Short answer
Merchant Fund Express funds existing franchise owners with equipment financing and working capital, and often both on the same project. Equipment financing fits a specific machine with a vendor quote, such as an oven, a walk-in, a lift or a printer; the equipment anchors the deal. Working capital fits everything that is not a machine: installation labor, finish work, inventory, payroll while the store is down. Both run $5,000 to $5,000,000, with one application and a decision in 2–4 hours on a complete file.
The rule of thumb
If it has a model number, think equipment financing. If it does not, think working capital.
A conveyor oven, a reach-in, a lift, a kiosk: those have quotes, serial numbers and a useful life. Equipment financing ties the payment to the asset. Electrician time, new flooring, menu boards, a week of lost sales during install: no model number. That is working capital.
Side by side
| Equipment financing | Working capital | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | A specific machine or fixture | Any business use: labor, stock, payroll, repairs |
| What anchors it | The equipment | The store's deposits |
| What to send extra | Vendor quote with model numbers | A clear amount and use |
| Best for | Long-lived equipment | Short-lived needs and soft costs |
| Decision | 2–4 hours on a complete file | 2–4 hours on a complete file |
| Amount | $5,000 to $5,000,000 | $5,000 to $5,000,000 |
How a typical franchise project splits
| Project | Equipment financing | Working capital |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in cooler replacement | The cooler box and compressor | Install, electrical, spoiled-stock replacement |
| Kitchen refresh | Fryers, ovens, hoods | Contractor labor, finishes, signage |
| POS and kiosk rollout | Terminals, kiosks, kitchen screens | Training hours, setup, the slow first week |
| Service van | The vehicle | Wrap, shelving install, first fuel and parts load |
| Salon refresh | Chairs, stations, shampoo bowls | Paint, lighting, lost days while closed |
Specific pages for the common ones: Refrigeration, POS upgrades, Vehicles and remodeling.
The verdict for a franchise owner
Do not put a ten-year machine on a short lump sum, and do not try to stretch equipment financing over labor and paint. Split it. You send one application with the total and the vendor quote; Merchant Fund Express separates the equipment from the rest and sizes each part to what the store's deposits carry.
Emergency? If the machine is down today, say so on the application. A complete file with the quote attached is the fastest path to a decision, and same-day funding is available.
Hypothetical example, not a past deal: a chicken franchise owner needs $42,000 for two fryers and a hood repair. The $30,000 in fryers fits equipment financing on the vendor quote; the $12,000 hood labor and lost-sales cushion fits working capital.
Three mistakes that slow an equipment file down
- Sending a total without a quoteA single number for “the kitchen” forces a second round of questions. Attach the vendor quote and the file moves the same day.
- Mixing two stores in one requestIf the oven is for one location and the cooler for another, and each store sits in its own LLC, say which entity owns which machine.
- Leaving out current equipment paymentsExisting leases and equipment payments show on the statements anyway. Listing them up front lets the new payment be sized right the first time.
Fix those three and an equipment request is one of the cleanest files a franchise owner can send. The quote states the amount, the statements show the store can carry it, and the decision follows.
What to send so the decision comes back today
No tax returns to apply. 500+ FICO accepted. Sole proprietors are eligible, Spanish-speaking support is available and ITIN applicants are accepted.
Owner questions, answered
Can I finance used equipment for my franchise?
Send the quote and the details. Merchant Fund Express reviews the request on the item and the store's deposits.
Can installation be included?
Installation and other soft costs usually fit working capital, alongside equipment financing for the machine.
Do I need the franchisor's approved vendor?
Follow your franchise agreement. Merchant Fund Express funds the equipment your system requires; send that vendor's quote.
How fast is equipment financing?
A decision in 2–4 hours on a complete file, with the quote attached. Same-day funding is available.
Can I get both on one application?
Yes. Apply once with the total and the quote. Merchant Fund Express splits the request.
Keep going
Merchant Fund Express is a separate company with no franchisor ties. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.