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Merchant Cash Advance Advice UK

Merchant cash advance enquiry 1 of 3
01 Funding What you need
02 About you Contact details
03 Review Ready to send
START HERE

What would make a difference to your business?

Give us a rough idea of what you're looking for. Estimates are absolutely fine.

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Tap an amount or enter your own.
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Approximate monthly debit and credit card turnover.
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If you already have an offer, we can take that into account.
Have you already received an MCA offer?
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That's enough information for us to understand the funding requirement.

ALMOST THERE

How should we get back to you?

A few contact details and you're ready to review your enquiry.

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Already have an offer? Add the provider, amount, factor rate or anything else you'd like us to compare.
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One final check and your MCA enquiry is ready to send.

FINAL STEP

Your enquiry is ready

Check the key details below and send your enquiry to Merchant Advice Service.

Your funding snapshot
Funding required —
Monthly card sales —
Existing offer —
→
What happens next?

Merchant Advice Service will review your requirements and identify merchant cash advance providers that may be suitable. Where appropriate, your enquiry may be shared with selected partners who may contact you directly about potential funding options. You're under no obligation to proceed.

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✓ Free to businesses ✓ No obligation ✓ Reviewed by MAS
Merchant cash advance advice

Understanding merchant cash advance funding

A merchant cash advance provides business funding based partly on expected future card sales. Instead of making a standard fixed loan repayment, an agreed percentage of card takings is typically collected until the agreed repayment amount has been reached.

What should you consider?

£
Card turnover

Providers commonly consider monthly card sales, trading history and the consistency of your payment volume.

%
Repayment structure

Repayments are generally linked to card takings, so the amount collected can rise or fall with sales.

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Total repayment

Look at the total amount you will repay, the advance received and how the repayment arrangement works.

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Business suitability

Sector, time trading, turnover, credit history and existing finance can all affect the options available.

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Merchant cash advance or business loan?

A merchant cash advance is generally structured around future card sales and an agreed total repayment amount. A traditional business loan normally uses scheduled repayments over an agreed term.

Independent MCA guidance

Merchant cash advance advice for UK businesses

Understand how merchant cash advance funding works, compare costs and providers, check eligibility and see how funding can interact with your card-processing setup.

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Guidance across the full MCA journey

Merchant Advice Service provides independent guidance on merchant cash advances, including costs, underwriting, declined applications, bad credit, ecommerce and hospitality funding, processor compatibility and platform-based finance.

Costs & repayments Eligibility & underwriting Card processor compatibility Specialist funding
Independent Merchant Cash Advance Guidance

Compare merchant cash advance funding around the way your business actually trades

A merchant cash advance can provide upfront business funding with collections linked to future sales, but providers can differ significantly on eligibility, cost and payment-processing requirements.

Merchant Advice Service helps businesses compare the funding requirement alongside card and online sales, provider criteria, total cost and compatibility with the payment setup already in place.

✓ Compare MCA providers ✓ Understand costs & repayments ✓ Card & online sales ✓ Payment processor compatibility
Merchant Advice Service · Free MCA Calculator

How much merchant cash advance could I get?

Enter your average monthly card takings to see an indicative merchant cash advance funding range. If you already know how much funding you need, add that too.

£
Use your average credit and debit card sales over a typical recent month.
£
Enter your average monthly card takings to calculate an estimate.
Indicative funding range
£— – £—
Enter your monthly card turnover to calculate an indicative range.
Monthly card sales £—
Funding requested Not entered

Want to compare MCA providers?

Merchant Advice Service can help you compare providers based on your funding requirement, card turnover and business circumstances.

Compare MCA Options →

Free to businesses · No obligation

How does the MAS merchant cash advance estimate work?

Merchant cash advance providers may assess potential funding by looking at the card sales generated by the business. Provider criteria vary, so this calculator uses an illustrative range rather than predicting a specific offer.

Illustrative estimate = 100%–200% of average monthly card takings

For example, average monthly card sales of £25,000 would produce an illustrative calculator range of £25,000–£50,000.

Actual funding may be higher or lower depending on the provider, sector, trading history, card-processing profile, existing commitments and underwriting.

Merchant Advice Service disclosure: Results are illustrative only and are not an offer, quote, credit decision or guarantee of funding. MAS provides a matching and introduction service and may receive commission from a commercial partner where a business proceeds following an introduction. The MAS service is free to businesses.

Quick Summary

How merchant cash advance funding works

MCA funding is different from a traditional business loan, so it is important to understand the funding amount, repayment structure and total cost together.

Funding is linked to the business

Providers may look at turnover, card or online sales, time trading, sector and the wider financial profile when assessing how much funding they are prepared to offer.

Repayments can move with sales

Many MCA arrangements collect an agreed proportion of eligible sales, meaning collection can rise and fall with business turnover.

Compare the total repayment

Look at the amount advanced, total amount repayable and collection percentage together rather than comparing one headline number.

Your payment setup can matter

Provider suitability can depend on how you take payments, including your card processor, ecommerce setup and other payment channels.

Compare Merchant Cash Advance Providers

See which MCA providers may fit your business

Tell us how much funding you are looking for, your typical card or online turnover and a little about the business.

We can use the profile to help identify providers whose criteria may be suited to your funding requirement and payment setup.

Find Suitable MCA Providers
Enquire in less than a minute · No obligation
✓ Funding requirement ✓ Card & online turnover ✓ Business trading history ✓ Existing payment setup
Do you already take payments?
How do you take payments?


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Please let us know how you take payments
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Turnover(*)
Turnover




Please let us know your turnover
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Ever Had a Terminated or Declined Account?(*)
Ever Had a Terminated or Declined Account?
Please let us know if you've ever had a terminated or declined account
Please let us know who declined or terminated a previous account
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Please let us know where your company is based.
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Please let us know about your goods or services
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Merchant Cash Advance Advice

What do you need help with?

Merchant cash advance funding can work differently depending on where your sales are generated and how your payments are processed.

Start Here

New to Merchant Cash Advance?

Understand funding amounts, eligibility, sales-linked collections and how MCA differs from traditional borrowing.

Merchant Cash Advance guide →
Online & Ecommerce

MCA for Online Businesses

Explore funding based on ecommerce, online payment processors, gateways and other digital sales channels.

Explore ecommerce MCA →
Third-Party & Platform Sales

eBay, Amazon, Shopify & Delivery Platforms

Compare platform funding with independent MCA options where revenue comes through marketplaces or third-party platforms.

Compare platform funding options →
Payment Setup

Can You Keep Your Payment Processor?

Check whether funding can work with your existing card, ecommerce or payment-provider arrangement.

Check processor compatibility →
Application Declined

MCA Application Declined?

Understand why an application may have failed before approaching another provider.

What to do after a decline →
Existing MCA

Need Further Funding?

Understand second advances, top-ups and renewals alongside the balance and terms of existing funding.

Explore further MCA funding →
How It Works

How does a merchant cash advance work?

Think of the arrangement as a simple four-stage journey from funding through to completion.

Step 01

Funding is advanced

The provider assesses the business and agrees the amount it is prepared to fund.

Step 02

Total repayment is agreed

The offer sets out the amount advanced and the total amount to be collected.

Step 03

A share of sales is collected

An agreed proportion of eligible sales is directed towards the outstanding amount.

Step 04

Collection flexes with sales

Where collection is sales-linked, the amount collected can move up or down as turnover changes.

Funding
Agreed total repayment
Percentage of eligible sales
Balance completed
The Important Comparison

The funding amount is only part of the picture

Compare the amount advanced, total repayment, collection percentage and payment compatibility together.

Merchant Cash Advance guide →
Getting Approved

What affects merchant cash advance eligibility?

Providers do not all use the same criteria. Most will look at the strength and consistency of the business alongside the sales that could support the advance.

Sales & Turnover

Providers will usually want to understand recent turnover and the level of eligible sales supporting the funding request.

Time Trading

Established trading history gives providers more sales data to assess, although minimum requirements differ.

Sales Consistency

Providers may look at how stable sales are, including any seasonal patterns or significant changes in turnover.

Business Sector

Eligibility can differ between sectors because providers have their own commercial and risk criteria.

Credit Profile

Credit history can be considered, but some MCA providers place significant weight on current trading and sales performance.

Existing Funding & Payment Setup

Existing MCA commitments, other borrowing and the way payments are processed can affect provider suitability.

Credit Issues or Previous Decline?

A weaker credit profile does not automatically rule out MCA funding

It is still important to understand why a previous application failed and which parts of the business profile a new provider is likely to assess.

Independent Funding Guidance

We’re not tied to one merchant cash advance provider

Our starting point is the funding requirement and the way your business trades — not simply placing you with the first MCA provider available.

We can help you compare suitable MCA providers and, where appropriate, introduce specialist funding partners who can discuss whether another form of business finance may be a better fit.

Tell Us About Your Funding Needs
Free to businesses · No obligation
✓ Independent guidance ✓ Compare MCA providers ✓ Consider wider funding options ✓ No obligation to proceed
Look at the Wider Funding Picture

A merchant cash advance may not be the best funding option for every business

MCA can work well where sales-linked collection suits the way a business trades, but it should be considered alongside other forms of business funding.

Where appropriate, we can introduce you to specialist funding partners who can discuss the wider funding requirement and explain other finance options that may be available to the business.

Compare the Funding Route

The objective is the right funding structure — not simply an MCA

✓ Funding amount required ✓ Purpose of the funding ✓ Cash-flow requirements ✓ Existing finance commitments ✓ Repayment structure ✓ Business eligibility
Regulatory status and permissions depend on the provider and finance product. Where FCA-regulated activities are involved, check the relevant firm's status and permissions.
Broker vs direct funding →
Understand the Cost

Merchant cash advance costs: what should you compare?

Do not compare MCA offers on the funding amount alone. Look at the amount advanced, total repayment, collection percentage and likely impact on business cash flow together.

01

Amount Advanced

The amount of funding the business actually receives at the beginning of the arrangement.

02

Factor Rate / Funding Cost

Some providers express the cost using a factor rate. This is used to calculate the total amount to be repaid.

03

Total Repayment

This is the total amount expected to be collected before the advance has been fully repaid.

04

Collection Percentage

The agreed proportion of eligible sales collected towards the balance can affect day-to-day cash flow and repayment speed.

×
Understanding Factor Rates

A factor rate is not the same thing as an interest rate

A factor rate is generally applied to the amount advanced to calculate the total repayment. For example, the important comparison is how much the business receives versus how much it will ultimately repay.

It should not be read as though it were an APR or a standard annual interest rate. When comparing offers, use the actual total repayment and expected impact on cash flow.

Want a deeper explanation of factor rates, holdbacks and total repayment?
Merchant Cash Advance Costs Guide →
Merchant Advice Service · Free MCA Calculator

Merchant cash advance cost & repayment calculator

Calculate the estimated total cost and repayment period of a merchant cash advance, or enter the terms of an offer you've already received to understand what it could cost your business.

Already have an MCA offer? Enter the advance amount, factor rate and repayment percentage from your offer below to sense-check the figures before you proceed.
£
The amount of funding you would receive from the MCA provider.
If you already have an offer, use the factor rate quoted by the provider.
£
Use your typical monthly credit and debit card turnover.
%
The percentage of card sales collected towards repayment. This may also be described as the holdback or collection percentage.
Please complete all four fields with valid figures.
Estimated total repayable
£—
Enter your figures to see the estimated cost and repayment period.
Advance received £—
Cost of funding £—
Est. monthly repayment £—
Est. repayment period —
Could you get a better MCA offer?

If you're reviewing an offer you've already received, Merchant Advice Service can help you compare your requirements with selected merchant cash advance providers before you decide whether to proceed.

Compare MCA Options →

Free to businesses · No obligation

How is merchant cash advance cost calculated?

Merchant cash advances commonly use a factor rate to calculate the overall amount repayable. The advance amount is multiplied by the factor rate to estimate the total repayment.

Advance amount × factor rate = total amount repayable

For example, a £50,000 advance with a factor rate of 1.25 would produce a total repayment of £62,500. The difference of £12,500 represents the cost of the advance.

The repayment percentage is then applied to card sales. If card sales rise, repayments may be higher; if card sales fall, repayments may be lower. This means the repayment period shown by the calculator is an estimate rather than a fixed term.

Can I use this calculator to check an MCA offer?

Yes. If you have already received a merchant cash advance offer, enter the advance amount, factor rate and repayment percentage quoted by the provider, together with your normal monthly card sales. The calculator will show the estimated total repayable, funding cost, monthly repayment and approximate repayment period.

You can then use Merchant Advice Service to compare your requirements with other MCA providers before deciding whether to proceed.

Merchant Advice Service disclosure: This calculator provides an illustrative estimate only. It is not an offer, quotation, credit decision or financial recommendation. Actual repayments and repayment periods depend on card sales and the terms agreed with the provider. MAS provides a matching and introduction service and may receive commission from a commercial partner where a business proceeds following an introduction. The MAS service is free to businesses.

Compare Merchant Cash Advance Providers

Run the numbers. Then compare the providers.

Tell us how much funding you need, your typical turnover and a little about your business. We can help you identify MCA providers whose criteria may fit your requirements.

Compare MCA Providers
✓ Independent guidance ✓ Compare provider criteria ✓ Card, online & platform sales ✓ Wider funding options considered
Free to businesses · No obligation · Funding subject to provider approval
Payment Setup Matters

Your payment setup can affect which MCA providers fit

Merchant cash advance funding is increasingly used by businesses taking payments through card terminals, ecommerce systems and third-party platforms. The way those sales are processed can matter when providers assess eligibility and collection.

Card & Terminal Sales

Some arrangements work directly with card-processing turnover, so compatibility with your existing payment provider may be important.

Ecommerce & Online Payments

Online businesses may be assessed using ecommerce turnover and payment data rather than relying only on physical card sales.

Marketplace & Platform Sales

Businesses selling through platforms such as marketplaces, delivery apps or ecommerce ecosystems may have different funding routes available.

Already have a processor or take most of your sales online?

What Our Customers Say...

Libby was fantastic in coming to the rescue to help me sort card machine for my business without any charge, would highly recommend.
I had a brief phone call with Libby to outline our needs and within an hour I was being called by a processing bank to get things moving. Our new provider has been set up within 48 hours and we are overjoyed and stress free. Thank you Libby, what a…
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1st class service, nothing but good things to say about this business. From first contact nothing has been to much trouble.
Using merchant services has helped my business no end. Great service, really professional and nothing was ever too much trouble when asking questions. Thank you!
Great service from the team. Would highly recommend using them!
Great thanks to Merchant Advise Service and Libby James. We encountered a problem with our existing merchant that led us unable to process customer payments which as a small business was a disaster. Libby quickly matched us with a new merchant and…
I contacted Merchant Advice Service when our company received notice from a previous provider. We’re classed as “travel” due to the nature of our UK holiday business. At the time we reached out to a few providers - however the advice we received fr…

    Check Out Our Merchant Cash Advance Advice

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a merchant cash advance?

    A merchant cash advance provides a business with an agreed amount of funding in return for an agreed total repayment. Collection is typically linked to future eligible sales rather than structured like a conventional fixed monthly business loan.

    How much merchant cash advance funding could I get?

    The amount available depends on the provider and your business profile. Turnover, card or online sales, time trading, sector, existing finance commitments and recent trading performance can all affect how much a provider may be prepared to offer.

    How much does a merchant cash advance cost?

    Costs vary between providers and businesses. Some providers use a factor rate or fixed funding cost to calculate the total amount repayable. When comparing offers, look at the amount advanced, total repayment and collection percentage together rather than focusing on one figure.

    Can I get a merchant cash advance with bad credit?

    Potentially. Some providers place significant weight on current sales and trading performance as well as credit history. Criteria vary between providers, so weaker credit does not automatically prevent approval, but it does not guarantee acceptance either.

    Do I need to change my card processor to take a merchant cash advance?

    Not always. Some MCA arrangements can work with your existing payment setup, while others may depend on the card processor, gateway or sales platform being used. It is worth checking compatibility before agreeing to funding.

    Is a merchant cash advance the best funding option for my business?

    Not necessarily. MCA can suit businesses where sales-linked collection works well with cash flow, but other forms of business finance may be more suitable depending on the amount required, purpose of the funding, repayment preference and overall business profile. MAS can help you compare MCA providers and, where appropriate, introduce specialist funding partners who can discuss wider business finance options.

    Independent Business Funding Guidance

    Ready to explore your funding options?

    Tell us how much funding you are looking for, how your business trades and where your sales come from. We can help identify MCA providers that may fit your requirements and, where appropriate, introduce specialist funding partners to discuss wider finance options.

    Find Suitable Funding Options
    ✓ Independent guidance ✓ Compare MCA providers ✓ Card, online & platform sales ✓ Wider funding options considered
    Free to businesses · No obligation · Funding subject to provider approval