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#The core checklist
A business cash advance or revenue-based advance is the fastest funding product in the market because its document requirements are minimal. Here is the complete list ICG will typically request.
#Required for every advance
- Four months of business bank statements, PDF exports from your bank's online portal, not screenshots or summaries. Every page of every month.
- Driver's license or state ID for any owner with 20%+ equity
- Voided business check or a bank verification link (Plaid-style connection)
- Business entity documentation, articles of incorporation, LLC formation, or sole proprietor DBA
#Sometimes required
- Six months of bank statements for advances over $150,000 or thin deposit histories
- Most recent business tax return for advances over $250,000
- Merchant processing statements if the advance is priced against card sales specifically
- Lease or mortgage on the operating location for collateral verification
- Existing debt schedule if you have other active loans or advances
#What each document is really for
Bank statements tell the underwriter four things at once: average monthly deposits (sizing), deposit consistency (risk), NSF / overdraft history (cash flow discipline), and existing ACH debits (debt service already in place). A clean three-month run of strong deposits is worth more than any sales story.
The voided check verifies the account is yours and sets up the daily ACH or weekly pull after funding. The ID protects against identity fraud and supports the personal guarantee. Entity documents confirm the business exists and you have authority to bind it.
#Five things that slow approval
- Bank statements missing middle pages (many PDFs export as "summary only" by default)
- Statements from a personal account instead of a business account
- A "beneficial owner" you haven't disclosed (any 25%+ owner must be on the file under FinCEN rules)
- An unresolved UCC-1 filing that requires a subordination agreement
- Recently closed bank accounts (underwriters read this as cash flow distress)
#What happens after documents are in
Underwriting reviews the file in 2–4 hours for a typical deal. You receive a written offer with: advance amount, factor rate, daily or weekly ACH amount, estimated payback window, and all fees itemized.
Accept the offer, sign the contract, and funds wire to the business account, typically same-day if contracts clear by 11 AM ET, otherwise next business day. Apply here to start the process.
Common questions
Answers, before you ask.
QWhat documents do I need for a business cash advance?
You need four months of business bank statements as PDF exports, a driver's license or state ID for any owner with 20%+ equity, a voided business check or bank verification link, and business entity documentation such as articles of incorporation or LLC formation paperwork.
QHow many months of bank statements do MCA lenders need?
Four months of business bank statements is the standard requirement for every advance. Six months are typically required for advances over $150,000 or for thin deposit histories where underwriters need a longer track record to size the deal.
QDo I need to provide tax returns for a business cash advance?
Tax returns are not required for most advances, but underwriters typically request the most recent business tax return for advances over $250,000. Smaller deals are underwritten primarily off bank statements rather than tax filings.
QCan I use personal bank statements instead of business statements?
No. Statements must come from a business account. Submitting statements from a personal account is one of the five most common reasons applications stall, because underwriters cannot verify business cash flow from commingled personal activity.
QWhy do bank statement PDFs need every page?
Underwriters need every page of every month because many bank PDFs export as "summary only" by default and miss middle pages. Missing pages slow approval and force a re-request, since reviewers cannot confirm deposits, NSF activity, or existing ACH debits without the full statement.
QHow fast can a business cash advance fund?
Underwriting reviews a typical file in 2–4 hours and issues a written offer with the advance amount, factor rate, ACH amount, payback window, and itemized fees. Funds wire same-day if contracts clear by 11 AM ET, otherwise next business day.
QWhat is FinCEN beneficial ownership and why does it matter for MCA?
Any owner holding 25% or more of the business must be disclosed on the application under FinCEN rules. An undisclosed beneficial owner is one of the top five reasons advances slow down, because it forces underwriting to re-paper the file once the missing party is identified.
Sources
Where this comes from.
Primary sources cited in this guide. We link to regulators, federal agencies, and peer-reviewed data rather than secondary commentary.
- 1About Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return
Internal Revenue Service
- 2About Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return
Internal Revenue Service
- 3SBA Lender Match
U.S. Small Business Administration
- 4Standard Operating Procedure 50 10, Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration
- 5Consumer & Community Context: Small Business Credit, How Entrepreneurs Finance the American Dream
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Written by
Elliot BaucheFounder of ICG Funding. Specialises in small business capital. Revenue-based funding, term loans, lines of credit, and SBA programs for owners with under $5M in annual revenue.
How we write and reviewTagged
- mca
- documents
- underwriting
- revenue-based