The short answer
- There is no credit pull to apply.
- Steady money coming into the business matters more than a credit score.
- A low score can change the details of an offer, but it rarely closes the door.
Why your score is not the deciding factor
Banks decide mostly on credit: your score, your history and your collateral. That is why a few late payments from years ago can sink a bank application.
A merchant cash advance works differently. It is an advance on your future sales, not a loan, so what matters most is whether the business brings money in and how steady it is. Your business shows that every month, whatever your score says.
What does matter
- Monthly sales: how much money comes into the business each month.
- Steadiness: whether those sales hold up from month to month.
- Time in business: a business that has been running a while has more to show.
- What you already owe: other advances or loans you are paying back now.
How bad credit can affect an offer
A low score rarely closes the door, but it can change the details of an offer, like the amount, the cost or how long you have to pay it back. That is why it helps to see the full offer in writing before you decide. Before you sign, you see the amount you receive after fees, the total you pay back, and how the payments work.
What helps when your credit is weak
- Apply with the business's real, current numbers. They make the strongest case.
- Be upfront about other balances you are paying. Surprises slow everything down.
- Ask for what the business actually needs, not the most you can get.
- Use the money for something that pays for itself, like inventory you will sell or a job you will finish.
Be careful with big promises
Be wary of anyone who promises you will be funded no matter what, or who asks for a fee before you see an offer. Applying with Jade costs nothing, and you never have to take an offer.
