Merchant Cash Advance Credit FAQ
Credit and MCAs: scores, signatures and UCC filings.
There's no single credit score you need for a merchant cash advance. Funders weigh your deposits more than your score, and each one sets its own credit policy. Before you sign, ask how any credit review works, when it happens and whether it's a soft or a hard check.
Matching answers appear below as you type. Use the down arrow to move through them.
Credit
How credit fits into an MCA decision and what to ask about it.
Does applying affect my credit?
Applying with us doesn't. Our application never asks for your Social Security number or date of birth, so it can't run a credit check. A funder may review the owner's credit before it makes an offer, and each one runs its own process. Ask the funder how its review works, when it happens, and whether it's a soft or a hard check.
Read more: MCA for bad credit
What credit score do I need for an MCA?
There's no single minimum. Funders weigh your deposits more than your score, and each sets its own credit policy. A lower score can mean a smaller amount or a higher price rather than a flat no. Ask the funder how credit figures into its decision, and be wary of anyone who names a cutoff before reading your file.
Read more: MCA for bad credit
Can I get an MCA with bad credit?
Yes, it's possible. A low score doesn't rule a file out, because some funders put more weight on revenue than on credit. Expect a higher price, a smaller amount or a shorter term. Steady deposits, few overdrafts and no hidden advances help most. Our bad credit guide walks through what funders check and what you can fix first.
Read more: MCA for bad credit
Do MCAs show up on my credit report or build credit?
Many MCA funders don't report your payments to the business or personal credit bureaus, so paying on time usually won't build credit. Missed payments can still hurt, because a default can lead to collections or a court judgment, and those can show up. Ask the funder what it reports. If building credit is the goal, a line of credit or a card may suit you better.
Read more: MCA vs line of credit
Is an MCA secured or unsecured?
It's usually not secured by one specific asset like a building or a truck. Most funders file a UCC-1 lien on your business receivables, and many contracts give them a claim on other business assets too if you default. Most also ask the owner to sign a personal promise. Read the security and guarantee sections before you sign.
Read more: UCC liens and MCAs
Will I have to sign a personal guarantee?
Most MCA contracts ask the owner to sign a performance promise, sometimes called a validity guarantee. It usually covers things like not diverting sales, not switching bank accounts and telling the truth in your application, rather than promising the sales themselves. Some contracts go further. Read what yours covers, and have a lawyer read it if you're unsure.
Read more: How to read an MCA offer
Do I have to give my Social Security number?
Not to us. Our application never asks for your Social Security number or date of birth. A funder may ask for it later, through its own secure process, to confirm your identity and run its credit review before an offer. Never send a Social Security number, a bank login or an account number by email, to us or to anyone else.
Read more: Security
What is a UCC filing on an MCA?
A UCC-1 is a public notice a funder files with the state to record its claim on your receivables. Other funders and lenders see it when they check your business, so an open advance is no secret. It should be released with a UCC-3 termination once the advance is paid in full, so ask for that in writing when you finish.
Read more: UCC liens and MCAs
Can I get an MCA after a bankruptcy?
Some funders will look at a file after a bankruptcy, usually once it's discharged and the business has steady deposits since. An open bankruptcy case is much harder to place. Tell us the status up front so your file goes only to funders who take it. Hiding it wastes time, because funders check public records.
Read more: MCA qualifying FAQ
Still have a question?
Call 877-FUND-654 with any question. We call you back, usually the same business day, and we always talk with you before we shop your file.