Short answer
Merchant Fund Express is what an operating franchise owner uses when an SBA loan is too slow for the problem in front of them. It does not offer SBA loans. It funds open locations from $5,000 to $5,000,000 with working capital, a line of credit, equipment financing, a merchant cash advance or revenue-based financing, sized on the store's own bank deposits. Send a 4-minute application, three months of statements and owner ID; a complete file usually gets a decision in 2–4 hours and same-day funding is available.
Two different tools for two different clocks
An SBA loan is a long, paperwork-heavy process built for long-horizon borrowing. That is fine when the need can wait. Most franchise problems cannot. A failed walk-in spoils inventory today. A franchisor refresh letter comes with a deadline. A short month lands right before payroll.
Merchant Fund Express is built for that clock. No tax returns to apply. No business plan. The review reads the location's deposits, time open and current payments, then puts the right structure in front of you the same day.
| What you need | SBA route | Merchant Fund Express |
|---|---|---|
| Money this week | Not built for it | Decision in 2–4 hours, same-day funding available |
| Apply without tax returns | Tax returns and a full package | Application, 3 months of statements, ID |
| Fix one urgent problem | Usually sized for bigger projects | $5,000 and up, sized to the need |
| Credit below prime | Typically a hurdle | 500+ FICO accepted |
| Open a brand-new unit from scratch | A common SBA use | Not offered; needs an operating location |
Use both: fund now, keep the SBA file moving
You do not have to choose forever. Plenty of owners keep an SBA application in process for a large, slow project and use Merchant Fund Express for what cannot wait. If you do that, tell both sides. The SBA side will see the new payment on your statements anyway, and an honest file moves faster everywhere.
Equipment that broke
Put the replacement on Equipment financing and keep cooking.
A gap before a busy season
A lump sum of Working capital, repaid from the revenue it protects.
Recurring tight weeks
A Business line of credit you draw only when the calendar squeezes.
Uneven months
Payments that track sales with Revenue-based financing.
If this, then that
- If the need is under a week awaySkip the long process. Apply with Merchant Fund Express and get a decision the same day.
- If you already carry an SBA loanRead funding alongside an SBA loan and check your loan agreement for lien terms first.
- If your credit kept you out of the SBA line500+ FICO is accepted here. See credit challenges.
- If you have not opened yetThis is not your product. Read existing vs new.
Still weighing it? The side-by-side SBA vs working capital comparison lays out cost, speed and paperwork in one table.
What happens in the next 72 hours
Here is the fast path an operating owner actually walks, start to funds. No guesswork, no waiting for a committee to meet.
- Hour 0You finish the 4-minute application and upload three months of statements and ID.
- Hours 2–4A specialist reads the deposits and current payments and comes back with the structure and amount that fit.
- Same day or next business dayYou accept, sign and funds move. Most files go from application to funds in under 72 hours.
Compare that with assembling tax returns, projections and a full loan package. For a store that needs to fix something this week, speed is not a luxury; it is the whole point.
Who this fits best
Owners of open stores with steady deposits and an urgent, specific need. Owners whose credit sits below prime, since 500+ FICO is accepted. Sole proprietors and owners who prefer Spanish-speaking support. Owners in all 50 states. If that sounds like you, the fastest route is the application, not a phone tree.
What to send today
Sole proprietors are eligible. Spanish-speaking support is available and ITIN applicants are accepted.
Owner questions, answered
Does Merchant Fund Express offer SBA loans?
No. Merchant Fund Express funds operating franchise locations with working capital, lines of credit, equipment financing, merchant cash advances and revenue-based financing. It is the fast option, not an SBA program.
How fast is it compared with an SBA loan?
A complete file usually gets a decision in 2–4 hours, and most files go from application to funds in under 72 hours. Same-day funding is available.
Can I apply while my SBA application is pending?
Yes. Disclose the pending application. Many owners fund the urgent need now and let the larger SBA project run on its own timeline.
Do I need tax returns or a business plan?
No. The application, three months of business bank statements and ID for each owner are enough to start.
Can I use this to open my first franchise?
No. Merchant Fund Express funds stores that are already open and depositing revenue.
Keep going
Merchant Fund Express is a separate company with no franchisor ties. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.