Professional services
Agencies, consultancies, IT firms, engineering and accounting practices often have strong revenue but few, large, irregular deposits. That pattern reads differently in underwriting, and it is worth knowing how.
A restaurant shows dozens of card batches a month. A consultancy might show four client payments, each for $20,000 or more, arriving on net-30 or net-60 terms. Underwriters look at deposit count as well as total. The bank-style credit line in the guidelines on file looks for eight or more deposits a month; a firm with four large payments can clear the revenue bar and still miss that one.
The fix is not to split payments artificially. It is to show the full picture: six months of statements so lumpy months average out, a list of open invoices with client names and due dates, and any retainer agreements that make future deposits predictable.
Illustrative only. A 12-person marketing agency averages $95,000 a month in deposits. A $48,000 invoice to its largest client is on net-60 terms, and payroll of $30,000 is due twice in that window.
A $40,000 line of credit draw would cover both payrolls, with a 2.49% draw fee of $996, and can be repaid when the invoice clears. An advance of the same size is faster to arrange but usually costs more and keeps collecting after the invoice is paid. If the firm relies on one or two clients for most of its revenue, expect the funder to ask about concentration either way.
Fictional agency. Pricing depends on the file.
| Situation | Usually fits |
|---|---|
| Recurring retainers, 3+ years, steady deposits | Bank-style line of credit or term loan |
| Lumpy project revenue, need speed | Revenue-based advance sized to average deposits |
| One large invoice outstanding | Line of credit draw or invoice factoring |
| Already carrying an advance | Second position funding or a buyout |
Compare structures: business line of credit, invoice factoring vs MCA, document checklist. Credit from 500; same-day decisions; funding typically the next business day after signing.
One Merchant Fund Express application is matched with multiple funders, so you can compare net cash, total payback and payment schedule before you choose. Credit from 500, better credit gets better offers; same-day decisions; funding typically the next business day after signing.
Yes. Consultancies, agencies, IT, engineering and accounting firms are eligible; the review focuses on deposits, time in business and existing obligations.
Some programs set a minimum number of monthly deposits. A firm paid in a few large transfers can meet the revenue bar and still miss a deposit-count rule.
An aging list shows money already earned and when it is due. It helps underwriters read lumpy months correctly.
It can be. If one client is most of your revenue, expect questions about that relationship and contract.
A line is usually cheaper for a known, dated gap. An advance is faster but keeps collecting after the invoice is paid.
Same-day decision. Applying takes a few minutes and will not affect your credit score.
