Requirements
The published thresholds for each product, side by side, and how a franchise agreement, an entity structure and royalty debits fit into the review.
✓ Merchant Fund Express starts with a soft credit pull. Terms depend on your business's revenue and history.
Updated October 21, 2026 · Merchant Fund Express
Merchant Fund Express publishes two requirement tiers. The line of credit and term loan ask for 3+ years in business, FICO 650+ and about $25,000 a month in revenue; revenue-based financing asks for 6+ months, FICO 600+ and $60,000 in verifiable revenue. Franchise owners are read the same way, with royalty and ad fund debits treated as recurring obligations.
These are the baseline for every Merchant Fund Express review. The product chosen then adds its own thresholds below. General context sits on the sitewide funding requirements page.
| Requirement | Tier 1 published threshold |
|---|---|
| Time in business | 3+ years |
| FICO | 650+ |
| Revenue | $300,000 a year or $25,000 a month, with 8+ deposits a month |
| Average balance | $5,000 or 10% of monthly revenue |
| Negative days | Max 3 a month and 9 in 6 months |
| NSFs | Max 6 a month and 24 in 6 months |
| Ownership | At least 50% held by the applicant |
| Bankruptcy or foreclosure | None in the last 3 years |
| Existing positions | At most 2; the term loan takes first position only, a line of credit can sit in second |
| Pricing | Line of credit from 1% per month; term loan at 0% origination |
A franchise owner with a mature unit usually reads this tier first, and Merchant Fund Express prices it lowest. See the franchise line of credit for how a revolving limit fits seasonal stores.
| Requirement | Tier 2 (revenue-based) | Tier 1 for comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Time in business | 6+ months | 3+ years |
| FICO | 600+ | 650+ |
| Revenue | $60,000 verifiable | $25,000 a month |
| Balances | Minimum daily balance $800 | Average $5,000 or 10% of monthly revenue |
| Negative days and NSFs | Max 5 | 3 negative days and 6 NSFs a month |
| Existing positions | Up to 2 current advances | At most 2, position rules apply |
| History | No open bankruptcies and no prior defaults | No bankruptcy or foreclosure in 3 years |
| States | California and New York carry extra restrictions | All 50 states |
Revenue-based financing is not a loan: it is repaid from a share of future revenue, and Merchant Fund Express reviews it on the same three months of statements. It suits a newer unit, or an older one whose credit sits between 600 and 650.
Equipment financing has no separate published minimums, and we do not invent any. The review centers on the equipment itself: a vendor quote, the item's useful life, and the fact that the money goes to that purchase. The location's deposits still show whether the payment fits. Read franchise equipment financing for oven, cooler, lift and print press examples.
Multi-entity owners should also read the multi-unit guide.
Royalty and advertising fund debits are normal recurring obligations. Whether the franchisor takes a percentage of sales or a flat monthly amount, the reviewer finds the debits on the statements, totals them, and sizes payment capacity after them. They are not a negative mark. Our page on royalty debits in a file shows a statement line by line.
Example: a unit deposits $80,000 in a month. Royalty and ad fund debits total $7,200, rent and other fixed costs $14,000, and an existing advance $4,000. The reviewer starts from roughly $54,800 of capacity before payroll and food or parts costs, not from the full $80,000.
Figures in this example are illustrations of the arithmetic, not an offer, quote or approval. Real terms depend on the file and the funder.
Only for the line of credit and term loan. Revenue-based financing starts at 6 months in business with FICO 600+ and $60,000 in verifiable revenue.
Scores from 500 are considered, but the published product tiers start at 600 for revenue-based financing and 650 for the line of credit and term loan.
It can be requested to confirm the entity, the unit and the fee structure. Have it ready, along with your bank statements.
They are counted as recurring obligations, so capacity is measured after them. They do not count against you beyond that.
No separate minimums are published. The review reads the vendor quote, the equipment's useful life and whether the location's deposits carry the payment.
Merchant Fund Express reviews your location's revenue, deposits and existing payments. Same-day decision on a complete file; funding often the next business day. About five minutes to apply.
