Lendio vs MFE
Lendio and Merchant Fund Express are both marketplaces. Here is how they differ on product focus, published requirements and speed, checked October 2026.
| Lendio | Merchant Fund Express | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Marketplace connecting businesses with 100+ lenders | Marketplace: one application matched with multiple funders |
| Minimum credit | Not published | 500 minimum (better credit, better offers) |
| Time in business | Not published | Varies by funder and product |
| Revenue | Not published | Varies by product |
| Amounts | From under $5,000 to over $1M | $25,000 to $5,000,000 (product ranges) |
| Speed | As little as 24 hours (may be longer) | Same-day decision; funding typically next business day after signing |
| Products | A/R financing, equipment, SBA, business loans, lines of credit | Merchant cash advance, business line of credit, second position funding, buyouts on balances of $100,000 or less |
| States | Not published | All 50 states |
Sources: Lendio homepage, Trustpilot; checked October 2026. Lendio is a trademark of its owner; Merchant Fund Express is not affiliated.
Both models are similar: one application, multiple funders, you choose. The difference is focus. Lendio lists A/R financing, equipment, SBA loans, business loans and lines of credit across 100+ lenders. Merchant Fund Express focuses on working capital: merchant cash advances, lines of credit, second position funding and buyouts.
Requirements: Lendio did not publish a credit, history or revenue floor on its homepage. Merchant Fund Express publishes a 500 credit minimum, with better credit generally producing better offers.
Amounts: Lendio describes from under $5,000 to over $1M. Merchant Fund Express offers depend on the funders and your revenue; buyouts cover existing balances of $100,000 or less.
Speed: Lendio says as little as 24 hours, possibly longer. Merchant Fund Express publishes same-day decisions with funding typically the next business day after signing.
Existing advances: Merchant Fund Express includes second position funding and buyouts with a 30/60/90-day early-payoff discount on offers that carry one; on Lendio, availability depends on individual lenders.
Long-term or SBA projects fit Lendio’s menu better; short-term working capital and restructuring fit Merchant Fund Express’s focus.
Illustrative scenario: a medical practice needing $400,000 for an expansion with time to wait might lean toward Lendio’s SBA and term options. A food truck owner with a 540 score needing $25,000 this week, or a contractor with two existing advances, fits Merchant Fund Express’s working-capital and buyout focus better.
Ask each lender on a marketplace the same questions about payback and payment frequency.
Disclose existing balances to both.
If you need SBA or equipment financing and can wait, Lendio’s broader menu makes sense. If you need working capital quickly, already carry an advance or have credit in the 500s, start with Merchant Fund Express. Tell each marketplace what you already applied for.
Good fit:
Compare first if:
Request a written Lendio quote and a Merchant Fund Express application, then line up net cash, total payback and payment frequency. Credit from 500, same-day decisions, funding typically the next business day.
Yes; both match one application with multiple funders.
Merchant Fund Express publishes 500; Lendio did not publish one.
Lendio lists SBA loans; Merchant Fund Express focuses on working capital.
Merchant Fund Express, for balances of $100,000 or less.
Yes; disclose existing applications and balances to each.
Merchant Fund Express offers buyouts on balances of $100,000 or less.
Same-day decision. Applying takes a few minutes and will not affect your credit score.
