Short answer
Merchant Fund Express funds inventory for existing franchise owners: food and paper, retail stock, parts and tires, seasonal product and the supplies a large order demands. Most inventory buys fit working capital, repaid from the sales the stock produces; recurring buys fit a line of credit; seasonal stores often fit revenue-based financing. Funding runs from $5,000 to $5,000,000, sized on the store's deposits. A complete file usually gets a decision in 2–4 hours.
Match the inventory buy to the product
| The buy | Fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One big order before a busy stretch | Working capital | Repaid from the sales it creates |
| Weekly or monthly restocking that runs tight | Line of credit | Draw, repay, draw again |
| Holiday or summer stock at a seasonal store | Revenue-based financing | Payments track sales |
| A large catering or corporate order | Working capital or MCA | Fast, tied to the revenue it brings |
| B2B customers who pay in 30-90 days | Invoice factoring | Cash now for open invoices |
Where franchise owners run short on stock money
Food and paper
Restaurant owners in Pizza, Burgers and drive-thru and Chicken and wings feel price spikes first.
Retail and seasonal
Stores in Retail and Desserts and bakery buy ahead of holidays.
Parts and tires
Shops in Automotive stock tires before the season turns.
Supplies for service brands
Cleaning, pet and beauty locations stock product and chemicals in bulk.
The pattern is the same: cash goes out weeks before the sales come in. Inventory funding closes that gap so you never turn down a big week for lack of stock.
Size it right: three quick rules
- Buy what you will sellSize the ask to the stock you can turn in the season, not the most you could store.
- Match the payment to the slow weekThe payment should be easy in an ordinary week, not just a great one.
- Bring the order or invoiceA supplier quote or purchase order makes the use of funds obvious and the file faster.
Inventory needs often sit next to equipment needs. If you also need a new freezer to hold the stock, see refrigeration funding. If sales swing hard by season, read seasonal cash flow first.
Hypothetical: a wing store ahead of football season
An owner of one wing store knows that fall weekends bring the biggest orders of the year, and chicken prices have climbed. The owner wants to lock in product and packaging before the season instead of buying week to week at higher prices.
The owner asks for $20,000 with a supplier quote attached. The reviewer reads three months of deposits, notes the weekend spikes and the current payments, and places the request as working capital repaid from the season's sales. Because the store restocks every few weeks, the specialist also points to a line of credit for the following year.
This is an illustration of how a file is reasoned, not a past transaction.
Inventory money versus equipment money
Owners sometimes put a freezer and the stock that fills it into one request. Split them. The freezer lasts years and fits Equipment financing, where the machine supports the deal. The stock turns in weeks and fits working capital or a line. Two right-sized pieces read cleaner than one blended number, and each payment matches how long the thing it bought actually lasts.
Same idea for a POS or ordering upgrade that drives more sales: see POS upgrades. And if a supplier offers better pricing for paying early, say so on the application; a reviewer can see why the timing matters and size the request to capture the discount.
What to send
No tax returns to apply. 500+ FICO accepted. Sole proprietors and ITIN applicants are eligible; Spanish-speaking support is available.
Owner questions, answered
Can I fund inventory for my franchise?
Yes. Merchant Fund Express funds inventory for open franchise locations, usually as working capital or a line of credit.
Which is better for inventory, a line or a lump sum?
A lump sum for one big buy; a line if you restock on a cycle and run tight each time.
Can I fund a large catering order?
Yes. Send the order confirmation; working capital or a merchant cash advance repaid from the revenue fits well.
How fast can inventory money arrive?
Decisions usually come in 2–4 hours on a complete file, and same-day funding is available.
Do I need tax returns?
No. Application, three months of statements and owner ID.
Keep going
Merchant Fund Express is a separate company with no franchisor ties. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.