Short answer
Merchant Fund Express funds existing franchise owners with working capital, not SBA loans. The honest split: an SBA-backed loan from a bank or SBA lender asks for a fuller package (typically tax returns, financial statements and a business plan) and takes longer to close, which suits large, planned, long-horizon projects. Working capital from Merchant Fund Express needs a 4-minute application, three months of bank statements and ID, gets a decision in 2–4 hours, and suits needs that cannot wait. Plenty of owners use both.
The real difference is time and paperwork
An SBA loan is a government-backed loan made by a bank or SBA lender. The package is heavier and the process is longer; that is the trade for a program built around big, long-term financing.
Working capital from Merchant Fund Express is built the other way around: a short application, bank statements instead of tax returns, and a decision the same day the file is complete. Your store's deposits do most of the talking.
Side by side
| SBA loan (bank or SBA lender) | Working capital (Merchant Fund Express) | |
|---|---|---|
| Offered by Merchant Fund Express | No | Yes |
| What you send | Typically a full package: tax returns, financials, plan, more | Application, 3 months of bank statements, owner ID |
| Tax returns to apply | Typically yes | No |
| Decision speed | Longer process; ask the lender | 2–4 hours on a complete file |
| Funding | After closing | Same-day funding available; often next business day |
| Credit | Lender's own standards | 500+ FICO accepted |
| Best for | Large, planned, long-horizon projects | Needs that cannot wait: repairs, payroll, inventory, a deadline |
Pick working capital if…
Already waiting on the SBA? See when the SBA is too slow. Already carrying an SBA loan and need more? See Already have an SBA loan.
Pick the SBA route if…
Being plain about that last point: Merchant Fund Express funds operating locations. Startup capital, franchise purchases and real estate sit outside what it offers; the existing vs new guide explains why.
The verdict for a franchise owner
This is rarely either-or. Owners commonly keep a bank or SBA relationship for the big, slow-moving financing and use working capital or a line of credit for everything that moves faster than a bank. If you already have an SBA loan, read your loan agreement for any rules on new financing before you sign anything new.
Hypothetical example, not a past deal: a coffee franchise owner's espresso machine dies in October. An SBA application would not close before the holiday rush. A complete file with Merchant Fund Express gets a decision in hours, and the machine is replaced before the season starts.
Speed check: which side of the line are you on?
Ask when the money has to be in the account. If the answer is “this week”, the SBA route is not built for it, and working capital is. If the answer is “sometime next year” and the project is large, the SBA route deserves a look. Somewhere in between? Start with the fast file; nothing stops you from also talking to a bank about a longer-horizon project.
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
Does Merchant Fund Express offer SBA loans?
No. Merchant Fund Express offers working capital, lines of credit, equipment financing, merchant cash advances, revenue-based financing and invoice factoring.
Can I get working capital while my SBA application is pending?
Yes. Disclose the pending application. The working capital decision is based on your store's deposits and comes back in 2–4 hours on a complete file.
I already have an SBA loan. Can I still get working capital?
Yes. Existing loans are considered. Check your SBA loan agreement for rules on additional financing before you sign.
Do I need tax returns for working capital?
No tax returns to apply. Send the application, three months of business bank statements and owner ID.
Which is right for buying a franchise?
Not working capital. Merchant Fund Express funds operating locations, not franchise purchases or startups.
Keep going
Merchant Fund Express is a separate company with no franchisor ties. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.