Short answer
Merchant Fund Express funds existing hotel franchise operators with working capital, equipment financing, lines of credit, business loans, merchant cash advances and revenue-based financing from $5,000 to $5,000,000. Typical uses are brand-required upgrades from a property improvement plan, furniture, fixtures and equipment, laundry and HVAC units, housekeeping and front-desk payroll, and off-season cash flow. It funds the operating hotel business, not the purchase of a property or real estate. A complete file usually gets a decision in 2–4 hours.
What hotel operators fund
Franchised hotels live on brand standards. When the franchisor issues a property improvement plan (PIP), the deadline does not move because occupancy dipped. Meanwhile, the hotel still runs a payroll every week.
PIP upgrades
Room refreshes, new signage, lobby updates and technology the brand requires.
FF&E
Beds, case goods, TVs, PTAC and HVAC units, laundry machines and breakfast equipment.
Payroll
Housekeeping, front desk and maintenance staff, through peak and off-peak.
Off-season cash
Covering fixed costs when occupancy drops between travel seasons.
Match the need to the funding
| If you need to… | Fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Replace PTAC units, laundry or breakfast gear | Equipment financing | The equipment anchors the deal |
| Fund the finish work in a PIP | Working capital | Labor, paint and soft goods repaid from room revenue |
| Fund a full PIP phase at once | Franchise business loan | One lump sum timed to the contractor |
| Bridge the slow season | Revenue-based financing | Payments track revenue when occupancy drops |
| Cover payroll between card settlements and OTA payouts | Business line of credit | Draw for the gap and repay |
| Buy the building or land | Not offered | Real-estate financing is outside what Merchant Fund Express does |
Most PIPs mix equipment and labor. Split them: equipment on equipment financing, the rest on working capital. The remodel funding page shows how.
How a hotel's deposits read
Hotel deposits come from card batches at the front desk, payouts from online travel agencies on their own schedule, and transfers from group and corporate accounts. A reviewer looks at monthly revenue across seasons, existing mortgage and equipment payments, and any brand fees drafted from the account. List the property's existing debt payments up front, including the mortgage, so the new payment is sized against what the operating business actually clears.
Seasonal properties should send a note on peak and shoulder months. See Seasonal cash flow for structures that move with occupancy.
Every brand in this sector
Select-service, extended-stay, economy and full-service franchised hotels are all welcome. Whatever flag is on the sign, Merchant Fund Express funds the operating hotel business on its own deposits.
Running a brand that is not named here? Put the brand on the application. Merchant Fund Express funds the location on its own deposits, whatever the logo over the door.
How fast it moves
- Apply in about 4 minutesName your brand, the property you operate, the amount and the use.
- Upload statements and IDThree months of business bank statements for the entity that owns the location, plus photo ID for each owner.
- Decision in 2–4 hoursMerchant Fund Express reads the deposits and current payments and comes back with the structure and the amount.
- FundsSame-day funding is available; funding often lands the next business day. Most files go from application to funds in under 72 hours.
Several hotels, each in its own LLC? Apply per entity; see Separate LLCs.
What to send
No tax returns to apply. 500+ FICO accepted. Spanish-speaking support is available and ITIN applicants are accepted.
Owner questions, answered
Can a franchised hotel get funding for a PIP?
Yes. Merchant Fund Express funds the operating hotel for PIP work, usually equipment financing for FF&E and working capital for labor and finish work.
Do you fund hotel purchases or real estate?
No. Merchant Fund Express funds the operating business, not property purchases, land or buildings.
Can I fund payroll in the off season?
Yes. A line of credit or revenue-based financing covers payroll and fixed costs when occupancy dips.
How fast is a decision?
A complete file usually gets a decision in 2–4 hours, and same-day funding is available.
Are you affiliated with any hotel franchise?
No. Merchant Fund Express is independent and has no ties to any hotel franchisor or brand.
Keep going
Merchant Fund Express is a separate company with no franchisor ties. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.