Everything You Need To Know About Merchant Cash Advances

Merchant cash advance

At Lending Valley, we understand that not every business has the time or credit profile to wait for a traditional loan. That’s why our merchant cash advance company solutions provide fast, simple access to working capital without the roadblocks of conventional financing.

Unlike a traditional loan, a Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) isn’t debt—it’s an advance based on your future credit card and debit card sales.

In exchange for upfront cash, you agree to repay a fixed percentage of your daily transactions until the balance (plus fees) is cleared.

This makes MCAs a popular option for small businesses that need immediate funding without lengthy approval processes or collateral requirements.

How Merchant Cash Advances Work

  • Receive cash upfront from direct lenders

  • Repayment is based on a daily percentage of your debit/credit card sales

  • No fixed monthly payment, your payback adjusts with your revenue

  • No collateral required and fast approval, even with less-than-perfect credit

Pros and Cons of Merchant Cash Advances

pros of MCA

Pros

  • Almost instant access to working capital (funding in 24–48 hours)

  • Simple application process with minimal paperwork

  • Approval even with average or challenged credit

  • Flexible use: payroll, inventory, emergencies, or growth opportunities

  • Ideal for retail, restaurants, and service-based businesses with high card transaction volume

 

Cons

  • Higher fees compared to traditional small business loans

  • Daily deductions can affect cash flow predictability

  • Limited flexibility to switch providers once an MCA is in place

 

Who is Best Suited to Take Advantage of Merchant Cash Advances?

 

  • Businesses with steady debit/credit card transactions (restaurants, salons, retailers, service providers)

  • Entrepreneurs needing fast capital without collateral

  • Owners who don’t qualify for traditional loans but can manage repayment through daily sales percentages

 

Businesses that make a significant amount of their revenue through debit card and credit card payments are also going to be prime prospects for these kinds of financial services.

Restaurant and retail locations, for example, usually do quite a bit of business with these payment types – payment types that are perfectly suited to merchant cash advances.

 

Understanding the MCA Application Process

merchant cash advance process

Unlike traditional lending opportunities, the application and approval process for MCA opportunities is simplified and streamlined.

Some companies in the industry are going to ask about your credit score, credit history, and bank statements.  Most are only going to zero in on how much money you take in through plastic every day.

On top of this, the overwhelming majority of MCA options are available through online-based lenders.

This means that the application process can be taken advantage of and moved through at any point in time, day or night, 24/7.

Before you fill out the application, however, you want to make sure that you have:

  • Your driver’s license or government-issued ID
  • A voided bank check
  • Banking history/banking statements
  • Credit score and credit history information
  • Business tax returns (as applicable)

… But most importantly, you’ll need to be sure that you have your most recent credit/debit card processing statements on hand to get the ball rolling with an MCA package.

Why Work with Merchant Cash Advance Direct Lenders?

When searching for funding, it’s critical to work directly with a merchant cash advance direct lender instead of brokers. Direct lenders like Lending Valley:

  • Eliminate hidden middleman fees

  • Provide transparent terms and repayment schedules

  • Offer faster approvals and personalized support

  • Deliver competitive rates compared to broker-marketed offers

How Will This MCA Financing Package Actually Work?

Merchant Cash Advances are pretty simple to understand.

After you are approved for this kind of financing package, you will be provided with a “lump sum advance” that you can use flexibly to build, grow, and stabilize your business.

In return, a small portion of your daily credit and debit card sales will go towards paying off this financing, usually with some smaller fees attached as well.

All of this is handled through the industry-standard Automated Clearing House (ACH) banking protocol, which works similarly to direct deposit.

Every day, a percentage of your credit card and debit card sales will be remitted to the MCA financing service, and every day, a little bit more of your lump-sum financing package will get paid off.

Merchant Cash Advance Reviews

Don’t just take our word for it, merchant cash advance reviews consistently highlight speed, accessibility, and flexibility as key benefits for small business owners.

Many borrowers appreciate that MCAs help them bridge cash flow gaps without long waits or strict requirements.

Lending Valley, Inc. place picture
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ClintandGina Johnson profile pictureClintandGina Johnson
20:39 23 Sep 25
Chad was great. Very easy. Nothing but great experience
KellyTim profile pictureKellyTim
17:22 08 Sep 25
Chad at Lending Valley is a leader in his field. He analyzes the business situation, suggests helpful options, and delivers on his solutions. Don't waste time with other consultants who can't deliver. Chad at Lending Valley is like having a financial consultant on your board of directors!
alan symonette profile picturealan symonette
16:38 29 Aug 25
Chad Otar was very good at helping me navigate through the process he is very good at his job I am thankful he help me through the process
Sorin Munteanu profile pictureSorin Munteanu
21:41 19 Aug 25
connie henriquez profile pictureconnie henriquez
15:32 14 Aug 25
Chad was absolutely Amazing ! His speed , professionalism and understanding our needs was exceptional! The process was quick and I would recommend checking out Lending Valley trust me you will be pleased with them ! Thank you Chad !
Sheena Green profile pictureSheena Green
15:59 11 Aug 25
It was so great working with Chad , I know it’s business but it really felt like speaking with family ! Very honest very upfront !The connection was nothing short of AMAZING !! Thank you so much !
Talented Providers profile pictureTalented Providers
16:21 30 Jul 25
It was a pleasure working with Chad! The funding process was easy and the terms were better than all the other lenders that sent quotes. If you need business funding, this is the place!!
Julius Buccicardi profile pictureJulius Buccicardi
16:12 30 Jul 25
Chad otar is amazing. Talk about speed and professionalism. This is the second time we use him and we have zero regrets. Great work chad!! Our business thanks you a lot!!
cristian yllescas profile picturecristian yllescas
17:15 25 Jul 25
Took care of my business in less than a week! Good people to work with, they explain everything with ease🙌
Unitee US profile pictureUnitee US
14:32 08 Jul 25
Just received my loan, Chad is awesome, very professional but yet personable. I would highly recommend this company to anyone.

MCA Costs Can Get Pretty High

While a Merchant Cash Advance financing package can offer you almost instant access to the funds and capital that you need when you need it most, it’s also going to have some of the highest interest rates and fees attached to this cash as well.

Typical interest rates for MCA packages can sit at anywhere between 1.14 and 1.48 (on average), a factoring rate that you then have to multiply your total loan amount by so that you know exactly what you are going to have to repay in the long term.

This basically works out to an APR that starts at around 15% but can very often spike up as high as triple digits, and stay there for a while, making this a very expensive proposal to be sure.

Combine all of that with the fact that the overwhelming majority of MCA offers are repaid over a block of time.

bussiness creditGet Started with Lending Valley Today

If you need fast, flexible funding from a trusted merchant cash advance company, Lending Valley is here to help.

📌 Funding amounts: $5,000 – $1,000,000
📌 Approval as fast as 24 hours
📌 Requirements: 3+ months in business, $5k/month in revenue, 500+ credit score

Requirements –

2 Months in Business
$5000 or more in Monthly Credit Card Sales
$7500 or more Gross Monthly Revenue
No bankruptcies

 

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