Is CAN Capital or OnDeck better for small business funding?

It depends on what product you need. CAN Capital is a true merchant cash advance provider — it offers factor-rate advances ($2,500–$250,000) with repayment tied to daily revenue, no published minimum credit score, and a $175,000 annual revenue threshold. OnDeck is not an MCA provider: it exited the merchant cash advance market in 2020 and now offers APR-based term loans (29.9%–97.3% APR, up to $250,000) and lines of credit (29.9%–65.9% APR, up to $100,000), requiring a 625+ credit score and 1+ year in business. If you want a revenue-linked advance that flexes with your sales, CAN Capital is the right comparison. If you prefer fixed daily or weekly payments at a published APR, OnDeck is the better fit — but it is not an MCA.

What are CAN Capital and OnDeck's rates?

CAN Capital publishes its factor-rate range as 1.15–1.35 — among the more competitive published ranges in the direct MCA market. It charges a $595 flat administrative fee instead of a percentage origination charge, which favors larger advances. OnDeck publishes APR ranges: term loans run 29.9%–97.3% and lines of credit run 29.9%–65.9%, plus an origination fee of 2.4%–4%. These are different pricing models (factor rate vs. APR) that require conversion to compare. On a $100,000 advance over 6 months: CAN Capital at 1.30 costs $30,000; OnDeck at 65% APR over 6 months costs approximately $37,600. But at OnDeck's lowest rate (29.9%), the 6-month cost on $100,000 is approximately $17,700 — significantly cheaper if you qualify for the low end.

How much can I borrow from CAN Capital vs OnDeck?

CAN Capital and OnDeck have similar maximum amounts — $250,000 and $250,000 (term loan) respectively — but different floors and structures. CAN Capital starts at $2,500; OnDeck starts at $5,000. CAN Capital's $250,000 cap applies to all advance products. OnDeck's line of credit caps at $100,000. For amounts above $250,000, neither lender is an option — consider Fora Financial or Biz2Credit through the full directory at /directory.

How fast does each lender fund?

Both are reasonably fast for qualified businesses. OnDeck's automated underwriting provides approval in 24–48 hours and funding in 1–3 business days. CAN Capital approves in 24–48 hours and funds in 1–3 business days, with returning customers sometimes funded within 24 hours of application. For first-time borrowers, timelines are comparable — the advantage of either depends more on documentation readiness than on lender speed.

Does CAN Capital or OnDeck report to business credit bureaus?

OnDeck's fixed-payment term loans and lines of credit are typically reported to major business credit bureaus — consistent on-time payments can build your business credit profile over the life of a 12–24 month loan. CAN Capital, like most MCA providers, generally does not report merchant cash advance repayment to business credit bureaus, so a well-repaid CAN Capital advance typically does not improve your credit score. If building business credit is a goal alongside accessing capital, OnDeck's APR-based products have a structural advantage.

CAN Capital vs OnDeck: MCA vs Term Loan — Which Is Right for Your Business?

CAN Capital and OnDeck are both established names in small business lending — but they are fundamentally different products. CAN Capital is a true merchant cash advance provider, offering revenue-linked advances since 1998. OnDeck exited the MCA market in 2020 following its acquisition by Enova International and now offers APR-based term loans and lines of credit exclusively.

This comparison covers both products honestly, translates their costs into comparable terms, and explains which fits which type of business.

What Each Company Actually Offers

CAN Capital (formerly Capital Access Network) was founded in 1998 and is one of the oldest merchant cash advance providers in existence. The company has reportedly funded over $7 billion to more than 81,000 small businesses. Its primary products are merchant cash advances and working capital loans, both priced on a factor-rate model with repayment tied to daily card sales or bank deposits. It also offers equipment financing for qualifying businesses.

OnDeck was founded in 2006, went public in 2014, and was acquired by Enova International in 2020. Following that acquisition, OnDeck no longer offers merchant cash advances. Its current products are APR-based term loans (up to $250,000, up to 24 months) and revolving lines of credit (up to $100,000), with fixed daily or weekly ACH payments underwritten through its proprietary OnDeck Score system.

This distinction matters: if you search for MCA comparisons and OnDeck appears, understand that the product being compared is a structured term loan — not a factor-rate advance.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	CAN Capital	OnDeck
Product type	Merchant cash advance (true MCA)	Term loan / line of credit (APR-based)
Is this a traditional MCA?	Yes	No — exited MCA market in 2020
Pricing	Factor rate 1.15–1.35	29.9%–97.3% APR (term); 29.9%–65.9% APR (LOC)
Admin/origination fee	$595 flat fee	2.4%–4% origination
Advance / loan range	$2,500–$250,000	$5,000–$250,000 (term); $6,000–$100,000 (LOC)
Min. credit score	No published minimum	625+
Time in business	6+ months (prefers 1+ year)	1+ year (prefers 2+)
Min. annual revenue	$175,000 ($14,600/month)	$100,000+
Repayment structure	Daily holdback — variable, tied to revenue	Fixed daily or weekly ACH payments
Funding speed	1–3 business days	1–3 business days
Early payoff	Discounts available (5–15% of remaining balance)	Allowed; no prepayment penalty on most products
Credit reporting	Typically not reported to business credit bureaus	Typically reported
Founded	1998	2006

Data sourced from provider directory entries verified as of 2026. Terms vary by business and are subject to change — confirm current offers directly with each provider.

Cost Comparison: Translating Factor Rates to APR

These two products use different pricing languages, which makes comparison feel difficult. Here is the conversion.

CAN Capital Factor Rate

CAN Capital’s published factor-rate range is 1.15–1.35. On a $100,000 advance:

Factor Rate	Total Repayment	Finance Charge	Effective APR (6-month repayment)
1.15	$115,000	$15,000	~30%
1.25	$125,000	$25,000	~50%
1.35	$135,000	$35,000	~70%

Note: Effective APR rises sharply if repayment is faster (compressed into 3 months, the 1.35 factor becomes roughly 140% APR) and falls if repayment extends to 9–12 months. The $595 flat admin fee adds to the cost on smaller advances (on a $10,000 advance, $595 is 5.95% of the principal) but becomes proportionally negligible on larger advances.

Use the MCA calculator to model your specific advance amount and expected repayment timeline.

OnDeck APR

OnDeck’s published range for term loans is 29.9%–97.3% APR, with origination of 2.4%–4%. On a $100,000 term loan at different rates:

APR	Term	Total Interest	Origination (3%)	Total Cost
29.9%	24 months	~$32,700	$3,000	~$35,700
65%	12 months	~$36,800	$3,000	~$39,800
97.3%	12 months	~$55,300	$3,000	~$58,300

The critical difference: which rate you actually qualify for. Businesses with strong OnDeck Scores — consistent deposits, 2+ years in business, 625+ credit — can qualify near the 29.9%–40% range. Weaker profiles see rates well above 65%. OnDeck is substantially cheaper than CAN Capital for businesses that qualify at the low end; it is more expensive at the high end.

Repayment Structure: Flexibility vs Predictability

This is one of the most practical differences between the two products.

CAN Capital’s holdback adjusts with your revenue. If you have a slow month, the daily ACH withdrawal is smaller. If you have a strong month, it is larger. You never have a fixed monthly obligation that strains cash flow during a downturn — but you also never know exactly when you will be fully repaid, because repayment pace depends on revenue.

OnDeck’s fixed payments do not adjust. If your revenue drops, your daily ACH obligation stays the same. This is more predictable for planning — but it also means a slow period requires the same payment as a busy one. For businesses with very consistent, seasonally stable revenue, fixed payments are manageable. For seasonal businesses (a beach restaurant, a holiday retail shop, a tax service), fixed daily payments during the off-season can be punishing.

Qualification: Who Gets Through the Door

CAN Capital publishes no minimum credit score — it explicitly emphasizes business performance over personal credit history. What it requires: $175,000 in annual revenue (approximately $14,600/month) and at least 6 months in operation (it prefers 1+ year). For businesses with lower credit scores but strong, consistent revenue, CAN Capital may approve where OnDeck declines.

OnDeck requires a 625+ credit score minimum, though its proprietary OnDeck Score weighs deposit consistency and cash-flow trends more heavily than the FICO number itself. Businesses with 1–2+ years of consistent deposits, even at moderate revenue levels ($100,000+ annually), can score well. Businesses with irregular or seasonal deposits tend to score poorly regardless of credit score.

For businesses under 12 months old or with credit below 625, CAN Capital is the more accessible option. For businesses with strong credit and clean cash flow who want a fixed repayment schedule, OnDeck is worth comparing.

Real-Dollar Scenarios

Restaurant, 14 months in business, $22,000/month in deposits, 590 credit score. Needs $40,000 for equipment. CAN Capital: $40,000 at 1.22 factor rate, total repayment $48,800, $595 admin fee, total cost $49,395. OnDeck: likely declined (below 625 threshold), or offered a high-end rate if the OnDeck Score compensates. CAN Capital is the realistic option here.

Service business, 3 years in business, $180,000/year revenue, 680 credit score. Needs $80,000 for expansion. OnDeck: at 40% APR over 18 months, approximately $26,400 in total interest plus $2,400 origination = $28,800 total cost. CAN Capital: at 1.25 factor rate, total repayment $100,000, finance charge $20,000 plus $595 admin = $20,595 total cost — repaid in roughly six months. CAN Capital is cheaper in total dollars but requires faster repayment via daily holdback; OnDeck spreads cost over 18 months with smaller fixed payments.

Neither scenario has a universally correct answer — the right choice depends on whether you need fixed-payment predictability or revenue-linked flexibility, and whether the total-dollar or annualized cost matters more for your cash flow.

CAN Capital’s Repeat-Customer Advantage

One differentiator CAN Capital emphasizes: improved terms for repeat borrowers. After repaying 50% of an advance, CAN Capital offers renewal with access to additional capital. Over multiple funding cycles with a strong repayment history, factor rates can improve. This relationship-lending model is meaningful for businesses that use working capital repeatedly — seasonal businesses, growing retailers, or healthcare practices with recurring equipment needs.

OnDeck also offers renewals and has a loyalty track record for returning customers, but its pricing is set by the current OnDeck Score rather than a published relationship-tier discount.

When to Choose Each Lender

Choose CAN Capital if:

You need a traditional merchant cash advance with revenue-linked repayment
Your credit score is below 625 but your revenue is consistent ($175K+ annually)
You have 6–12 months in business and haven’t established a credit track record
You plan to use MCA funding repeatedly and want a long-term relationship with improving terms
A flat $595 admin fee beats a percentage origination on your advance size

Choose OnDeck if:

You prefer transparent, published APR pricing rather than a factor rate
You have 1+ year in business with consistent, predictable deposits
Your credit score is 625+ and your cash-flow patterns will generate a favorable OnDeck Score
You want fixed daily or weekly payments on a known schedule
You want to build business credit history through reported on-time payments
You prefer a line of credit (draw only what you need) rather than a lump advance

Consider other providers if:

You need more than $250,000 (neither lender reaches above that cap)
You need funding within 24 hours — both fund in 1–3 days, and some direct providers are faster
You are under 6 months in business

The Bottom Line

CAN Capital and OnDeck serve different needs and represent different product types. CAN Capital is one of the oldest and most transparent direct MCA lenders — a strong choice for established businesses that want a revenue-linked advance with relationship-based terms. OnDeck is not an MCA at all; it is a technology-driven APR-based lender that rewards consistent cash flow with competitive rates for businesses that qualify at the low end of its range.

The most important step before committing to either: convert the total cost to an apples-to-apples number. For CAN Capital, that means advance × factor rate + $595, then use the MCA calculator to find the effective APR for your expected repayment window. For OnDeck, the APR is published — model the total interest cost over your specific loan term.

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