Whatever loan product you're considering, it is important to have a solid grasp of what's involved, the terms you'll be looking at, and the way in which the funds are made available to you. In many cases, when you do need to get financing quickly, more quickly than say a traditional business loan from a bank, two good options are a business line of credit or a merchant cash advance (MCA/).
At First Union, we offer both financing programs, and we have seen both benefit our clients immensely—not to mention rapidly. We wanted to take a moment and look at the differences between the two, thereby giving you more information as you review potential financing choices.
Business Line of Credit
Essentially with a business line of credit, you get highly flexible access to cash when you need it. In applying for the line of credit you will determine the total amount you require. Upon being approved, you can then begin drawing money out. You don't necessarily have to take it all at once—rather as the need arises.
Credit lines with First Union can range from 5k all the way up to 1 million, so it is important that you spend some time thinking ahead—how much do you foresee needing. Interest is paid only on what you draw out. So you are not paying on the entire amount allotted, merely what you use, which makes this a very attractive financing option.
Merchant Cash Advance
With an MCA, different from a line of credit, you get a lump sum which then gets paid back via credit card transactions. This is generally done on a daily basis, so keep in mind that every day a percentage of your credit card transactions will be part of the withholding amount used to repay the loan. Such an amount can range from 5% to 40% depending on the terms established and the duration of the MCA.
If you tend to do a lot of credit card sales, then this might be a great option for you as usually no collateral is involved because it is based upon daily transactions, and you can get the cash fairly quickly—sometimes in as little as two days.
We at First Union make it our priority to sit down with clients and review the best options that suit their individual needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach as each company is different and thus each has different goals, capabilities, and expectations. Call us today and let's get started together!