Use of funds
Cover the ramp: the weeks between opening day and a steady daily deposit.
✓ Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.
At Merchant Fund Express, we start from what the money is for, because the use decides the amount, the structure and the timing.
The build-out was budgeted. The opening was not: staffing before the first sale, opening inventory, marketing and the first month of rent with no revenue.
Underwriting leans on bank activity: how much comes in, how steadily, and what the balance looks like between deposits. A request that is tied to a specific, near-term need is easier to size and to approve.
Cover the ramp: the weeks between opening day and a steady daily deposit. Sum payroll, rent, utilities, inventory and marketing for that period.
An illustration. These are illustrative figures to show the arithmetic, not an offer.
| Item | Illustration |
|---|---|
| Monthly fixed costs | $28,000 |
| Months of runway planned | 3 |
| Opening inventory and marketing | $15,000 |
| Total opening cash need | $99,000 |
Before you choose, ask two questions: how long will the money be out, and where will the repayment come from? The answers narrow the options quickly.
A lump sum timed to the opening. See the page →
Draw as the ramp consumes cash. See the page →
Opening with no runway. Most new locations take longer to reach steady sales than the plan assumed.
Sole proprietors can apply. The minimum FICO is 500, and the better your credit, the better your offer. See the published requirements.
Yes, if the existing business’s revenue supports it; the review is of the business that applies. Merchant Fund Express shows the exact amount, schedule and total cost in your offer before you sign.
A person reviews your revenue, time in business and bank activity, and a decision is typically same day. Approved files are usually funded the next business day.
No. Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.
Apply with Merchant Fund Express: same-day decision, and applying takes a few minutes without affecting your credit score.
