Short answer
Merchant Fund Express funds existing franchise owners with both: a merchant cash advance, repaid as a percentage of daily or weekly card and bank deposits, and a business loan delivered as working capital on a set repayment schedule. Pick the advance when sales swing and speed matters most; pick the loan when deposits are steady and you want a fixed, predictable payment. Either way it is $5,000 to $5,000,000, one 4-minute application and a decision in 2–4 hours on a complete file.
The 30-second version
An advance flexes. A loan holds still. That is the whole trade.
With a merchant cash advance, the payment is a share of what comes in. A slow Tuesday takes a smaller bite than a packed Saturday. With a business loan, the payment is the same amount on the same schedule whether the store had a great week or a rough one. Neither is the better product in general. One of them is the better product for your store this month.
Side by side
| Merchant cash advance | Business loan (working capital) | |
|---|---|---|
| How you repay | A percentage of daily or weekly card and bank deposits | A set amount on a set schedule |
| Slow week | Payment shrinks with sales | Payment stays the same |
| Best for | Uneven sales, urgent needs, card-heavy stores | Steady deposits, planned projects |
| Decision | 2–4 hours on a complete file | 2–4 hours on a complete file |
| Paperwork to apply | Application, 3 months of statements, ID | Same |
| Existing advances | Considered; disclose them | Considered; disclose them |
| Amount | $5,000 to $5,000,000 | $5,000 to $5,000,000 |
Pick the advance if…
Card-heavy formats such as quick-service restaurants and drive-thrus are the classic fit. The deposits are frequent, and the payment rides on them.
Pick the loan if…
A franchisor-required remodel or a planned inventory build for a steady store usually reads better as a loan.
The verdict for a franchise owner
If you are not sure, do not choose. Name the amount and the reason on the application and let Merchant Fund Express read the deposits. That is the advantage of one place that offers both: the structure follows the numbers, not a sales pitch.
Two shortcuts. Need it today and sales are lumpy: lean advance. Planning ahead with steady sales: lean loan. Already carrying an advance and the payment is heavy? That is a different conversation: see MCA refinance to lower the payment, or Already have an advance if you need new capital alongside it.
Hypothetical example, not a past deal: a pizza owner with big weekend spikes and quiet weekdays needs $25,000 for a replacement oven by Friday. The swing in sales and the deadline point to an advance. The same owner planning a lobby refresh three months out, with steady deposits, would lean toward a loan.
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
Is a merchant cash advance a loan?
No. An advance is repaid as a percentage of your daily or weekly card and bank deposits rather than a set loan payment. Merchant Fund Express offers both, so you can compare them on your own numbers.
Which is faster for a franchise owner?
Both get a decision in 2–4 hours on a complete file, and same-day funding is available. Speed comes from a complete file, not the product.
Can I get an advance if my credit is not great?
500+ FICO is accepted. The review leans on the store's deposits and time open.
Can I switch from an advance to a loan later?
You can apply for a different structure later. If an existing advance payment is heavy, the MCA refinance page explains how to lower the payment.
Do I have to pick one on the application?
No. State the amount and the reason. Merchant Fund Express matches the structure to the deposits.
Keep going
Merchant Fund Express is a separate company with no franchisor ties. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.