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Working capital vs. a merchant cash advance
The two get lumped together, and sometimes they overlap. Here is how a merchant cash advance is structured, how fixed-term working capital differs, and the three things to check on any offer before you sign.
- How a cash advance is actually structured
- How fixed-term working capital differs
- Three things to check on any offer
- Total cost in plain numbers, always
Updated September 3, 2026
What's the difference between working capital and a merchant cash advance?
A merchant cash advance is a purchase of future receivables repaid as a percentage of daily card sales; fixed-term working capital is a set amount repaid on a fixed schedule over a set term. Avanti Equipment Finance's working capital can be structured either way depending on the business, and in both cases you see the amount, term, total cost and payment schedule in plain numbers before you sign, with no lien on equipment or property. Amounts run $10K to $250K, funds arrive in as little as 24 hours after signing, and every credit profile is considered.
3-min
Application
24-hr
Funds in as little as
$250K
Up to
24-mo
Terms up to
Why finance with Avanti
A merchant cash advance is a purchase of your future receivables: the provider advances a lump sum and takes a fixed percentage of daily card sales until a set amount is repaid. It is fast, and it has a place, but the structure makes the true cost hard to see and the repayment hard to predict. Fixed-term working capital is a set amount repaid on a fixed schedule over a set term, so you know the payment and the total before you sign. Avanti's working capital can be structured either way depending on the business — some files fit an advance on receivables, others a fixed term — and the rule is the same in both cases: you see the amount, the term, the total cost and the payment schedule in plain numbers before committing, there is no lien on equipment or property, and nobody is guessing at what they'll owe.
At a glance
- Amounts
- $10K – $250K
- Terms
- 6 – 24 months
- Time in business
- 1+ year
- Funds in
- As little as 24 hrs
How it works
1
Apply in three minutes
Business name, monthly revenue, what it's for, and a quick credit-based pre-qualification. No tax returns to start.
2
Send three months of bank statements
All pages, PDF downloads from your online banking. Attach them to the application and the review starts right away.
3
Terms the same day
A real person calls with the amount, term, and total cost in plain numbers — no surprises in the fine print.
4
Funds in as little as 24 hours
Sign, and the money is wired to your business account on a payment schedule you saw before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a merchant cash advance?
A purchase of a business's future receivables. The provider advances a lump sum and collects a set percentage of daily card sales until an agreed total is repaid. Repayment rises and falls with sales, which makes the timeline and the true cost hard to pin down.
Is Avanti's working capital a merchant cash advance?
Not exactly. Depending on the business it can be structured as an advance on receivables or as fixed-term financing. Either way you see the total cost and the payment schedule in plain numbers before you sign, and there is no lien on what you own.
What should I check on any offer?
Three things: the total amount you will repay, not just a headline number; the payment schedule and what happens if a payment is missed; and whether anything you own is pledged. If a provider won't put all three in writing, walk away.
Do I have to take card payments to qualify?
No. Working capital is underwritten on bank deposits of any kind — card, cash, checks, transfers, factoring.
How is it repaid?
On a fixed schedule from your business account, shown to you before you sign. A representative walks you through the exact schedule on the call with your terms.
How fast can I get funded?
Terms usually come back the same business day your bank statements arrive; funds land in as little as 24 hours after you sign. Attach the statements to the application and the review starts the moment you submit.
Related financing
- Working capitalPayroll, inventory, repairs and slow months — for any business, funds in as little as 24 hours.
- Working capital without tax returnsThree months of bank statements is the whole application — no returns, no financials.
- Working capital with bad creditDeposits carry the file, not your score. No down payment at any credit level.
- How fast working capital fundsTerms the same day the statements arrive; funds in as little as 24 hours after signing.
Working capital products are subject to credit-based pre-qualification, bank statement review, and final approval. Amounts, terms, and cost vary by business and state. Not available in all states. This is a commercial financing offer only; no consumer financing is provided.