A merchant cash advance is a lump-sum payment exchanged for a percentage of your future credit-card receivables. The funder purchases a portion of tomorrow's sales today, then collects repayment by automatically withholding 10-20% of each card batch until the agreed amount is satisfied. Unlike a business loan advance with fixed monthly payments, MCA remittance fluctuates with your daily revenue, so slower weeks mean smaller holdbacks and faster weeks retire the balance sooner.
Underwriters focus on three approval drivers: average monthly card volume, time in business, and bank-account health. Most funders require at least four months of processing history, consistent deposits, and minimal overdrafts. Because repayment occurs daily and automatically through your processor, collateral and personal guarantees often matter less than your sales trend.