Restaurant MCA qualification: (1) $8,000+ average monthly deposits (cash and card combined); (2) 6+ months of operating history; (3) 500+ FICO score; (4) active business bank account where all revenue deposits.
Restaurant Guide
Exactly what underwriters evaluate when reviewing your restaurant bank statements — with a self-scoring tool to assess your own profile before you apply.
Restaurant Funding Center
Your average monthly deposits across the 3 most recent bank statements determines the range of advances you'll receive. This is the single most important number in your MCA application.
| Monthly Deposits | Advance Range | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Under $8,000 | Difficult to qualify | Low |
| $8,000–$20,000 | $6,000–$30,000 | Acceptable |
| $20,000–$50,000 | $15,000–$75,000 | Good |
| $50,000–$100,000 | $37,500–$150,000 | Strong |
| Over $100,000 | $75,000–$200,000+ | Excellent |
NSFs directly translate to higher factor rates. Every NSF tells an underwriter that your account went to zero or below — which means a daily ACH payment might fail. NSF-heavy accounts get either declined or offered rates that make the advance barely worth taking.
| NSFs per Month | Impact on Rate | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 0 NSFs | Factor rate: 1.15–1.22 | Excellent |
| 1–2 NSFs | Factor rate: 1.22–1.30 | Good |
| 3–4 NSFs | Factor rate: 1.32–1.42 | High risk |
| 5+ NSFs any month | Likely decline or very high rate | Critical |
Your average daily balance tells underwriters whether money stays in your account or immediately flows back out. A restaurant depositing $40K/month with a $200 average daily balance is managing very thin margins — daily payments may fail any time deposits are even slightly delayed.
| Avg Daily Balance | Signal | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Under $500 | Money in, money out immediately | Risk flag |
| $500–$1,500 | Thin but manageable | Acceptable |
| $1,500–$5,000 | Healthy buffer | Good |
| Over $5,000 | Strong reserve practice | Excellent |
Underwriters can see all existing daily ACH debits from active MCAs. They subtract existing daily obligations from your available daily cash flow to determine what new payment you can support.
| Active Positions | Impact | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 0 positions | Full advance capacity available | Best |
| 1 position | Reduced advance; still common and manageable | Acceptable |
| 2 positions | Advance amount reduced significantly | Risky |
| 3+ positions | Near-automatic decline or very small advance | Critical |
Restaurants should show daily POS and delivery platform deposits 5–7 days per week. Gaps of 4+ consecutive days without deposits may raise questions — unless explained by consistent closure patterns (closed Mondays/Tuesdays).
| Deposit Pattern | Underwriter View | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 5–7 days/week, consistent | Reliable daily revenue | Ideal |
| 3–4 days/week with clear pattern | Acceptable if closure days explained | Good |
| Irregular gaps of 5+ days | Concerning — may indicate operational issues | Flag |
| 1–2 large deposits per month only | Catering-only model — explain upfront | Special case |
| Time in Business | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 months | Very limited options; specialty starter programs only | Difficult |
| 6–12 months | Qualifies for most programs, smaller amounts | Limited |
| 1–3 years | Full qualification for standard programs | Good |
| 3+ years | Strongest qualification; best rates and amounts | Excellent |
If your score is above 60, apply now. Under 60, read the cash flow guide first.
T.A.G. Business Funding
500 FICO minimum. Bank declines OK. Revenue matters more than credit score. Most decisions in 24 hours.
500 FICO minimum · $4K–$6K+/month revenue · Funded in 1–3 days
What does a restaurant need to qualify for MCA?
Restaurant MCA qualification: (1) $8,000+ average monthly deposits (cash and card combined); (2) 6+ months of operating history; (3) 500+ FICO score; (4) active business bank account where all revenue deposits. Restaurants with a mix of cash, card, and third-party delivery deposits (DoorDash, Uber Eats) can use a single bank account that aggregates all revenue — ensure all streams deposit to the same account for the highest qualifying revenue number.
Does a restaurant's POS volume affect MCA qualification?
Yes — some MCA funders offer credit card split programs, where repayment is tied directly to credit card processing volume rather than fixed daily bank debits. For this product, your monthly card processing volume is the primary qualification factor. Higher monthly card volume = larger advance at a better rate. Cash-heavy restaurants that do not push card processing may qualify for less under a split program than under a traditional bank-statement-based advance.
Can a restaurant owner with bad personal credit get MCA?
Yes — 500 FICO is the minimum accepted by most funders in our funding network. Restaurants with sub-600 FICO but $20,000+/month in consistent deposits often receive approval. The factor rate will be higher than for a 680+ FICO applicant, but the advance remains available. Improving credit score over 12–18 months typically drops the factor rate on renewal.
Does a restaurant need to own the building to qualify for MCA?
No — property ownership is irrelevant to MCA qualification. MCA is unsecured business financing based on revenue. Restaurant tenants qualify the same as property owners. The funder's security is the future receivables of the business, not any physical collateral.
