Can I Get a Merchant Cash Advance With an ITIN?
Can I get a merchant cash advance with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number?
Yes, some funders work with owners who have an ITIN instead of a Social Security number, especially when the business has an EIN, a business bank account and steady deposits. Fewer funders offer it, so expect a shorter list of options and more documents.
Why does an ITIN narrow the field?
Most funders run a credit report on the owner, verify identity and take a personal guarantee. Credit bureaus can report on ITIN holders, but files are sometimes thinner, and some funders' systems are built around Social Security numbers. So part of the market simply doesn't take ITIN files. The funders that do rely more on the business's bank statements.
What helps an ITIN file?
- An EIN for the business and a business bank account in its legal name.
- Several months of steady deposits, with clean balances.
- A valid government issued photo ID, such as a passport.
- Proof of address and a utility bill or lease in your name or the business's name.
- Any credit history you have, even if it's short.
How does the personal guarantee work with an ITIN?
ITIN holders can sign personal guarantees just like other owners. The funder wants to be confident it can identify and reach the guarantor. Clear, consistent documents, the same name spelled the same way everywhere, make that easy.
Which offers should make you cautious?
Owners who are turned away by mainstream options sometimes attract offers with unclear terms or upfront fees. You should never pay a fee to apply or to receive an offer. Read the contract closely, ask who the funder is and compare the payment to your deposits. We never charge you, and the funder pays our commission on funding.
What if a co-owner has a Social Security number?
If a partner has a Social Security number and a meaningful share of the business, funders sometimes build the file around that partner's credit, with both owners signing. Talk to us before deciding who signs what.
How do you build toward more options?
Each month of clean business banking and each account you pay on time widens the list of funders who'll look at your file. Consider a secured business card or a small line from your bank to build a record. The first advance paid well also counts. Many owners with ITINs see their options grow after a year or two of steady history.
Why do names and spellings matter?
Use the same spelling of your name across your ID, bank account, business filings and funding paperwork. Small differences, like a missing middle name, trigger identity checks that slow the file down.
How can Afterfirst help with this?
Call 877-FUND-654 and tell us how the business is set up and what ID you have. We'll send your file only to funders in our network that work with ITIN holders, so you're not collecting declines from ones that don't.
What else do owners ask about this?
- Can a non-citizen get a merchant cash advance for a US business?
- Do all owners have to sign a merchant cash advance?
- Can a franchise owner get a merchant cash advance?
More short answers on this topic are on the your business and your file FAQ, and the funder fit checker runs the numbers for your own file.
Have a question we didn't answer?
Ask us on the call. 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.