Construction companies / SBA alternative
The honest trade-off between the cheapest money and the fastest money, with the published limits.
✓ Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.
At Merchant Fund Express, we publish the terms and thresholds behind this page so you can check your own numbers before you apply.
SBA lenders want contracts, work-in-progress schedules and a history of completed jobs. The review is thorough and slow; a start date is not. Many contractors use SBA for the equipment or yard purchase and something faster for mobilisation.
| SBA 7(a) loan | Merchant Fund Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum | Up to $5 million for a standard 7(a) loan | $10,000 to $350,000 line, $10,000 to $250,000 term loan |
| Timeline | Weeks to months | Same-day decision, typically funded the next business day |
SBA program limits as described on our SBA vs merchant cash advance comparison (sba.gov, checked October 2026); lender requirements on top of SBA rules vary.
The friction for construction companies is usually this: SBA files want contracts, WIP schedules and work-in-progress reports, which takes weeks while a start date is fixed. That is not a reason to skip an SBA application; it is a reason to know what carries the business while it is pending.
If you are two or more years in, profitable on paper and can wait, start with the SBA. If you need cash this month, or cannot meet bank-style documentation, start here.
If the project is months out and the numbers are strong, SBA is worth it. If a start date is fixed and the first draw is 45 days after, a faster structure is the practical choice. Merchant Fund Express shows the exact amount, schedule and total cost in your offer before you sign.
Often, yes, but tell your SBA lender before taking new financing during underwriting. Surprises can delay or derail a closing.
An SBA lender must show the borrower cannot get comparable credit elsewhere on reasonable terms and that the business can repay from cash flow, so the file is larger.
Apply with Merchant Fund Express: same-day decision, and applying takes a few minutes without affecting your credit score.
