Resources
How to qualify, what offers really cost, what rules apply, and what your contract is actually telling you. Written by Elliot Bauche, founder of ICG Funding, and reviewed against primary regulatory sources.
Funding 101
On the same $50K need, an MCA almost always costs more in dollars than a term loan, but the right answer depends on speed, credit, and how fast the capital pays itself back.
Read the guideRevenue is the underwriting driver, pricing uses a factor rate, and repayment comes out of daily or weekly ACH or a sales holdback, here is how RBF actually works in practice.
Read the guideDSCR is operating cash flow divided by total debt service, SBA wants 1.15–1.25, banks want 1.25+, and online lenders are more flexible. Here is how to calculate yours and what lenders actually do with the number.
Read the guideLines of credit let you draw and repay repeatedly, and come in three flavors, bank traditional, online revolving, and asset-backed, each priced and underwritten differently.
Read the guideFinancing builds ownership and balance-sheet assets; leasing keeps cash free and shifts obsolescence risk. Tax treatment also differs, Section 179 on financed equipment vs operating-lease expense.
Read the guide7(a) is the broad working-capital and acquisition program (up to $5M, flexible use). 504 is fixed-asset and real-estate only, delivered through a CDC partnership.
Read the guideFactor rates and APRs answer different questions. Here’s how to convert between them and avoid overpaying for capital.
Read the guideWhen to choose flexible daily repayment from revenue, and when a fixed monthly term loan is the cheaper, cleaner option.
Read the guideMost business owners sign funding agreements without fully understanding them. Here are the six numbers that actually determine your cost.
Read the guideGuides
The four underwriting pillars every small business funder looks at, and how to strengthen each one before you apply.
Read the guideReal timelines for every common funding product, from 24 hours for revenue-based to 90 days for SBA 7(a).
Read the guideExactly what underwriting needs from you for a business cash advance or revenue-based advance, and what happens with each document.
Read the guideA practical step-by-step plan for establishing a commercial credit profile that opens doors to lower-cost funding.
Read the guideA denial is not a dead end, it's a diagnostic. Here's how to read the feedback and qualify for better terms next time.
Read the guideLegal & Compliance
Brokers can add value, or stack you into expensive double-fees. Here’s what to watch for before you sign anything.
Read the guideWhat a UCC-1 does, why lenders file them, and how to resolve old filings that are blocking new funding.
Read the guideFactor-rate products, APR loans, and SBA financing all handle early payoff differently. Know before you sign.
Read the guideIndustry Insights
How landscaping, HVAC, retail, and hospitality businesses should size and time working capital to survive the off-season.
Read the guideDone reading?
Three minutes, no obligation, soft credit pull only.
