Merchant Fund Express
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How long does it take to approve a small business loan?

Banks and SBA loans take weeks to months; revenue-based funding can be decided the same day with funding the next business day.

Check my options

Speed

Approval timelines by product, and what speeds them up

Approval time ranges from hours to months depending on the product. Revenue-based funding can be decided the same day; online loans take days; bank loans take weeks; SBA loans can take one to three months or more.

As fast as
24 hours

Amount to request

$85,000.00

Funding range$25K to $5M

*Sample amounts shown. Your actual offer depends on your business and is reviewed before approval.

Why owners use Merchant Fund Express

Clear numbers

Net cash, total payback and payment shown before you sign.

Buyouts up to $100K

Existing balances of $100,000 or less can be bought out.

Same-day decisions

A person reviews your revenue, time in business and bank activity, often within hours.

Lines of credit too

Advances, lines of credit and second-position options in one place.

Waiting on deposits to land?

Fast decisions. Applying takes about 5 minutes.

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How it works

Apply in minutes

A short application. A soft credit pull to start.

Fast decision

We review revenue, time in business and bank activity, not just a credit score.

Review your offer

You see the amount, the schedule and the full repayment amount before you sign.

Get funded

Funding in as little as 24 hours for qualified businesses.

How it actually works

Revenue-based funding and merchant cash advances are the fastest because underwriting relies mostly on bank statements. With a complete file, a decision often comes within hours, and funding can arrive the next business day after signing and verification. The main delays are incomplete documents and verification calls that cannot be completed.

Online term loans and lines of credit usually take from one day to a week. They check credit more closely and may ask for tax returns or connect directly to your accounting software. Equipment financing often falls in a similar range, depending on the vendor paperwork and the equipment being financed.

Bank term loans typically take two to six weeks. Banks review tax returns, financial statements, collateral, the business plan for larger requests and sometimes require committee approval. SBA 7(a) loans can take 30 to 90 days or longer, because the lender must also complete SBA requirements; SBA Express and lenders with preferred status can move faster.

Across all products, you control part of the timeline. Have the core documents ready before you apply, use consistent business names and addresses, disclose all existing debts, respond to questions the same day and make sure every owner who must sign is available. A single application through MFE reaches multiple funders at once, considering credit from 500, which avoids repeating the process if the first funder declines.

A worked example

Here is a same-day style offer, ready to compare while slower options are pending. Illustrative numbers.

Amount funded$125,000
Factor rate1.28
Total payback (amount × factor)$160,000
Fees deducted at funding (3%)$3,750
Net cash you receive$121,250
Weekly payment over 26 weeks$6,154
Same total as daily debits (~130 business days)$1,231/day

Illustrative numbers only. Your offer depends on your file; always compare net cash and total payback in writing.

Typical approval timelines

Merchant cash advance / revenue-basedSame day to 2 days
Online term loan or line1 day to 1 week
Equipment financingDays to 2 weeks
Bank term loan2 to 6 weeks
SBA 7(a)30 to 90+ days

Who this fits — and who should wait

Good fit:

Probably not yet:

Related questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a small business loan take?

From same day for revenue-based funding to months for SBA loans.

What is the fastest option?

Revenue-based funding and merchant cash advances.

Why do SBA loans take so long?

Lenders must complete both their own underwriting and SBA requirements.

Can I apply for a fast product while waiting on a bank?

Yes, but disclose the pending application and plan how both payments would fit.

What slows approval most?

Missing documents, inconsistent details and unreachable owners.

Does a marketplace speed things up?

It can, by reaching several funders with one complete file.

Payroll $25K
Inventory $60K
Equipment $90K
Expansion $150K

Example uses for illustration only.

How to improve your chances

Before you apply:

  • Prepare documents before applying
  • Respond the same day
  • Keep all signers available
  • Match the product to your deadline

Merchant Fund Express vs. a traditional bank

Merchant Fund Express
Traditional bank loans
Decision time
Same day
Weeks
Credit to apply
500 minimum
Usually much stronger credit
Collateral
Not required for most offers
Often required
Documents
Bank statements and ID
Tax returns, financials, plans
Offers
Multiple funders, compare
One lender

See what your business qualifies for

One secure application. A soft credit pull to start. No obligation to accept an offer.

Apply for Funding
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