What You Need vs. What You Don't
MCA underwriting is fundamentally different from bank underwriting. Here's the complete picture.
Why bank statements only? MCA repayment is a percentage of your daily deposits — it scales with your cash flow. Since repayment comes directly from your account, underwriters care about what your deposits look like right now, not what you reported on last year's taxes. Bank statements are the most accurate and current picture of your business's repayment capacity.
What Underwriters Look for in Your Bank Statements
Four things, in order of importance. Your credit score is a distant secondary factor.
How Much Can You Get? (Calculate from Your Statements)
Your advance amount is directly calculated from your average monthly deposits. This is how to estimate your offer before you apply.
The Bank Statement Formula
Actual offer depends on NSF count, industry, existing advances, and FICO score. Use the MCA Calculator for a more detailed estimate.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply Using Bank Statements
The complete process from bank statement to funded — typically less than 48 hours total.
Calculate Your Average Monthly Deposits
Before applying, know your number. Open your last 6 consecutive months of bank statements and add up all deposits per month. Divide by 3. This is your advance eligibility baseline. If the number is under $4,000/month, you may be below the minimum threshold. $4,000–$6,000+/month is the sweet spot for most standard advance programs.
Download All Pages of Your Business Bank Statements
Log into your business bank's online portal and download the last 3–6 months of statements as PDFs. Download all pages — every single page of each month. Incomplete statements (missing pages, partial months) delay or disqualify the review. If you have multiple business accounts, download statements from all of them.
Complete the 1-Page Application
The application form takes about 10 minutes. It asks for basic business information: your name, business name, business address, time in business, estimated monthly revenue, and how much funding you're looking for. No financial projections, no business plan narrative, no complex forms.
Upload Your Bank Statements
Upload your bank statement PDFs through the secure application portal. Legible PDFs downloaded from your bank are preferred over photos — they process faster and with fewer errors. If you're applying by phone, a T.A.G. advisor can provide you with a direct upload link.
Receive Your Offer in 2–4 Hours
An underwriter reviews your file the same business day. Your offer includes: advance amount, factor rate (total cost as a multiplier), total repayment amount, daily holdback percentage, and estimated term length. All terms are disclosed in writing before you sign anything. No obligation to accept.
Sign Electronically — Funded Within 24 Hours
Review and sign the contract electronically through DocuSign or a similar platform. No in-person closing, no attorney, no notary. Once signed, funds wire to your business bank account — typically within 24 hours, sometimes same day for applications completed before noon.
How to Prepare Your Statements for the Best Offer
The same business with the same deposits can get dramatically different offers depending on when they apply and how their statements look. Here's what improves your offer.
Ready? The Application Takes 10 Minutes
1-page form + bank statements. Decision in 2–4 hours. Funded in 24 hours.
No tax returns. No collateral. 500 FICO minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I apply for a business loan with just bank statements?
- Yes — for MCA (merchant cash advance), your bank statements are the primary and often only financial document required. The complete application is a 1-page form + 3–6 months of business bank statements. No tax returns, business plan, or collateral documentation needed.
- Why do MCA lenders use bank statements instead of tax returns?
- MCA is not a loan — it's a purchase of future revenue. Repayment is automatically debited as a percentage of your daily deposits. Since repayment comes directly from your cash flow, underwriters evaluate your current deposits rather than last year's tax history. Bank statements show what your business generates right now.
- How many months of bank statements do I need?
- T.A.G.'s underwriting baseline requires 6 consecutive months of business bank statements for every application, regardless of advance size or seasonality. Download all pages — partial statements delay review.
- What if my bank statements show some months with low deposits?
- Low-deposit months reduce your average and therefore your advance amount, but they don't automatically disqualify you. Underwriters look at your 3-month average. Applying during or right after your strongest months produces the best offer. Seasonal businesses are understood — just apply at peak, not trough.
- Do I need business bank statements or personal?
- Business bank statements are required. Personal account statements do not substitute. If your business income currently flows through a personal account, some funders will accept it — but a dedicated business account qualifies for better terms and access to more funders.
- What if I was declined by a bank? Can I still apply with bank statements?
- Yes. A bank decline has no effect on MCA eligibility. MCA and bank loan underwriting are completely separate processes with different criteria. Many businesses that are declined by banks qualify for MCA the same week. The bank decline does not appear in MCA underwriting.