7 team is committed to continuously improving its flexible funding solutions and working closely with small business owners to better meet their changing needs.

To read the full interview, click here to open page 37 of this month’s digital edition of CanadianSME Small Business Magazine.

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Why a Merchant Cash Advance is Better than a Business Loan

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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