Merchant Cash Advance

Get A Cash Advance Based On Your Future Credit And Debit Card Sales

A Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) is a type of business financing where a lender advances cash to a business based on future credit and debit card sales. Repayments are made as a percentage of daily card transactions, meaning they flex automatically with your takings — slower days mean smaller repayments, busier periods clear the balance faster. MCA is particularly suitable for businesses with significant card transaction volumes such as retail, hospitality, and food service businesses.

Types of Merchant Cash Advance

Choose the structure that best fits how your business takes card payments.

Card Terminal Funding

Advance capital secured against your existing in-store card terminal takings. Ideal for retail and hospitality businesses with established, consistent card volume and a clear trading history.

Café & Restaurant Till Finance

Repayments automatically deducted as a percentage of your till's daily card sales. Built for busy cafés, restaurants and bars where card volume can vary day-to-day but trends steadily upward.

Mobile Card Reader Advance

Funding for businesses using portable SumUp, Square or similar mobile readers — perfect for market traders, mobile services, pop-ups and small retailers that take card payments on the move.

Common Use Cases

Retail stores

Release working capital from your existing card takings to fund stock purchases, refits and seasonal inventory without touching traditional credit lines.

Restaurants and cafés

Smooth out cash flow gaps caused by long payment cycles, supplier pressure or the cost of opening a new site. Repayments flex automatically with your cover count.

Hair and beauty salons

Fund a second chair, a new stylist or a salon refurbishment. Approval is based on your card volume rather than your personal credit score, ideal for owner-operated businesses.

Market stalls and pop-ups

Working capital for traders operating from markets, festivals and pop-up events who use mobile card readers and need fast access to cash for stock and pitches.

Takeaway and delivery

Bridge the gap between rising delivery platform payouts and rising food costs. Suitable for takeaways, food trucks and dark kitchens with strong repeat card sales.

Online and omnichannel sales

For businesses blending physical card terminals with e-commerce card takings, an MCA can be structured around total processed card volume across all sales channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a merchant cash advance and how does it work?

A merchant cash advance provides a lump sum upfront in exchange for an agreed percentage of your future card sales. Repayments are collected automatically as a percentage of each card transaction until the advance (plus the agreed factor rate) is repaid in full. There are no fixed monthly payments — the amount you repay each day scales with your takings.

How much can my business borrow with an MCA?

Most MCA providers will advance between £5,000 and £500,000 depending on your average monthly card volume. The advance is typically calculated as a multiple (often 1.0–1.4×) of your monthly card takings. Your broker will work with the lender's panel to secure the right facility size for your needs and cash flow profile.

Do I need a good credit score to qualify?

Credit score is only one factor. MCA approval is primarily based on the volume and consistency of your card sales over the previous 3–12 months. Businesses with strong card takings but a less-than-perfect credit history can often still qualify, making MCA a useful option where traditional bank lending isn't available.

What is a factor rate and how is it different from APR?

A factor rate is a fixed multiplier used to calculate the total repayable amount — for example, a £20,000 advance at a 1.20 factor rate means you repay £24,000 in total. Unlike APR, it isn't annualised, so the cost depends on how quickly you repay. Faster repayment (higher card volume) means lower effective cost; slower repayment means higher effective cost.

How quickly can I receive the funds?

Once approved, funds can often be in your account within 24–72 hours. Because MCA underwriting relies on card statements rather than lengthy affordability checks, the process is typically much faster than a traditional bank loan — often same-week approval for straightforward cases with at least 3–6 months of card terminal history.

Can I get an MCA with seasonal or fluctuating sales?

Yes. MCA is often a strong fit for seasonal businesses because repayments automatically scale with your takings. Slower periods mean smaller daily deductions, while peak seasons accelerate repayment. This flexibility makes MCA particularly suitable for hospitality, tourism, and seasonal retail where predictable fixed monthly payments would be impractical.

Ready to Get Started?

Speak to our team about your funding requirements and let us find the right merchant cash advance for your business.

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