Short answer
Merchant Fund Express funds existing franchise owners with credit challenges: 500+ FICO is accepted and the decision leans on your location's bank deposits, time open and existing payments rather than the score alone. Options include a merchant cash advance, revenue-based financing, working capital and equipment financing from $5,000 to $5,000,000. Apply in 4 minutes, no tax returns, decision in 2–4 hours on a complete file. ITIN applicants and sole proprietors are accepted.
Why deposits outweigh the score here
Banks lead with credit. Merchant Fund Express leads with the store. A franchise location that deposits steadily, pays royalties on time and keeps its account positive tells a stronger story than a score dented by a medical bill, a divorce or a bad 2020.
Credit still counts; it just is not the whole file. Clean recent deposits, few overdrafts and full disclosure of current payments do more for you than any explanation letter.
Best options by credit situation
| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 500–600 FICO, strong daily card sales | Merchant cash advance | Sized on deposits, payment flexes |
| Lower score, seasonal revenue | Revenue-based financing | Payment tracks revenue |
| Lower score, buying a machine | Equipment financing | The asset supports the deal |
| Fair credit, steady sales, fixed payment wanted | Working capital | Set schedule |
| Advance payment already heavy | MCA refinance | Lower the payment first |
| Below 500 FICO | Build deposits and reapply | 500 is the floor |
Five moves that strengthen a credit-challenged file
- Send clean statementsThree full months, every page, from the store's business account.
- Disclose every paymentAdvances, equipment notes, leases. Surprises slow the decision.
- Ask for the right amountA number tied to a use, not the biggest figure you can think of.
- Explain the dip in one lineA remodel month or a closed week reads fine with context.
- Keep the account positiveFewer overdrafts in the statement window help most.
Hypothetical example: an owner of one salon franchise with a 540 score and steady daily deposits asks for $20,000 for stations and payroll during a refresh. The deposits, not the score, set the size of the offer.
How fast it moves
Same speed as any file: 4-minute application, decision in 2–4 hours on a complete file, same-day funding available and funding often lands the next business day. A lower score does not add a waiting period; a missing statement does.
What we look at instead of just the score
| Signal | What helps | What hurts |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly deposits | Steady or growing | Sharp recent drop with no context |
| Account balance | Stays positive | Frequent overdrafts and returned items |
| Time open | Several months of operating history | Not yet open |
| Existing payments | Disclosed and manageable | Undisclosed advances found on statements |
| Use of funds | Clear amount tied to a purpose | Vague or open-ended request |
Notice that four of the five rows are about the store, not the owner's credit report. That is why franchise owners with a dented score still get funded here: the business proves itself every day in the deposits.
If your file is thin today, three more months of clean deposits change it more than anything else. Keep the account positive, pay current obligations on time and come back with fresh statements.
Credit-challenged files by sector
The pattern is the same across sectors: steady deposits carry the file. A quick-service store with daily card settlements reads cleanly for an advance. A home-services franchise with seasonal swings fits revenue-based financing. An auto shop buying a lift leans on equipment financing, where the machine supports the deal.
Whatever the sector, name the brand on the application and say what the money is for. A specific use and a clean statement window move a lower-score file just as fast as any other.
What to send
Spanish-speaking support is available. ITIN applicants and sole proprietors are accepted. Applying does not affect your credit score. Need to know what the full review checks? See Requirements.
Owner questions, answered
Can I get franchise funding with bad credit?
Yes. Merchant Fund Express accepts 500+ FICO and decides mainly on your location's deposits, time open and existing payments.
What is the minimum credit score?
500 FICO. Below that, build deposits and reapply.
Which product is easiest with lower credit?
A merchant cash advance or revenue-based financing usually fits best, because both are sized on revenue.
Will applying hurt my score?
No. Applying does not affect your credit score.
Can I apply with an ITIN?
Yes. ITIN applicants are accepted, and Spanish-speaking support is available.
Keep going
Merchant Fund Express is a separate company with no franchisor ties. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.