An MCA buyout is a direct payoff-and-replace transaction: a buyout funder pays your existing MCA holder(s) the full remaining balance, retires the associated UCC-1 lien(s), and issues you one new 1st-position advance in their place. It is a specific mechanism within the broader category of MCA consolidation — every buyout is a consolidation, but not every consolidation is structured as a direct buyout (some instead use a term loan or line of credit to retire multiple positions at once).
How a Direct Funder Buyout Works
A buyout is structured differently from simply "getting a new advance and using the cash to pay off the old ones." The distinction matters:
| Step | Direct Buyout (recommended structure) | Net Funding to Merchant (higher-risk structure) |
|---|---|---|
| Where funds go | Buyout funder pays existing holder(s) directly | Full amount deposited to merchant, who must pay off old positions themselves |
| UCC-1 lien handling | Old liens terminated (UCC-3 filed) as part of the transaction | No guarantee old liens are actually released — depends on the merchant following through |
| Risk if merchant misuses funds | None — funds never pass through merchant's hands for the payoff portion | Merchant could spend the funds elsewhere and end up stacked on top of the old positions instead of replacing them |
This is why a genuine buyout — not just "getting cash and hoping you pay off the old ones" — is the structure to insist on.
Payoff Letter Negotiation
Before a buyout funder can quote you accurately, they need a payoff letter from each existing holder — a written statement of the exact remaining balance as of a specific date. This is a standard, routine request; existing funders provide these regularly.
- Payoff letters are typically valid for a short window (often 10-15 days) since the remaining balance changes daily as payments are made.
- Some existing holders offer a discounted payoff if paid in full immediately rather than collected over the remaining term — this varies by funder and is not guaranteed. If offered, it directly reduces the amount the buyout funder needs to advance.
- A buyout funder will request payoff letters as part of underwriting, alongside your bank statements — you generally don't need to negotiate discounts yourself.
The Real Math: Buying Out Two Positions
A representative example — two existing positions bought out into one new 1st-position advance:
| Metric | Before (2 Positions) | After (1 Buyout Position) |
|---|---|---|
| Position 1 remaining balance | $50,000 ($310/day, ~161 days left) | Combined payoff: $75,000 |
| Position 2 remaining balance | $25,000 ($170/day, ~147 days left) | |
| Combined daily ACH | $480/day | $300/day |
| New advance / factor rate / term | — | $75,000 advance, 1.20 factor, 300 business days |
| New total repayment | — | $90,000.00 ($75,000 × 1.20) |
| Effective APR of new position (IRR method) | — | ~32.5% APR |
*Note: Effective APR is calculated using the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) on the daily payment stream, annualized over 260 business days, for comparative purposes only — a merchant cash advance is a purchase of future receivables, not a loan.
The daily payment drops from $480/day to $300/day — a 37.5% reduction — and the new position's own effective APR (~32.5%) is meaningfully lower than either original stacked position would typically carry. Two things drive this: 1st-position risk is priced lower than 2nd/3rd-position risk, and the new term (300 business days) is longer than the remaining time on the old positions, which lowers the annualized cost. The tradeoff is the same as any consolidation: lower daily burden and lower annualized cost, in exchange for a longer overall repayment horizon.
Eligibility Requirements
Monthly Revenue
$10,000/month minimum in gross deposits — the new single daily payment still has to be supportable by real revenue.
6 consecutive months Bank Statements
Your most recent 6 consecutive months of business bank statements, used to confirm current revenue supports the new payment after buyout.
60+ Days Payment History
At least 60 days of on-time payment history on the position(s) being bought out. This is shorter than the 4-6 months typically required for a brand-new MCA — a buyout underwrites your demonstrated repayment behavior on the existing position, not how long the business itself has operated.
Payoff Letters
A current, written payoff statement from each existing holder — required before a buyout funder can quote accurate terms.
⚠️ Not every stacked position qualifies for a buyout
If your existing positions show a pattern of missed payments or your revenue can't support even the reduced single payment, a buyout underwriter is likely to decline. In that case, a negotiated settlement or hardship modification with your existing funders is the honest next step — see the full comparison of stacking exit strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an MCA buyout program?
An MCA buyout is when a funder pays off the remaining balance on your existing merchant cash advance position(s) directly to the current holder(s), then issues you one new 1st-position advance. It differs from a standard new advance because it retires prior positions and their UCC-1 liens rather than stacking on top of them.
How much can a buyout reduce my daily payment?
It depends on the remaining balance and the term of the new position. In the representative example above — two positions totaling $75,000 in remaining balance with a combined $480/day ACH — a buyout into a single new 1st-position advance at a longer 300-business-day term reduces the daily payment to $300/day, a 37.5% reduction.
What are the eligibility requirements for an MCA buyout?
Typical requirements are $10,000+/month in gross bank deposits, the most recent 6 consecutive months of bank statements, and at least 60 days of established payment history on the existing position(s) being bought out. The 60-day minimum is shorter than the 4-6 months typically required for a brand-new MCA, because the underwriting signal for a buyout is the applicant's demonstrated repayment history on the current position, not how long the business itself has operated.