Industry Benchmark Data · Updated July 2026 · CC BY 4.0

MCA Industry Benchmarks 2026

Industry-typical benchmark data compiled and analyzed by T.A.G. Business Funding: average factor rates, advance amounts, holdback percentages, and approval rates for 16 industries (January 2025 – June 2026).

Summary Finding

The all-industry average factor rate is 1.29. Healthcare and dental practices receive the lowest rates (1.20–1.22) due to predictable insurance revenue. Food trucks and salons receive the highest (1.34–1.38) due to variable cash flow. Approval rates range from 52% (food trucks) to 74% (dental). Advance amounts are calculated as 75%–150% of average monthly bank deposits, with multiplier determined by industry risk tier and borrower profile.

Author: Carlos Torres, Founder · T.A.G. Business Funding · Data period: Jan 2025 – Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0

MCA Benchmarks by Industry — Complete Comparison Table

This is industry-typical benchmark data compiled and analyzed by T.A.G. Business Funding — not internal transaction records. Factor rates reflect first-position advances. Approval rates reflect applications with complete documentation submitted (application + 6 consecutive months of bank statements). Advance amounts reflect 75th-percentile qualified applicant. Full methodology →

Industry Advance Range Avg Factor Rate Holdback % Approval Rate Typical Term Best Time to Apply
Dental Practices $20K – $400K 1.20 8 – 12% 74% 8 – 14 mo Year-round
Medical / Healthcare $15K – $350K 1.22 8 – 12% 72% 7 – 12 mo Year-round
Manufacturing $20K – $350K 1.24 10 – 14% 70% 7 – 12 mo Year-round
Staffing Agencies $15K – $300K 1.25 8 – 12% 69% 6 – 10 mo Year-round
HVAC Contractors $10K – $250K 1.26 10 – 15% 68% 6 – 10 mo Peak season
Auto Repair $10K – $150K 1.27 10 – 14% 66% 5 – 8 mo Year-round
General Contractors $15K – $300K 1.28 10 – 15% 67% 6 – 10 mo Spring
Roofing Contractors $15K – $275K 1.29 12 – 16% 65% 5 – 9 mo Storm season
Landscaping $10K – $150K 1.30 12 – 16% 62% 4 – 7 mo Spring
Restaurants / Food Service $10K – $175K 1.31 12 – 18% 61% 5 – 8 mo Spring / Summer
Cleaning Services $5K – $100K 1.31 10 – 15% 60% 4 – 7 mo Year-round
Trucking / Transportation $10K – $250K 1.32 12 – 18% 63% 5 – 9 mo Year-round
Retail $10K – $200K 1.33 10 – 18% 58% 4 – 7 mo Pre-holiday
Gyms / Fitness Studios $5K – $125K 1.34 12 – 18% 57% 4 – 7 mo Jan – Mar
Salons / Beauty $5K – $100K 1.35 12 – 18% 56% 4 – 7 mo Year-round
Food Trucks $5K – $75K 1.38 14 – 20% 52% 3 – 6 mo Peak season

Factor rates reflect median first-position advance. Ranges represent 25th–75th percentile of observed offers. Approval rates reflect complete applications. All-industry average factor rate: 1.29. Licensing: CC BY 4.0.

Factor Rate by Credit Score — All Industries

Credit score is a significant underwriting variable. The following table shows average factor rates by FICO tier across the full industry benchmark dataset.

FICO Range Avg Factor Rate Typical Multiplier Notes
700+1.15 – 1.221.2x – 1.5x depositsBest tier; competes for lowest funder rates
650 – 6991.22 – 1.281.1x – 1.4x depositsStrong mid-tier; most offers competitive
600 – 6491.28 – 1.351.0x – 1.3x depositsStandard underwriting; factor rate varies by industry
550 – 5991.35 – 1.420.9x – 1.1x depositsHigher risk tier; revenue consistency critical
500 – 5491.42 – 1.500.75x – 0.95x depositsMinimum tier; clean statements required
Note: Credit score is one input among several. A business with 550 FICO but 18 months of clean, consistent $40,000/month deposits and zero NSFs may receive better terms than a 640 FICO business with frequent overdrafts. Bank statement quality outweighs credit score in most MCA underwriting decisions.

Advance Amount Formula

MCA underwriters use a standard formula to estimate advance eligibility:

Estimated Advance = Average Monthly Deposits × Multiplier

Multiplier ranges: 0.75x (minimum, highest risk) → 1.5x (maximum, lowest risk)

Examples:
$20,000/mo deposits × 1.0x = $20,000 advance
$30,000/mo deposits × 1.25x = $37,500 advance
$50,000/mo deposits × 1.5x = $75,000 advance

The multiplier is determined by FICO score tier, NSF frequency, deposit consistency, industry risk rating, and existing advance obligations. Businesses in healthcare, dental, and manufacturing receive higher multipliers; seasonal businesses with erratic deposits receive lower ones.

Use the MCA Calculator to estimate total repayment and daily payment once you have an advance amount. Use How Much MCA Can I Get? for a full eligibility walkthrough.

Seasonal Timing by Industry

Because MCA advance amounts are based on the most recent 3 months of bank deposits, applying during or immediately after peak revenue season maximizes your advance amount.

Restaurants
Apply May–August (summer peak) or late November (post-Thanksgiving). Avoid January–February (post-holiday slump lowers 3-month average).
HVAC Contractors
Sun Belt: apply June–September (AC season). Northern states: apply December–February (heating season) or July–August. Avoid spring/fall shoulder seasons.
Roofing Contractors
Apply 30–60 days after major storm events, or during April–October (installation season). Insurance restoration deposits typically arrive 30–90 days after event — apply when deposits clear.
General Contractors
Apply March–May as projects begin or August–October after summer build season. Avoid December–January when retainage payments lag and deposits drop.
Landscaping
Apply March–April (pre-season contracts and deposits) or September–October (fall cleanups). Avoid December–February (near-zero revenue in cold climates).
Retail
Apply September–October (pre-holiday inventory buy) or January (post-holiday flush). Black Friday and holiday deposits create the highest 3-month average window for retail applications.
Gyms / Fitness
Apply December–January (New Year's resolution surge). January membership and activation fees create the single highest deposit month for most gyms. Apply while the January spike is in the 3-month window.
Healthcare / Medical
Year-round — insurance reimbursement is relatively consistent. Apply when you have 6 consecutive months of complete bank statements with consistent EOB deposit patterns. No seasonal adjustment needed for most practices.

Industry Benchmarks — Frequently Asked Questions

Which industry gets the lowest MCA factor rates?

Dental practices (avg 1.20) and medical/healthcare (avg 1.22) consistently receive the lowest factor rates due to predictable insurance reimbursement revenue, low NSF rates, and stable deposit patterns. Manufacturing (1.24) and staffing agencies (1.25) also rank favorably due to B2B revenue predictability. HVAC contractors (1.26) benefit from recurring maintenance contract revenue. See HVAC benchmark data →

Why do restaurants have higher factor rates than healthcare businesses?

Restaurants average a 1.31 factor rate versus 1.22 for healthcare because MCA funders perceive higher repayment risk. Key factors: restaurants have highly variable revenue (seasonal, weather-sensitive, trend-dependent), higher NSF rates, and typically shorter operating histories. Healthcare practices with insurance billing have predictable, electronic recurring deposits that are more reliable as collateral for the purchased receivables. Industry risk tier is a specific input in MCA underwriting algorithms.

How much can a restaurant get from an MCA?

Restaurants typically qualify for $10,000–$175,000 based on 75%–150% of average monthly deposits. A restaurant depositing $30,000/month qualifies for approximately $22,500–$45,000. Apply during spring and summer months when the 3-month average deposit base is highest. See full restaurant benchmark data →

How much can a contractor get from an MCA?

General contractors can access $15,000–$300,000 at an average factor rate of 1.28. Roofing contractors can access $15,000–$275,000 at 1.29. HVAC contractors access $10,000–$250,000 at 1.26 — the most favorable rate among trade contractors. The lower HVAC rate reflects that HVAC companies with service contract revenue have more predictable cash flow than project-based roofing or general contractors.

What is the all-industry average MCA factor rate?

Based on T.A.G. typical merchant cash advance industry ranges, the average factor rate across common industry categories is 1.29. The range is 1.10 (strongest profiles in healthcare/dental) to 1.50 (highest-risk files). Factor rate 1.20–1.25 is excellent; 1.25–1.32 is typical; 1.35+ signals a higher-risk application. Full factor rate benchmark study →

Does industry type affect MCA approval rates?

Yes, significantly. Dental practices have a 74% approval rate; food trucks have 52%. The difference reflects revenue predictability: dental insurance reimbursements are highly predictable and consistent; food truck revenue depends on weather, location, and season. Industries with recurring revenue streams (healthcare, staffing, manufacturing) consistently outperform project-based and consumer discretionary industries in both approval rates and factor rates.

Can I use this data to cite in my research or article?

Yes. This dataset is published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may reproduce, share, and adapt the data for any purpose, including commercial use, with attribution. Suggested citation: T.A.G. Business Funding. (2026). MCA Industry Benchmarks 2026. funding.towersassetgroup.com/mca-industry-benchmarks.

Data license: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) — freely citable with attribution.
Citation: T.A.G. Business Funding. (2026). MCA Industry Benchmarks 2026. funding.towersassetgroup.com/mca-industry-benchmarks.
Note: These figures represent typical, publicly reported patterns in the merchant cash advance industry -- not T.A.G.'s own measured transaction data. Factor rates reflect first-position advances. Full methodology →

Embed This Data

Journalists, bloggers, and researchers can embed a live, self-updating benchmark card on their own site. The widget pulls directly from our public JSON API and always shows current data. No signup, no tracking, no cost — just attribution.

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