At this point it is natural to wonder what you are supposed to do now. The short version is that you have a few jobs: read the agreement closely, keep the business account in good shape, and respond quickly to anything the funding source asks for. This page walks through the stages in a general order and what to do at each one. It is part of our guide to what to know before you apply for business funding.
What an offer is, and what it is not
An offer is a set of proposed terms from a funding source after it reviewed your application and business bank statements. Those terms are specific to that funding source and to your file. A different provider could present different terms for the same business, and an offer can carry conditions or an expiry date.
An offer is also not the same as receiving funds. Accepting it tells the funding source you want to proceed. The money moves only at disbursement, and several steps sit between the two. If you are reading this because your approval seems stuck, our page on why an approved deal can stall, including a negative balance covers that side. This page is the practical checklist for the stretch after you say yes.
The stages after acceptance
Every funding source runs its own process, so treat the sequence below as a general outline and not a schedule. Some stages may be combined, reordered or skipped, and a provider can add steps of its own.
| Stage | What happens | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Agreement review and signature | The funding source sends the agreement, which may be signed electronically. See how the electronic signature step works. | Read every term before you sign, then sign promptly. |
| 2. Remaining documents | The funding source may ask for items it did not need earlier. | Return exactly what is requested, the same day when you can. |
| 3. Final bank verification | Some providers confirm the account through a read-only connection, as described in our guide to final bank verification. | Keep the account positive and unchanged. Authorize a connection yourself, and only if you trust the request. |
| 4. Disbursement | The funds are sent to your business account. | Confirm the amount against the agreement. |
| 5. Repayment begins | The remittance schedule in the agreement starts. | Make sure the account can cover each payment. |
Stage 1: read the agreement before you sign
The agreement is the document that governs the deal, so it deserves a slow read even when you are eager to finish. Do not rely on a summary, a phone call or an earlier email. Look for these items and find them in the text.
- Total payback. The full amount you will repay, which is different from the amount you receive.
- Remittance schedule. How much is taken, at what frequency, and starting when.
- Fees. Any fee that is deducted from the funds or charged separately, and when it applies.
- Delivery of funds. Which account receives the money and how it arrives.
- Account changes. What the agreement says if you change or close the account used for payments.
If something is unclear, ask for the answer in writing before you sign. If you want a structured list of questions to bring, use our checklist of what to review before you sign.
Payment frequency and the factor rate
Repayment can be daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly, depending on the product and the provider. Frequent payments are meant to line up with how your business receives money, and they also add pressure to your cash flow, because the withdrawals arrive more frequently. Compare the schedule with your own deposits before you sign. Our guide to daily versus weekly payments walks through the difference.
The cost may be expressed as a factor rate, which is a multiplier on the amount advanced. A factor rate is not an annual percentage rate, and the two should not be compared as if they were the same measure. Our explainer on the factor rate shows how the multiplier turns into a total payback, and how repayment works explains what happens once payments begin. Products also differ. A term loan, a merchant cash advance and a line of credit are not the same thing, so confirm which one your agreement describes.
Stage 2: answer remaining requests quickly
After acceptance, a funding source may ask for a document or a detail it did not need earlier. A missing signature, an extra statement, or a question about a payment can each hold a file. Funding sources may reach you by email first and sometimes by phone, so check your inbox and your spam folder every day and return missed calls. A request sitting in a spam folder is still a request.
Missing documents and slow replies can hold a file while it waits on the next step. That is a good reason to treat every request as time sensitive.
Your practical checklist until the money arrives
- Read the agreement. Find the total payback, remittance schedule and fees in the text itself.
- Keep the business account positive. Plan large payments so they do not land before your deposits.
- Do not move money out. Transfers to other accounts can change what a final check shows. Keep business money in the business account.
- Answer requests fast. Sign and return items the same day when you can.
- Check email and spam daily. Agreements and requests can arrive by email.
- Tell the funding source before you open or switch accounts. The offer was built on a specific account.
- Never share banking passwords. Authorize any verification yourself, and only if you trust the request.
Stage 3: final bank verification
Before disbursing, a funding source may verify the account again. Some providers do this through a read-only connection that lets them view the account the way your bank displays it. Verification procedures differ between providers, and T.A.G. does not run every provider's verification. What matters to you is that the account looks the way it did when you were approved. Our page on final bank verification before business funding explains what a read-only connection is and is not.
Two rules are worth stating plainly. Do not give your online banking password to anyone, and be careful with anyone who asks for it. And do not alter a statement or an account record for any reason. Verification exists so the funding source can see the real account, and an altered document puts the deal at risk.
Keep the account positive and unchanged
The balance on the day of funding matters, not only the balance you had at application. A negative balance can jeopardize or prevent disbursement with some providers. Providers do not all handle it the same way, so we do not describe it as a universal rule, but it is a risk worth avoiding. Look ahead at payroll, supplier invoices, taxes and automatic debits for the days you expect funding, and schedule your own payments so they do not land before your deposits.
Keep personal and business activity separate. Do not run personal spending through the business account, and do not pull business money out to cover personal costs while you wait. Traditional brick-and-mortar business banks remain the preferred account type, and some providers may accept online-only business accounts. If you plan to open a new account, talk to the funding source first, because a change in account can mean new verification.
Stage 4 and 5: disbursement and the repayment schedule
When the funds arrive, check the amount against the agreement. If the deposit is lower than you expected, look at the fee provisions you reviewed earlier before you assume something went wrong, and contact the funding source with a specific question if the numbers do not match.
Repayment then follows the schedule in the agreement, whether daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly. Treat the first payment date as a fixed point on your calendar and confirm the account will hold enough to cover each remittance. If your cash flow changes, contact the funding source early, and do not wait for a missed payment to start the conversation.
Timing varies and is never promised
You may have read that funding can happen within 24 to 48 hours. That is possible when everything is in order and each party responds quickly, but it is never guaranteed and the funding source sets the pace. A file that waits on a signature, a document or a callback moves at the speed of the slowest step. What you control is how fast and how completely you answer, and whether the account stays in the condition that earned the offer.
What T.A.G. does and does not do. T.A.G. is an independent ISO and broker, not a lender. We help you prepare, flag requests that need an answer, and follow up. The funding source decides the offer, the final verification and the disbursement. We cannot promise funding or timing.
Frequently asked questions
Does accepting a business funding offer mean the money is on its way?
No. Accepting means you agreed to move forward on the terms shown. The funding source may still need a signed agreement, remaining documents and a final bank check before it disburses. Timing is set by the funding source and is never guaranteed.
What should I check in the agreement before I sign?
Check the total payback amount, the remittance schedule and its frequency, any fees, how the funds will be delivered, and what the agreement says about changes to your bank account. If a term is unclear, ask for the answer in writing before you sign.
Is a factor rate the same as an APR?
No. A factor rate is a multiplier applied to the amount advanced to produce the total payback. An annual percentage rate is a different measure that accounts for time. Do not compare the two numbers directly.
Can I switch bank accounts after I accept an offer?
Tell the funding source first. The offer was built on a specific account, so a change can mean new verification and may slow or stop the deal.
Should I share my online banking password with anyone?
No. A final bank verification can use a read-only connection that you authorize yourself, and it does not require you to hand your password to a person. Be cautious about anyone who asks for your banking login.
Does T.A.G. decide whether I am funded after I accept?
No. T.A.G. is an independent ISO and broker, not a lender. The funding source makes the approval, final verification and disbursement decisions. We help you prepare and respond, and we cannot promise any outcome.
Ready to apply?
Initial funding decisions are based primarily on your business's bank-statement cash flow, without a hard credit inquiry before the initial decision. Additional underwriting and credit checks, potentially including a hard inquiry, may occur before final funding. You can read the terms of any offer before you decide.
Last reviewed: November 11, 2026. T.A.G. is an independent ISO/broker, not a lender. Funding is provided by third-party funding sources and is subject to their underwriting and approval. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.