Franchise funding
When a government-backed program is worth the wait, and when an operating owner needs the money on the unit's schedule.
✓ 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
Verdict: when the franchise unit is already open and the need has a date (a refresh, a failed cooler, a payroll gap), working capital from Merchant Fund Express is the fast option: about 5 minutes to apply, about 3 months of bank statements, a same-day decision on a complete file. SBA programs suit owners who can wait through a longer process with more paperwork. Merchant Fund Express does not offer SBA loans, and an owner who already has one can still apply.
The deciding question is time. SBA programs exist to back long-term bank lending and take longer and need more paperwork. Working capital is built for an owner whose unit is already producing deposits and who needs money on the unit's calendar, not the program's.
Merchant Fund Express is built for franchise owners who are already open: we read unit-level deposits, count royalty and ad fund debits as normal costs, and size the payment the unit can carry. Final terms depend on the business's revenue and history. Generic background: SBA loan vs merchant cash advance.
| SBA loan | Working capital | |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it | Lenders in SBA programs (not Merchant Fund Express) | Merchant Fund Express |
| Timeline | Longer, multi-step process | Same-day decision on a complete file; funding often next business day |
| Paperwork | More: typically tax returns and financial statements | About 3 months of bank statements; no tax returns for a typical first review |
| Start | Full application package | About 5 minutes online, soft credit pull |
| Credit | Program and lender standards | Scores from 500 considered; 600+ opens better offers |
| Amount | Program limits | $25,000 to $5,000,000, sized from deposits and obligations |
| Existing SBA loan | Counted by the new lender | Counted like any other obligation; you can still apply |
| Best use | Long-horizon projects that can wait | Dated needs at an open unit |
Details: franchise funding with an existing SBA loan and the general funding with an SBA loan guide.
Choose an SBA program when:
Choose Merchant Fund Express working capital when:
Hypothetical burger unit: deposits of $130,000 a month. Food, labor and rent run $104,000; royalty and ad fund debits $9,100; an existing SBA payment $4,100. A franchisor-scheduled refresh costing $75,000 is due in 8 weeks.
| Line | Figure |
|---|---|
| Room before new funding | $130,000 - $104,000 - $9,100 - $4,100 = $12,800 a month |
| Working capital amount | $75,000 |
| Total repaid (illustrative) | $93,600 |
| Weekly payment | $93,600 / 52 = $1,800 |
| Monthly equivalent | $1,800 x 52 / 12 = $7,800 |
| Burden on deposits | $7,800 / $130,000 = 6% |
| Room left after the payment | $12,800 - $7,800 = $5,000 a month |
The SBA payment stays in place and is simply counted. The refresh is paid on time, and the unit keeps a $5,000 monthly cushion.
Figures in this example are illustrations of the arithmetic, not an offer, quote or approval. Real terms depend on the file and the funder.
Yes, if the plan is realistic. Some owners use working capital for the dated need and keep a separate SBA application going for a long-term project. Merchant Fund Express sizes the bridge to what the unit carries today. Read funding to bridge to an SBA loan for the generic version.
Working capital is for operating businesses. Buying a first franchise or a startup needs an operating history; read existing vs new franchise funding. An existing owner opening another unit is reviewed on the current units' deposits, entity by entity. Every product for open units is on the franchise funding hub.
No. Merchant Fund Express offers working capital, business loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, merchant cash advances and revenue-based financing for operating owners.
Yes. The SBA payment is counted like any other obligation when the new payment is sized.
Not for a typical first review. About 3 months of business bank statements; full financials usually only above $250,000.
A same-day decision on a complete file and funding often the next business day. SBA programs take longer.
Yes. The review reads your deposits and obligations; see the guide for owners declined by the SBA.
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.
