Short answer
Merchant Fund Express funds franchise owners who invoice other businesses: it advances against open invoices to business customers on 30–90 day terms, so payroll and suppliers do not wait on a client's payables calendar. It fits commercial cleaning, restoration, staffing, B2B service franchises, auto shops with fleet accounts and food brands with corporate catering accounts. Apply in about 4 minutes, decision in 2–4 hours on a complete file, 500+ FICO accepted, no tax returns.
Which franchise owners actually factor
A burger drive-thru gets paid at the window. Factoring is not for that store. It is for franchises whose customers are other businesses and pay on terms.
Commercial cleaning
Office and facility contracts billed monthly, paid 30–60 days later. Cleaning and restoration.
Restoration
Large water and fire jobs where the bill sits with a commercial client for weeks.
Staffing and B2B
You pay workers weekly; clients pay invoices monthly. Staffing and B2B.
Auto service with fleets
Fleet accounts pay on terms while techs are paid weekly. Automotive.
Corporate catering
Office catering orders invoiced after the event.
Factor, borrow or draw? Decide here
| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Large open invoices to business clients, cash needed now | Invoice factoring | Cash moves with the paper you already hold |
| Mostly retail card sales, a few invoices | Merchant cash advance | Sized on deposits |
| Gaps repeat every month across all customers | Line of credit | Draw only what you need |
| One-time project, such as new vans or machines | Equipment financing | Asset anchors the deal |
| Invoices to consumers, not businesses | Working capital | Factoring covers business invoices |
Unsure between a line and factoring? Read the line of credit page first; then come back here if your invoices are the bottleneck.
What makes a factoring file move fast
Clean paper. Invoices should be to creditworthy business customers, dated, with clear terms in the 30–90 day window and no disputed work. A short aging report showing who owes what and since when lets a specialist size the advance in one pass.
Hypothetical example: a commercial cleaning franchisee bills $60,000 a month across a dozen office contracts, most paid at 45 days. A new hospital contract doubles weekly payroll before the first invoice is paid. Factoring the open invoices covers payroll now, and the cycle repeats as new invoices are issued.
Speed, step by step
- Apply in about 4 minutesName the brand, your business customers and the amount.
- Send statements, ID and an aging listThree months of business bank statements plus open invoices.
- Decision in 2–4 hoursA specialist confirms which invoices qualify and the advance.
- FundingSame-day funding is available; funding often lands the next business day.
Factoring next to the rest of your funding
Factoring rarely stands alone in a franchise file. A restoration owner might factor commercial invoices for payroll and finance a new drying-equipment package separately. A staffing franchisee might factor client invoices and keep a line of credit for everything else.
Merchant Fund Express reads the whole file once. Tell the specialist what else you need, such as vans, equipment or a refresh, and the decision covers the full picture rather than one product at a time. Already carrying an advance? Disclose it; factoring works alongside other funding products.
The fastest factoring files share three traits: invoices issued promptly after the work, customers with a history of paying, and terms printed clearly on every invoice. If your billing runs late, fix that first; it is the cheapest working capital you have.
Quick self-check
Answer yes to all four and factoring is likely your fastest route:
Are your customers businesses?
Property managers, offices, insurers' commercial clients, fleets, hospitals, schools.
Are invoices on 30–90 day terms?
Longer or open-ended terms slow the read.
Is the work finished and accepted?
Disputed or partial work does not qualify.
Is the money for a timing gap?
Payroll, supplies or a new contract ramp, not a long-term loss.
What to send
Ask your specialist about customer notification for your file; arrangements vary. Core product details: MFE Direct invoice factoring.
Owner questions, answered
Can a franchise owner factor invoices?
Yes, if the franchise bills other businesses. Merchant Fund Express advances against open invoices to business customers on 30–90 day terms.
Which franchise types use factoring?
Commercial cleaning, restoration, staffing, B2B services, auto shops with fleet accounts and food brands with corporate catering accounts.
Do invoices to homeowners qualify?
Factoring covers invoices to business customers. Consumer-paid work fits working capital or a merchant cash advance instead.
Will my clients know?
Arrangements vary. Ask your specialist about notification requirements for your file.
How fast is the decision?
2–4 hours on a complete file, with same-day funding available.
Keep going
Merchant Fund Express is a separate company with no franchisor ties. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.