Compare merchant cash advances and see what they really cost.

24 providers on the same terms, plain-English cost math, and one free request to see which ones fit. We may be compensated when you connect with a provider; it never changes the data we publish.

Step 1 of 3

Your funding needs

Ranges are fine. Nothing on this step is a credit check.

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What a 1.30 factor rate costs Illustrative example
Advance
$50,000
Factor rate
× 1.30
Total repaid
$65,000
Cost of the advance
$15,000
Simple annualized, 6-month payback
≈ 60%

Daily or weekly payments push the true amortized APR higher. Run your own numbers

A business owner talking through funding costs with an advisor

One request. Then the math, before you sign anything.

  1. 01

    Tell us the basics

    About a minute: amount, monthly revenue, time in business. Ranges are fine.

  2. 02

    Our partner reviews your request

    1West Finance, our funding marketplace partner, matches it with available providers. Terms depend on underwriting.

  3. 03

    Compare the real cost before you sign

    Factor rate, total payback, effective APR. You decide, or walk away. There's no obligation.

Start with step 1

Built around how your business gets paid.

Card-heavy, invoice-heavy, seasonal. Each guide covers how advances are underwritten and repaid in that industry.

How much will an MCA actually cost?

Merchant cash advances use a factor rate, not an interest rate. You repay the advance multiplied by that rate, however fast you repay. A $50,000 advance at a 1.30 factor rate costs $15,000 in fees, giving you $65,000 total repayment. Repaid over 6 months, that's roughly 60% simple annualized APR, or around 110% true APR on an amortized basis. Run your own numbers with our merchant cash advance calculator.

  • 1.10–1.50Typical factor rates; most funded deals fall between 1.15 and 1.35
  • 60–250%Common true APR range, depending on how fast you repay
  • ShorterRepayment terms raise the effective APR sharply
Bakery owner working through his week at the counter before opening
Your cost, line by line Estimate
$50,000
$10K$300K
1.30
1.201.45
6 months
3 mo18 mo
Total repayment
$65,000
Total fee
$15,000
Simple annualized APR
60%

This is a simple annualized estimate. Because MCAs are repaid daily or weekly, your true amortized APR runs roughly 1.8–1.9× higher.

Run the full cost analysis

We’re paid by providers. Here’s exactly what that means.

MCA Guide is free for business owners because funding companies pay for introductions. You should know how that works before you trust anything we publish.

  1. 01

    We’re not a lender

    We don’t make credit decisions, fund advances, or set terms. We compare providers and pass along requests you choose to send.

  2. 02

    How we’re paid

    We may be compensated when you connect with a provider. That keeps the site free. It doesn’t change the provider data we publish. Read the disclaimer

  3. 03

    Where your request goes

    To one funding marketplace partner, 1West Finance, not a list of brokers. We don’t sell your personal information. Privacy policy

How we research

Every guide is checked against primary sources: provider rate sheets, state financing-disclosure statutes, and published SBA and Federal Reserve small-business data. We update pages when terms or laws change, and correct errors when we find them.

Our editorial standards

Before you sign

Straight answers to what owners ask most about cost and repayment.

All 20 questions
What's a factor rate?
A factor rate is a decimal multiplier that determines your total repayment amount. Factor rates typically range from 1.10 to 1.50. Multiply your advance by the factor rate to get your total repayment. For example: $30,000 advance x 1.30 factor rate = $39,000 total repayment ($9,000 in fees). Unlike interest rates, factor rates do not compound — your total cost is fixed from day one. Learn more about factor rates.
How much does an MCA cost?
MCA costs vary widely. The total fee is determined by your factor rate, which typically ranges from 1.10 to 1.50. On a $50,000 advance, that means you repay between $55,000 and $75,000 total. When converted to an equivalent APR, MCAs often fall between 40% and 150%+ depending on the repayment term. Additional fees may include origination (2-5%), ACH return fees ($25-$50), and underwriting fees ($100-$500). See full cost breakdown.
How is repayment calculated?
Your daily repayment is calculated as a holdback percentage of your daily credit card sales or bank deposits. If your holdback is 15% and you process $2,000 in card sales today, the provider deducts $300. On slower days with $800 in sales, you only pay $120. This variable repayment continues until the full purchased amount (advance x factor rate) is collected, typically over 4 to 18 months.
Can I pay off my MCA early?
Most MCA agreements allow early payoff, but the savings vary. Some providers offer a 10-20% discount on the remaining balance for early payoff. Others require you to pay the full purchased amount regardless of timing, meaning there is no benefit to paying early. Always ask about early payoff terms before signing — and get it in writing. Learn more about repayment options.
What credit score do I need for an MCA?
Most MCA providers require a minimum credit score of 500 to 550, though some work with scores as low as 450. Unlike bank loans, your credit score is not the primary factor — revenue is. Providers care more about your monthly sales volume and consistency. That said, better credit scores can help you negotiate lower factor rates. See our bad credit MCA guide.
Do I need collateral for an MCA?
No, MCAs are unsecured — you do not need to pledge business assets or real estate. However, most providers require a personal guarantee from the business owner, which means you are personally liable if the business cannot repay. Some agreements also include a general lien (UCC filing) on business assets. This is standard across the industry.

Learn before you sign

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See which providers fit, and what they’ll cost.

Three short steps. Requesting options doesn’t itself affect your credit, and there’s no obligation to accept anything.

See my options Compare all 24 providers
What a 1.30 factor rate costs Illustrative example
Advance
$50,000
Factor rate
× 1.30
Total repaid
$65,000
Cost of the advance
$15,000
Simple annualized, 6-month payback
≈ 60%

Daily or weekly payments push the true amortized APR higher. Run your own numbers