Learn how merchant cash advances work, what kind of businesses use them and the pros and cons of this revenue-based funding solution.
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Apply in 10 minutes for a cash advance tailored to how your business operates.
- From $10k to $20m
- One fixed fee, agreed upfront
- Repaid as a share of your sales
- Optional repayment caps
- No personal guarantees
- Funds in as little as 24 hours
What is a merchant cash advance?
A merchant cash advance (MCA) is business funding you receive as a lump sum and repay as a share of your future sales, rather than in fixed monthly instalments. The provider collects an agreed percentage of your revenue until the advance and its cost are repaid, so each repayment moves with your sales. Wayflyer offers a merchant cash advance to ecommerce brands, Amazon sellers and wholesalers, priced as one fixed fee agreed before you accept, so the total you repay never changes.
When a cash advance is a good fit
A cash advance works best when the money you raise turns into sales fairly quickly, and when your sales aren't the same every month.
What you get with a Wayflyer cash advance
- Repayments are a share of your sales, so they're tied to what you actually sell rather than a fixed date in the calendar.
- One fixed fee, agreed before you accept, so you know the total from day one.
- You may be eligible for an optional monthly repayment cap, which limits what you repay in your busiest months.
- No personal guarantee and no collateral.
- A decision based on how your business performs, not only on your credit score or how long you've traded.
- Funds in as little as 24 hours after you accept.
Four common uses
Seasonal businesses
If most of your revenue lands in a few months, a fixed monthly payment can hit hardest when sales are lowest. With a cash advance, what you repay each period is a share of what you sold in it.
Stocking up before a peak
Fund inventory ahead of Black Friday, Prime Day or your busiest quarter, then repay as that stock sells rather than before it arrives.
Strong sales, short trading history
Banks often want years of accounts. We look at your recent sales and cash flow, so a young business with strong trading can still qualify.
Time-sensitive deals
A supplier discount, a bulk-buy opportunity or a campaign slot won't always wait for a bank's timeline. Funds can reach you within 24 hours of accepting.
How a merchant cash advance works
Every merchant cash advance has three moving parts: the advance (what you receive), the cost (what you pay for it) and the repayment rate (the share of your sales collected until it's repaid). Here's how they fit together with Wayflyer, from application to the final repayment.
- Apply and connect your accounts. Tell us about your business and connect your business bank account. It takes under 10 minutes and won't affect your credit score.
- We review your performance. We look at your revenue, your cash flow and how your sales move through the year, rather than relying on credit score or historical accounts alone.
- You get an offer with three numbers. The amount of the advance, one fixed fee and the share of your revenue we'll collect. Your total to repay is the advance plus the fee, shown before you accept, and our team walks you through it.
- Funds reach your account. Once you accept, funds can arrive in as little as 24 hours. Use them for whatever moves the business forward, such as stock, marketing or payroll.
- Repayments follow your sales. We collect the agreed percentage of your revenue on the schedule set out in your offer. A strong week means a larger collection; a slower week means a smaller one.
- The advance is repaid. Collections stop as soon as the advance and fee are repaid. If you need funding for your next season, you can apply again.
A worked example
A company with $100,000 in monthly sales takes a $50,000 advance with a $3,000 fixed fee, repaid at 10% of revenue. It owes $53,000 in total. At $100,000 a month, about $10,000 is collected each month, so the advance is repaid in a little over five months. If sales dip to $70,000 in a quiet month, that month's collection is $7,000 and repayment takes a little longer. The $53,000 total doesn't change either way.
How much does a merchant cash advance cost?
A Wayflyer cash advance costs one fixed fee, set as a percentage of the amount you receive and agreed before you accept. There's no compounding interest, no late fees and no hidden charges.
- Total to repay = the advance + one fixed fee.
- We price each offer from your trading data, so your fee depends on your business.
- The fee is fixed from day one. If sales slow, repayment takes longer, but the total stays the same.
Illustrative examples
| Illustrative examples | Example A | Example B | Example C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance | $50,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 |
| Fixed fee | $3,000 | $6,000 | $15,000 |
| Total to repay | $53,000 | $106,000 | $265,000 |
Examples are illustrative only and are not a quote. Your fee depends on your business.
Factor rates, fixed fees and interest
Many MCA providers quote a factor rate instead of a fee. A factor rate is a multiplier applied once to the advance: $50,000 at a factor rate of 1.2 means repaying $60,000, so the advance costs $10,000. A fixed fee works the same way, written as a percentage. The $3,000 fee on $50,000 in Example A is the same as a factor rate of 1.06.
Neither is an interest rate. Interest builds over time, so the longer you borrow, the more you pay. A factor rate or fixed fee is charged once, so the faster you repay, the higher the equivalent annual cost. That's why it's worth comparing offers on the total you'll repay and how long repayment is likely to take, not on the headline rate alone.
The downsides to weigh up
A merchant cash advance isn't the cheapest way to fund a business. Be clear on the trade-offs before you apply:
- It usually costs more than a bank loan or a government-backed loan. If you qualify for one and can wait for it, that's often the cheaper choice.
- It's priced as one fixed fee, not as a fee per year or per month, so repaying quickly raises the equivalent annual cost, and repaying early doesn't save you anything.
- Some providers take repayments straight from your card sales every day, which can squeeze your cash in your busiest periods. Ask how and how often repayments are taken, and whether they can be capped.
- You can't know exactly when it will be repaid. If sales fall, repayment takes longer.
- Taking several advances from different providers at once, known as stacking, can quickly overwhelm your cash flow.
- It suits short-term needs that pay back in sales, like stock and marketing. For long-term investments with a slow payback, a term loan is usually a better fit.
Capped vs uncapped repayments
When repayments are a share of your sales, a cap decides what happens in your biggest weeks.
Uncapped
You repay the agreed share of your sales however high they go. A record month clears more of the balance, so the advance is repaid sooner and the effective APR is higher, because the same fixed fee is paid over a shorter time. More cash also leaves the business just when you might want to reinvest it.
Capped
There's a maximum you'll repay in any month. Once you reach the cap, you won't pay any more until the next month and the rest of the balance carries forward. You keep more cash from a peak, and repayment may take a little longer. Because the same fixed fee is spread over a longer repayment period, the effective APR may be lower. The total you repay is the same either way.
Example: a quiet month and a peak month
| Sales | Uncapped repayment | Capped repayment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiet month | $60,000 | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| Peak month, such as Black Friday | $250,000 | $25,000 | $15,000 |
Based on a 10% share of sales and a $15,000 monthly cap. Illustrative only. In the peak month the cap keeps an extra $10,000 in the business; that $10,000 is still owed and is collected in later months.
Can I cap my Wayflyer repayments?
You may be eligible for a monthly repayment cap on your Wayflyer cash advance. If you are, our team will help you set it based on how your sales move through the year. A cap never changes the total you repay, only how quickly it's collected.
Visualise an example offer
Set an amount, a fee and your monthly sales to see how a cash advance or term loan would be repaid, with or without a monthly cap. Figures are illustrative and not a quote.
How to compare merchant cash advance fees
Providers price advances in different ways, which makes offers hard to line up. Ask every provider these seven questions and compare the answers side by side.
What is the total I'll repay?
It's the one number you can compare directly across a factor rate, a percentage fee and interest.
Is the cost fixed, or can it grow?
Check whether anything is added if repayment takes longer than expected.
How long is repayment likely to take?
The same fixed cost repaid in three months is far more expensive in annual terms than if it's repaid over nine.
How, and how often, are repayments taken?
Daily deductions from card sales, weekly debits and monthly collections affect your cash flow very differently. Ask whether repayments can be capped.
Are there any other fees?
Ask about origination, broker, admin and late fees, and what happens to the cost if you repay early.
Do I need to give a personal guarantee or security?
Find out what you're personally liable for, and what the provider can claim if things go wrong.
Will someone walk me through the terms?
You should understand every term before you sign. Ask for a conversation, not just a contract.
Merchant cash advance vs other business finance
There's no single best way to fund a business. It depends on what you need the money for, how quickly you need it and how your cash comes in. Here's how a cash advance compares with the main alternatives, including when another option is the better choice.
Merchant cash advance
A lump sum repaid as a share of your future sales, priced as a fixed fee or a factor rate. Funds usually arrive within days. Some providers ask for a personal guarantee; Wayflyer doesn't.
- Use when
- Your sales are seasonal or growing and you need funding for something that pays back in sales, like stock before a peak or a marketing push.
- Avoid when
- You're funding a long-term project with a slow payback, you're still repaying another advance, or you qualify for a cheaper bank loan and can wait for it.
Bank loan
A loan from a bank, repaid in fixed monthly instalments with interest over one to several years.
- Use when
- You have a long trading history, strong accounts and perhaps assets to offer as security, and you can wait weeks for a decision. It's usually the cheapest option.
- Avoid when
- You need the money in days, your business is young, or you don't want to give a personal guarantee or security.
Overdraft or line of credit
A credit limit you draw on and repay as needed, paying interest only on what you use.
- Use when
- You have small, short-term cash flow gaps that you can clear within weeks.
- Avoid when
- You need a large sum for stock or growth. Limits are often modest, rates can change, and the lender can reduce or withdraw the facility.
Invoice finance
Funding against invoices your customers haven't paid yet. The provider advances most of the invoice value and you repay when your customer pays.
- Use when
- You sell to other businesses on 30 to 90 day payment terms and cash is tied up in unpaid invoices.
- Avoid when
- You sell direct to consumers who pay at checkout, so there are no invoices to borrow against.
Merchant cash advance eligibility in Australia
Wayflyer's cash advance is built for ecommerce brands, Amazon sellers and wholesalers. To apply, your business needs:
- At least 6 months of trading history
- $10,000 or more in monthly revenue
- To be a DTC, ecommerce or wholesale business
What you need to apply
- Basic details about your business and its owners
- Your business bank account, connected securely so we can review your performance
- Your online sales platform, if you sell online
- About 10 minutes, and applying won't affect your credit score
Not an ecommerce business? We also fund businesses in other supported industries, usually with a term loan.
Why businesses choose Wayflyer
A known maximum repayment
Your total is the advance plus one fixed fee, agreed before you accept. Whatever your sales do, you'll never repay more than that.
No personal guarantee
We fund the business, not the person behind it. You don't put your home or personal assets on the line, and there's no collateral to provide.
Terms explained by a person
Before you accept, someone from our team walks you through your fee, how repayments work and the total you'll repay. After that, you have a dedicated account manager.
Customer story: Dock & Bay
“Wayflyer understands how our money moves in and out, whereas other providers don't.”
Dock & Bay makes quick-dry towels and beach gear, and earns 50 to 60% of its revenue in around four months of the year. It buys most of its stock in winter, months before it sells. The brand uses Wayflyer funding to pay for that stock ahead of its spring and summer peak, then repays as the sales come in.
Read the full storyMerchant cash advance FAQs
A merchant cash advance (MCA) is business funding where you receive capital upfront and repay it as a share of your future sales, rather than a fixed monthly amount. It is also known as a business cash advance, and it is different from a credit card cash advance. With Wayflyer you pay one fixed fee, agreed before you accept.
Not in the traditional sense. A loan is usually repaid in fixed payments with interest, whereas a Wayflyer cash advance is repaid as a share of your sales and costs one fixed fee instead of interest. Repayments rise and fall with your revenue, and the total you owe is agreed before you accept.
You apply online in under 10 minutes and connect your bank account so we can review your business performance. Your offer shows your fixed fee and total repayment upfront. Once you accept, funds can reach your bank account in as little as 24 hours, and you repay a share of your sales. A dedicated account manager is there if you have questions.
You pay one fixed fee, agreed before you accept, with no compounding interest, no late fees and no hidden charges. Your total repayment is the advance plus that fee, and it stays the same from day one. See the illustrative examples on this page, or check your offer for your exact figures.
Compare the total you will repay first. Providers quote cost in different ways, such as a factor rate, a percentage fee or a fixed fee, so those figures are hard to line up side by side. The total repayment is the one number that is comparable across every offer. Then check how long repayment is expected to take, because the effective annual cost depends on how quickly the advance is repaid.
Ask seven things: the total you'll repay; whether the cost is fixed or can grow; how long repayment is likely to take; how and how often repayments are taken, and whether they can be capped; what other fees apply, including if you repay early; whether you need a personal guarantee or security; and whether someone will walk you through the terms. Our team covers each of these before you accept.
A factor rate is a multiplier applied once to the advance, for example 1.3. Interest builds over time as an annual rate. Because a factor rate is a fixed cost, the effective annual rate depends on how quickly you repay. Ask any provider for the total repayment and the repayment window so you can compare like for like.
Wayflyer funds businesses from $10,000 up to $20 million. The amount we offer depends on your sales data and what we believe you can comfortably repay. You can use the funds for anything that helps your business grow, such as inventory, marketing, payroll or equipment, with no spend restrictions.
You need at least 6 months of trading history, $10,000 or more in monthly revenue, and a DTC, ecommerce or wholesale business based in a country we fund. Connect your bank account and we review your business performance to see what we can offer.
DTC, ecommerce and wholesale businesses can apply from any of the 11 countries we fund: Australia, the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Denmark.
Wayflyer bases funding on your business performance, such as your sales, and applying won't affect your credit score. Eligibility depends on meeting our criteria on trading history, monthly revenue and location.
No. Wayflyer funding is unsecured, with no personal guarantee, no collateral and no equity given up. We fund the business, not the person behind it, so your personal assets stay protected.
No, applying won't affect your score. Your offer shows your fee and total repayment before you decide.
With a Wayflyer cash advance you repay a percentage of your revenue, so payments are smaller in slower periods and larger in stronger ones. How long repayment takes can vary with your sales. If you run into difficulty, we work with you on a plan.
Yes. You can repay early at any time from your dashboard, with no early repayment penalty. Because the fee is fixed, repaying early doesn't reduce it: the total you owe stays the same.
A cash advance is repaid as a share of your sales, so payments flex. A term loan is repaid on a fixed schedule, which suits planned spending you can forecast. A line of credit lets you draw as needed. We offer a cash advance, term loan and rolling financing, and our team can help you pick.
Funds can reach your bank account in as little as 24 hours after you accept your offer. To apply, connect your bank account so we can review your business performance. For larger amounts we may also ask for financial accounts. There is no lengthy paperwork.
Wayflyer is backed by institutional partners including J.P. Morgan, with billions of dollars available to deploy to growing businesses.
With uncapped repayments you pay the agreed share of your sales however high they go, so a strong month clears more of the balance. Because the same fixed fee is then paid over a shorter time, the effective APR is higher. A cap sets the most you'll repay in any month, so you keep more cash from a peak and repayment may take a little longer. Spreading the same fee over a longer period means the effective APR may be lower. The total you repay is the same either way.
A cash advance is a poor fit if you need funding for a long-term project with a slow payback, if you'd be taking it on top of other advances, or if you qualify for a cheaper bank or government-backed loan and can wait for it. It's built for short-term needs that pay back in sales.