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A good intermediary saves you time and finds structure you would not have found. A bad one shops your file everywhere and costs you real money. The difference is answerable in about four questions.
✓ Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.
Intermediaries are generally paid by the funder, as a percentage of what is funded. That is not inherently a problem, but it does mean the incentive points toward the largest deal that will close, not necessarily the one that fits your business best. Knowing that changes the questions you ask.
| Sign | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your file is blasted to a dozen funders at once | Multiple inquiries and a flood of calls; it signals a shopped file |
| Pressure to sign today on a deal with no deadline | Urgency that serves the commission, not you |
| Reluctance to state total repayment in dollars | The only figure that compares offers |
| A promise to pay off or wipe out your existing advances | That is not what any product in this market does |
| Guaranteed approval | Nobody can guarantee an approval |
A straight answer on how the deal is structured, a clear statement of total cost in dollars, and a willingness to tell you when borrowing is the wrong move. We would rather say a deal does not work than place it — if the cost of funding exceeds the margin it produces, it is not worth doing at any speed.
Usually the funder pays. Ask directly, and ask whether it varies with the amount or product.
Ask before you sign anything. A widely shopped file can mean multiple inquiries and a lot of unwanted calls.
No. Any guarantee of approval is a warning sign, not a selling point.
Total dollars repaid. It compares cleanly across every structure.
Same-day decision. Applying takes a few minutes and will not affect your credit score.
