Guide
Government-backed lending means SBA and state programmes. Merchant Fund Express does not offer any of them.
✓ Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.
SBA 7(a) for general purposes, 504 for owner-occupied real estate and heavy equipment, microloans to $50,000 through intermediaries, and EIDL where a declared disaster applies.
State programmes vary widely and are usually run through participating banks or CDFIs.
Materially cheaper, materially slower, materially more paperwork. Tax returns, financial statements, and often a personal collateral pledge.
Eligibility rules bite more often than credit does: ineligible industry, ownership structure, prior federal debt, or an affiliate rule pulling in another entity.
Apply here for the timeline and pursue SBA for the cost. A term loan here repaid early earns a 50% discount on the remaining interest, so the overlap is cheap.
No.
Underwriting, eligibility verification and the guaranty process run weeks to months.
Same-day decision, next business day funding.
Same-day decision. Applying takes a few minutes and will not affect your credit score.
