Merchants generally must use the providers' credit card processor because the advance is paid back automatically as a percentage of each batch's proceeds. A small number of merchant cash advance companies do not require the merchant to change credit card processors. So if this would be a problem, make sure to ask the merchant cash advance company you are thinking about working with.
Cash advances are very different from traditional funding programs. In essence merchant cash advance providers purchase a small percentage of future MasterCard and Visa revenues, and the merchant repays this as a daily percentage of those revenues.
Getting cash from traditional financing institutions can be difficult for some businesses, particularly retail, restaurant, franchisees or seasonal businesses. These merchants most heavily use credit card processing, so merchant cash advance programs offer a number of benefits.
Merchant Cash Advance programs are cash flow friendly, especially during seasonally slow periods. Traditional loans and leases require a set payment every month, whether the business has made a sale or not. Because payments are calculated as a percentage of sales, if sales are growing, the amortization could be quicker, but if the proprietor experiences some interruption or downturn in business, the payments will be lower.
There is no fixed interest rate; the effective interest rate varies depending on the business. If the merchant's business is doing well and sales are up, the advance provider collects the money sooner and the interest rate is rather high. Since there is no time limit on paying back the loan, the effective annual rate decreases as the payments are extended over time, although the cash provider typically forecasts a fairly short period for payback, usually less than a year.
There's no question that the merchant's cost for this kind of financing is going to come in more than a conventional loan, but it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that a conventional bank will reject this merchant for their much needed loan.
However, merchant cash advance companies say that ailing businesses are not the only merchants interested in this kind of program. Many types of businesses are often underserved by traditional funding institutions. Take for example a restaurant, it could be a very successful business, but a traditional bank wants to see tangible assets. Perishable foods or used restaurant equipment just won't make the cut, even if that restaurant is packed every night.
There are many examples of times when owners of healthy small businesses could use cash to help build their businesses but can't get the traditional funding necessary. These include franchisees who have exhausted their savings to purchase their first franchise and want to open a second one; merchants whose competitors have closed and have the chance to buy their competitor's old inventory or move into a new location; expansions; buyouts; or simply the desire to move quickly on a perceived new opportunity.
Source : Merchant Cash Advance and Cash Advance Loans from FundFactor.com
Cash advances are very different from traditional funding programs. In essence merchant cash advance providers purchase a small percentage of future MasterCard and Visa revenues, and the merchant repays this as a daily percentage of those revenues.
Getting cash from traditional financing institutions can be difficult for some businesses, particularly retail, restaurant, franchisees or seasonal businesses. These merchants most heavily use credit card processing, so merchant cash advance programs offer a number of benefits.
Merchant Cash Advance programs are cash flow friendly, especially during seasonally slow periods. Traditional loans and leases require a set payment every month, whether the business has made a sale or not. Because payments are calculated as a percentage of sales, if sales are growing, the amortization could be quicker, but if the proprietor experiences some interruption or downturn in business, the payments will be lower.
There is no fixed interest rate; the effective interest rate varies depending on the business. If the merchant's business is doing well and sales are up, the advance provider collects the money sooner and the interest rate is rather high. Since there is no time limit on paying back the loan, the effective annual rate decreases as the payments are extended over time, although the cash provider typically forecasts a fairly short period for payback, usually less than a year.
There's no question that the merchant's cost for this kind of financing is going to come in more than a conventional loan, but it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that a conventional bank will reject this merchant for their much needed loan.
However, merchant cash advance companies say that ailing businesses are not the only merchants interested in this kind of program. Many types of businesses are often underserved by traditional funding institutions. Take for example a restaurant, it could be a very successful business, but a traditional bank wants to see tangible assets. Perishable foods or used restaurant equipment just won't make the cut, even if that restaurant is packed every night.
There are many examples of times when owners of healthy small businesses could use cash to help build their businesses but can't get the traditional funding necessary. These include franchisees who have exhausted their savings to purchase their first franchise and want to open a second one; merchants whose competitors have closed and have the chance to buy their competitor's old inventory or move into a new location; expansions; buyouts; or simply the desire to move quickly on a perceived new opportunity.
Source : Merchant Cash Advance and Cash Advance Loans from FundFactor.com

