The mismatch
Advance payments come out daily or weekly, at the same amount. Income in a Central Valley city does not arrive that way. Modesto sits in the San Joaquin Valley, surrounded by farmland, and Stanislaus County ranks sixth among California counties in farm production, per Wikipedia. Businesses tied to agriculture, from supply and repair to food service for crews and growers, earn more in some months than others, and an advance taken at a high point keeps drawing at the same level in the low.
Defining MCA relief
MCA relief addresses the payment burden of advances you already hold, so the business can pay wages, suppliers and rent. What is achievable depends on your statements, your balances and the advances involved, which is why we do not publish terms. It is not a promise of a specific reduction, it is not a new advance (see merchant cash advance for that), and it will not cure a business that cannot cover basic costs.
An off-season example, for illustration only
A farm-equipment repair shop deposits $7,000 a week in the busy months and $2,400 in the quiet months. Its advance withdraws $900 a week. That is about 13% of busy deposits and 38% of quiet ones. Rent, wages and parts do not shrink by a third in the quiet months. The result is a shop that shows a decent annual income and a bank balance that is empty by February. Example numbers, not our terms.
Signs the withdrawal no longer fits
- You skip a supplier invoice so that a withdrawal clears.
- You borrow against the next season to get through this one.
- Wages are paid on time, but the owner takes nothing home.
- A second advance looks like the only option.
Any of these can be temporary. If more than one is true for several months, the payment structure and your income calendar are out of step, and that is what relief is intended to address.
Steps before you apply
- Lay out twelve months of deposits by month, if you can, to show the season.
- List each advance: holder, payment, schedule, approximate balance.
- Do not stop payments on your own.
- Gather about three months of business bank statements.
We consider FICO 500 and above, do not require tax returns, use a soft credit pull and offer a 5-minute application. Sole proprietors can apply.
What a good review needs
Twelve months of deposits tell the story better than three, so if you have them, say so. If your busy season is not inside the three months of statements you send, add a line describing it. A reviewer who sees only the quiet months may think the business is smaller than it is. Being straightforward about both highs and lows leads to a more accurate conversation and a better fit.
What often follows
Once payments are manageable, owners often rebuild a buffer with a line of credit or working capital, or look at revenue-based financing if the seasons are sharp. Regional context: Stanislaus County. Apply here.