Funding comparison
Compare published guidelines for structure, timing, credit profile, and common uses. Final terms depend on underwriting and the specific offer.
Compare my optionsSide by side
These ranges and timing estimates were retained from the legacy Now Biz Fund project. They are not offers or guarantees.
| Consideration | Merchant Cash Advance | SBA Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Range | $5K–$500K | $50K–$5M |
| Typical funding speed | 24–48 hours | 30–60 days |
| FICO guideline | 500+ | 650+ |
| Often considered for | Strong daily card or deposit revenue with an urgent capital need | Established businesses seeking lower-cost, longer-term capital |
| Structure | An advance repaid from future receivables through daily or weekly remittances | Government-guaranteed term financing, including SBA 7(a) and Express |
The short version
A merchant cash advance exchanges a portion of future business receipts for fast capital and generally carries more frequent remittances.
The short version
SBA loans can offer longer repayment periods and competitive costs to qualified, established businesses that can support a more involved process.
Decision guide
Choose the SBA path when the business can support deeper underwriting and waiting for a potentially lower-cost, longer-term structure. Choose mca when the stated use and faster timing matter more. Compare total cost, payment cadence, collateral, and guarantees in the actual offers.
Start a no-obligation reviewCommon questions
Merchant Cash Advance has the faster published timing guideline here, but document readiness and underwriting determine actual timing.
Merchant Cash Advance lists 500+; SBA Loan lists 650+. These are guidelines, not approval guarantees, and other underwriting factors apply.
Request the total repayment, fees, payment frequency, term, prepayment treatment, and any collateral or guarantee requirements in writing. A rate or factor alone does not show the full cost.
Sometimes, if each product serves a distinct need and the combined payments remain affordable. Existing obligations affect underwriting, so disclose them before accepting an offer.