Free Resource Center

Business Funding Readiness Center — Free Checklist & Score

Free tools, calculators, and expert guides to help you understand your fundability, prepare your application, and get the working capital your business needs.

Check My Fundability Score Apply for Funding →
26Free Resources
$10K–$1MFunding Range
24–48 hrsAvg. Decision Time
500+Min. Credit Score

Not sure where to begin?

Choose the scenario that best describes where you are right now.

🟢

Ready to Apply Now

I have 6+ months in business and $4K–$6K+ monthly deposits. I want to know my approval odds.

Get My Score →
🟡

Just Got Declined

My bank or lender said no. I need to understand my options immediately.

Recovery Guide →
🔵

Planning Ahead

I want to understand funding options before I need them and improve my approval odds.

Improvement Guide →
🟠

Figuring Out How Much I Need

I'm not sure how much to request or what my payments would look like.

Open Calculator →

Calculators & Assessments

Get instant answers based on your specific numbers.

📊

Fundability Score Assessment

Get a 0–100 fundability score based on your revenue, time in business, funding request, and industry. See your approval probability in under 2 minutes.

Assessment ⏱ 2 min
Get My Score →

Funding Readiness Assessment

15-question guided assessment that evaluates your revenue consistency, documentation, and business health. Get a personalized readiness report with action items.

Assessment ⏱ 5 min
Start Assessment →
🧮

MCA Calculator

Calculate your total repayment, daily or weekly payment, and effective cost of capital for any merchant cash advance. Compare up to 3 funding scenarios side by side.

Calculator ⏱ 1 min
Open Calculator →
💧

Working Capital Calculator

Calculate your current working capital position, cash flow runway, and funding gap. Know exactly how healthy your business cash position is right now.

Calculator ⏱ 2 min
Short-Term Loan No Collateral Required
💵

Working Capital Loan

Compare MCA, SBA, LOC, and factoring for working capital. Which do you qualify for?

Open Calculator →
📉

Revenue Gap Calculator

Find out exactly how much funding you need to bridge a revenue shortfall. Calculate your monthly gap, total need, and recommended funding amount with estimated payments.

Calculator ⏱ 2 min
Open Calculator →
☑️

Funding Qualification Checklist

Interactive 20-item checklist covering revenue, documentation, business history, and health. See your readiness score and exactly what to prepare before applying.

Checklist ⏱ 3 min
Open Checklist →

In-Depth Business Funding Guides

Substantive, practical guides written for business owners — not bankers.

📋

Underwriting Preparation Guide

Learn exactly what underwriters look for, how to read your own bank statement, and how to position your application for maximum approval odds before you submit.

Guide ⏱ 10 min read
Read Guide →
🏦

Bank Turndown Recovery Guide

Just got declined by your bank? This guide explains why banks decline, what your options are in the next 72 hours, and how MCA criteria differ from bank standards.

Guide ⏱ 8 min read
Read Guide →
🔄

Funding Denial Recovery Guide

Decode your denial reason, build a 30-day recovery plan, and learn when bridge funding makes sense. Covers bank, SBA, online lender, and MCA denials.

Guide ⏱ 10 min read
Read Guide →
📈

Approval Odds Improvement Guide

The 5 factors that determine your approval odds and exactly how to improve each one. Includes 30/60/90-day improvement timelines and what a strong applicant profile looks like.

Guide ⏱ 12 min read
Read Guide →
🗺️

How Business Funding Works

Six steps from application to funded. Full funding timeline, required documents, what underwriters look for, success story profiles, and answers to 8 common pre-application questions.

Guide ⏱ 10 min read
See the Process →

MCA Market Research & Benchmark Data

Original data studies and industry benchmarks — real numbers you can use to evaluate offers, negotiate terms, and cite in editorial content.

📊

2026 MCA Market Report

Origination volume, approval rates, factor rate trends, average advance size, and industry distribution. The annual alternative lending benchmark.

Research ⏱ 8 min read
View Report →
🔬

MCA Factor Rate Study

Industry benchmark data compiled and analyzed by T.A.G. Business Funding: average factor rates by 12 industries and 4 credit score tiers. Methodology included. Freely citable.

Research ⏱ 6 min read
View Study →
🍽️

Restaurant MCA Benchmark

Factor rates by 7 restaurant types, seasonal cash flow patterns, and what underwriters actually look for in food service applications.

Benchmark ⏱ 6 min read
View Benchmark →
❄️

HVAC Funding Benchmark

HVAC contractor factor rates by business profile, seasonal advance patterns, advance-to-revenue ratios, and approval drivers specific to HVAC.

Benchmark ⏱ 6 min read
View Benchmark →
🚛

Trucking MCA Benchmark

Factor rates by 6 carrier types, freight factoring vs. MCA comparison, fuel advance data, and approval drivers for owner-operators and fleets.

Benchmark ⏱ 6 min read
View Benchmark →
📈

MCA Rates 2026 — Full Breakdown

Average factor rates by 10 industries, 6 FICO tiers, and 5 advance size ranges. What drives your rate up or down. Includes embed code and CSV download.

Benchmark ⏱ 7 min read
View Rate Benchmarks →
🤝

Minority-Owned Business Funding

MCA, SBA 8(a), CDFI loans, and grants compared for minority-owned businesses. Qualification requirements, factor rates, and approval drivers by product.

Guide ⏱ 8 min read
View Guide →

Decision Tools & Comparison Calculators

Use these tools to make faster, better-informed funding decisions before you apply or sign anything.

🔄

Factor Rate to APR Converter

Convert any MCA factor rate to APR instantly. Shows true APR, dollar cost, and how your rate compares to industry averages by credit tier.

Calculator ⏱ 1 min
Open Converter →
🌳

Business Funding Decision Tree

Answer 5 questions and get a recommended financing path for your exact situation — MCA, SBA, line of credit, or equipment financing.

Decision Tool ⏱ 2 min
Start Tool →
⚖️

Business Funding Comparison

Live calculator: enter your amount and factor rate to compare total cost across MCA, SBA loan, line of credit, and equipment financing side by side.

Calculator ⏱ 2 min
Compare Costs →
🚩

ISO Red Flag Checker

Interactive tool: check 15 red flags of an untrustworthy MCA broker. Get a risk score before submitting your application or signing a contract.

Risk Tool ⏱ 3 min
Check My Broker →

MCA Guides, Checklists & Glossary

Operational guides and references for business owners evaluating, applying for, or managing a merchant cash advance.

MCA Application Documents Checklist

Interactive checklist: 7 required documents, bank statement red flags underwriters check, preferred supporting docs, and 5-step process timeline.

Checklist ⏱ 3 min
Open Checklist →
📋

Before You Sign: MCA Contract Checklist

20-point checklist covering disclosures, fees, stacking clauses, confession of judgment, and UCC-1 — know what you're signing before you sign it.

Checklist ⏱ 10 min read
Read Checklist →
💧

Small Business Cash Flow Guide

The 4 cash flow gap types, which financing tool solves each, when NOT to use debt financing, and 10 free cash flow tactics for small businesses.

Guide ⏱ 8 min read
Read Guide →
🔁

MCA Renewal Guide

When funders offer renewals, factor rate compression by cycle, renewal vs. stacking, and 10 questions to ask before agreeing to renew.

Guide ⏱ 6 min read
Read Guide →
📖

MCA Glossary

35+ merchant cash advance terms defined in plain English — factor rate, holdback, position, stacking, COJ, UCC-1, split withholding, ISO, and more. Searchable.

Reference ⏱ searchable
Browse Glossary →

Funding by Industry

Industry-specific MCA rates, approval drivers, and financing options for your specific business type.

🏥

Healthcare Business Funding

MCA rates by 8 healthcare practice types, medical A/R factoring vs. MCA comparison, and financing options for medical, dental, and home health agencies.

Industry Guide ⏱ 6 min read
View Guide →
🔧

Auto Repair Shop Funding

Factor rates by shop type, seasonal cash flow patterns, equipment financing vs. MCA, and approval drivers for auto repair, body shops, and tire shops.

Industry Guide ⏱ 6 min read
View Guide →
💅

Beauty Salon & Spa Funding

Factor rates by salon type, booth rent model underwriting impact, seasonal patterns, and approval drivers for hair salons, spas, and nail salons.

Industry Guide ⏱ 6 min read
View Guide →
⚖️

MCA vs. SBA Loan Comparison

Total cost, speed, qualification matrix, 8 decision scenarios, bridge-to-SBA strategy, and credit score requirements compared head-to-head.

Comparison ⏱ 8 min read
💡

All Funding Options

Compare MCA, SBA loans, lines of credit, factoring, and equipment financing side-by-side.

View Comparison →

Ready to apply?

Decisions in 24–48 hours. No collateral required. 500+ credit score accepted.

$10K–$1MFunding Range
24–48 hrsDecision
500+Min. FICO
6 monthsMin. in Business
Apply Now — Free, No Obligation →

Takes 10 minutes. We review bank statements, not just credit scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

MCA Fundamentals

New to merchant cash advances? Start here before exploring specific situations or industries.

📖

What Is a Merchant Cash Advance?

Complete guide: how it works, what it costs, who qualifies, and how repayment works.

⚖️

Pros and Cons

Honest assessment of MCA advantages and disadvantages. When it makes sense and when it doesn't.

Qualification Requirements

The 5 factors underwriters check — what gets you approved and what triggers a decline.

🧮

Cost Calculator

Convert any factor rate to APR. Compare MCA cost against SBA loans and other options.

📅

How Repayment Works

Daily holdback, remittance rate, payoff timeline — everything explained clearly.

📋

Before You Sign

12 things to verify in any MCA agreement. Avoid the most common mistakes.

By Situation

Guidance for businesses in specific circumstances — bad credit, tax issues, bank denials, urgent needs.

📉

Bad Credit Funding

500 FICO minimum. Approval based on revenue, not credit score.

🏦

After Bank Declined

What to do when your bank says no — same-day MCA alternative.

Same-Day Funding

Apply by noon, funded same business day. Emergency capital guide.

🚀

Startup Funding

Options for businesses under 2 years old. What qualifies and what doesn't.

📋

MCA with Tax Liens

Can you get funded with an IRS tax lien? Yes — here's how.

🔄

Already Have an MCA?

Second position funding and stacking — when it makes sense.

🌊

Seasonal Businesses

When to apply, how underwriters handle revenue gaps, what to expect.

👤

Sole Proprietors & 1099

Self-employed and freelancers — what qualifies, what to submit.

🚨

Emergency Business Funding

Same-day capital when equipment breaks, payroll is short, or a tax payment is due.

📋

No Credit Check Business Loan

The honest answer: 500 FICO minimum, soft pull only. What's real vs marketing.

🍾

Women-Owned Business Funding

Revenue-based approval — no WOSB certification required. 500 FICO, no collateral.

💹

Small Business Cash Advance

$10K–$1M in 24–72 hours. How it works, what it costs, who qualifies.

📊

Bad Credit Business Loans

What actually works when banks say no. 500 FICO minimum. Comparison by product.

Fast Business Loans

Honest funding speed comparison. Same-day to 72 hours. How to maximize approval speed.

🌐

Minority-Owned Business Funding

Revenue-based approval — no MBE certification required. Same 500 FICO threshold for all businesses.

Veteran-Owned Business Funding

No VOSB cert required for MCA. VOSB vs SBA Veterans Advantage vs MCA compared honestly.

🔄

Business Line of Credit Alternative

Denied for a LOC? MCA approves at 500 FICO and funds in days. Honest product comparison.

📝

How to Get a Business Loan

Step-by-step guide: choose the right product, check eligibility, gather documents, apply fast.

Research & Tools

Data reports and tools you can use — and share — for free.

📊

Small Business Funding Gap Report 2026

Federal Reserve data on why 43% of small businesses can't access bank financing — by industry, demographics, and business profile.

🗎

Free MCA Calculator — Embed on Your Site

Embed a working MCA payment calculator on any website with one line of HTML. Free. No signup required.

📄

How to Read an MCA Contract

12 clauses every business owner must understand before signing — factor rates, holdback, COJ, UCC filings, and what's negotiable.

MCA Requirements 2026

Exact underwriting criteria: minimum revenue, FICO, time in business, bank statements, and what doesn't disqualify you. From an active ISO.

MCA Laws by State 2026

Which states regulate merchant cash advances? California, New York, Utah, Virginia, Georgia — disclosure requirements, registration, and what's changing.

📋

How to Choose an MCA Provider

12 questions to ask before signing. Green flags, red flags, offer comparison table, COJ clause guide, and what makes a reputable ISO vs. a bad actor.

Business Funding FAQ — 75 Questions

Every question merchants ask before applying — credit, documents, factor rates, repayment, industries, uses — answered honestly by an active ISO.

By Use Case

Funding guides organized by what you need the capital for.

💰

Payroll Funding

Emergency payroll capital. Same-day to 48-hour funding available.

⚙️

Equipment Purchase

MCA vs equipment financing — which makes more sense for your situation.

📦

Inventory Stocking

Seasonal inventory buys, pre-holiday stocking, and supplier terms.

📣

Marketing Capital

Funding for ad spend, campaigns, and revenue-generating growth.

Qualification Guide

The 5 underwriting factors — exactly what gets you approved.

💵

How Much Can I Get?

How advance amounts are calculated — formula + examples.

📅

How Repayment Works

Daily remittance, holdback rates, payoff timelines explained.

🏗️

Construction Capital

GC payment cycles, subcontractor bridge funding, draw schedule gaps.

Compare Your Options

Side-by-side comparisons to help you make the right funding decision.

⚖️

MCA vs SBA Loan

Speed vs cost — when each option wins and why.

💳

MCA vs Line of Credit

Revolving access vs one-time advance — complete comparison.

🧾

MCA vs Invoice Factoring

Best for B2B vs B2C businesses — key structural differences.

🔧

MCA vs Equipment Financing

When to finance equipment vs use general working capital.

📊

All Options Compared

MCA, SBA, LOC, factoring, equipment — full matrix comparison.

🌳

Funding Decision Tool

Answer 5 questions to find the right funding type for your situation.

More Industry Guides

Funding guides for specific business types — factor rates, approval criteria, and use cases by industry.

🏗️

Construction

GCs, subcontractors, and specialty trades — bridge funding for payment gaps.

🛍️

Retail

Inventory financing, holiday stocking, and retail expansion capital.

🦷

Dental Practices

Equipment, expansion, and insurance gap capital for dental offices.

💪

Gyms & Fitness

Equipment upgrades, seasonal membership gaps, and expansion funding.

🚚

Food Trucks

Vehicle maintenance, commissary costs, and event season funding.

✂️

Barbershops

Chair upgrades, buildouts, and cash flow between booth rent cycles.

🏠

Roofing Contractors

Storm season capital, crew payroll, and materials before insurance pays.

🧹

Cleaning Services

Commercial contract bridging, equipment, and crew expansion capital.

🌿

Landscaping

Seasonal startup, equipment, and bridging slow winter months.

🥐

Bakeries

Equipment, wholesale ingredient purchasing, and holiday season prep.

Local Market Funding Guides

City-specific MCA guides covering local regulations, top industries, and funding resources for your market.

🗽

New York City

NY disclosure law, restaurant funding, healthcare, retail & construction

🌴

Los Angeles

CA SB 1235 disclosures, entertainment industry, salons & auto services

☀️

Miami

Bilingual support, hospitality seasonality, Latin business community

🏙️

Chicago

Manufacturing, trucking, HVAC, and Midwest restaurant funding

Houston

Oil field services, trucking, construction, and Texas healthcare

🤠

Dallas

DFW construction boom, restaurants, and fast-growing retail market

✈️

Atlanta

Logistics, film production support, Black entrepreneurship resources

🎰

Las Vegas

Hospitality seasonality, catering, entertainment & convention funding

🌵

Phoenix

HVAC demand, construction growth, snowbird retail seasonality

🔔

Philadelphia

Healthcare corridor, restaurant renaissance, manufacturing & trades

Business Funding by State

State-specific MCA guides with qualification criteria, city links, and funding resources for every major market.

🤠

Texas

MCA for Dallas, Houston, San Antonio — oil services, construction, restaurants

☀️

Florida

MCA for Miami, Orlando, Tampa — hospitality, healthcare, retail

🌴

California

MCA for Los Angeles — entertainment, food service, construction

✈️

Georgia

MCA for Atlanta — logistics, film, Black-owned small businesses

🏙️

Illinois

MCA for Chicago — manufacturing, HVAC, Midwest trucking

🔔

Pennsylvania

MCA for Philadelphia — healthcare, manufacturing, trades

🌲

North Carolina

MCA for Charlotte — banking sector services, construction, retail

🌧️

Washington

MCA for Seattle — tech-adjacent services, food, construction

⚙️

Ohio

Manufacturing, trucking, auto services, healthcare — statewide

🎸

Tennessee

MCA for Nashville — music industry, hospitality, healthcare

Alternative Funding Options

Compare every type of revenue-based and alternative small business financing available today.

📈

Revenue-Based Financing

How RBF works for small businesses — MCA vs fintech RBF platforms compared.

🔓

Unsecured Business Loan

No collateral required options: MCA, LOC, SBA 7(a) with no personal guarantee.

Short-Term Business Loan

Fast repayment-term financing options: MCA, online loans, lines of credit.

T.A.G. Business Funding

See If Your Business Qualifies

500 FICO minimum. Bank declines OK. Revenue matters more than credit score. Most decisions in 24 hours.

Apply Now → Call 330-238-3003
✓ No obligation ✓ Soft pull only ✓ Free to apply ✓ Bank declines welcome

500 FICO minimum  ·  $4K–$6K+/month revenue  ·  Funded in 1–3 days