The basic mechanics
A merchant cash advance provides a sum up front and is repaid from future sales or deposits, typically in frequent small withdrawals. It is fast and light on paperwork. We fund $25,000 to $5,000,000, with funding in as little as 24 hours once the file is complete. FICO 500 and above is considered; no tax returns are required.
Fit test for Oxnard businesses
Oxnard has 202,063 residents (2020 census) over about 39.14 square miles, and Wikipedia places it at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain. Wikipedia lists tourism and agriculture among its main industries. That produces very different deposit patterns on the same street.
| Business | Pattern | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant or cafe near the coast | Daily card sales, summer-heavy | Workable; check the winter weeks |
| Auto or boat service | Daily, job-driven | Workable if the work is steady |
| Farm supplier or packer | A few big deposits in season | Poor; consider a line of credit |
| Retail shop | Daily with holiday peaks | Workable; plan for the quiet months |
Three questions to answer first
- What is my weakest full week of deposits in the last three months?
- What would the weekly withdrawals total, and what share is that?
- Do I already hold another advance?
For illustration only: $7,000 in a weak week with $2,100 in withdrawals is 30% of that week. Round example numbers, not our terms.
If an advance is not the right shape
Compare a line of credit, working capital and revenue-based financing. If you already carry advances and they are squeezing deposits, MCA relief is the page to read.
The questions an advance does not answer for you
An advance solves a timing problem quickly. It does not tell you whether the business can carry the withdrawals through the slowest month, which is the only month that matters for this product. Take your three weakest weeks and total the deposits; then add the withdrawals and see what remains for payroll and rent. If the answer is uncomfortable, a smaller amount, a different product or a plan to build a reserve first is worth considering.
For many coastal and farm-side businesses the honest answer is that the summer can carry an advance and the winter cannot, so do not take the summer number as the guide.
Where owners go wrong
- Sizing the advance to the best month rather than the worst.
- Taking a second advance to meet the first before checking other routes.
- Forgetting that equipment repairs and insurance come due regardless of deposits.
Applying
Bring about three months of business bank statements. The application takes 5 minutes and the credit pull is soft. Sole proprietors can apply. Apply here. Ventura County is the wider page.