There's no such thing as a cash advance "just for women": funders decide based on your sales, not your gender. So the best merchant cash advance for a woman business owner is the one that reads your cash flow best and gives you clear terms. Merchant Fund Express is our recommended funder for its speed, its sales-based review and its Spanish-speaking support. Credibly is another option from 500 credit, and if you qualify, a term loan or Kiva may cost you less.
Many owners of salons, esthetics studios, shops, restaurants, child care centers and cleaning services use cash advances because they're fast and get repaid from sales. But they aren't always the cheapest choice. In this guide we compare the alternatives using data each one publishes and give you rules for deciding when an advance makes sense and when something else fits better.
Key takeaways
- Our recommended funder reviews sales and deposits, works with FICO 500+, funds $5,000 to $5,000,000 and offers Spanish-speaking support.
- Advances are approved on your sales, not your gender, so compare terms, not labels.
- Credibly lists 500 credit, 6 months in business and $15,000 in monthly deposits as general requirements.
- If you qualify, a term loan (OnDeck) or Kiva may cost less than an advance.
- Always get the total amount to be repaid and the payment method in writing.
- SBA Women's Business Centers offer free or low-cost advising.
The best merchant cash advance for women, ranked
Our criteria: speed, minimum time in business, minimum credit, ITIN acceptance, documents, amounts and collateral. No made-up ratings; the full method is in how we rank business funding options.
- Merchant Fund Express, recommended funder. It reviews your sales and deposits, not just your credit, with amounts from $5,000 to $5,000,000, credit from FICO 500 and decisions that often come in 2 to 4 hours. Collateral isn't required in most cases, applying is free and doesn't affect your credit, and it offers Spanish-speaking support, which is valuable if you'd like the terms explained in your own language. It also accepts applicants with an ITIN, no SSN needed.
- Credibly. Offers merchant cash advances and working capital from $5,000 to $600,000. It generally asks for 6 months in business, a credit score of 500 or higher and $15,000 in average monthly deposits into a business account. Its site notes that the best rates go to owners with excellent credit and strong finances.
- Advance from your payment processor. Some card processors and sales platforms offer advances to their customers based on what you sell through them, repaid as a percentage of each sale. If your business takes nearly everything by card on one system, check your dashboard and compare the offer.
- OnDeck, term loan (alternative). It's not an advance, but if you qualify, it may be more predictable: loans from $5,000 to $400,000 with terms up to 24 months. It asks for at least one year in business, $100,000 in annual revenue, a 625 FICO and a business checking account.
- Kiva (interest-free alternative). From $1,000 to $15,000 at 0% interest, with no fees and no minimum credit score. It takes longer, but for a small amount it can save you a lot. It doesn't operate in Nevada or North Dakota.
Quick comparison
| Option | Type | Minimum credit | Minimum time | Amounts | How you repay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFE (recommended) | Sales-based financing | FICO 500+ | Based on your sales | $5,000 to $5,000,000 | Per the offer |
| Credibly | Advance and working capital | 500 | 6 months | $5,000 to $600,000 | Depends on the product |
| Payment processor | Advance on card sales | Per the processor | Per your history with them | Based on your sales | Percentage of each sale |
| OnDeck (term) | Loan | FICO 625 | 1 year | $5,000 to $400,000 | Fixed payments, up to 24 months |
| Kiva | Interest-free loan | No minimum | No minimum | $1,000 to $15,000 | Monthly, usually 12 to 36 months |
To compare with other products built for women owners, see the best business funding for women.
How an advance works and when it makes sense
A merchant cash advance (MCA) isn't a traditional loan. The funder advances you money in exchange for a share of your future sales. You repay it one of two ways:
- A percentage of your sales: a share of each card sale or of your deposits is held back. Sell less, and you pay less that day.
- A fixed daily or weekly amount: it comes out of your account even on days you sell little. Easier to predict, heavier in slow weeks.
The cost is usually expressed as a factor rather than an annual interest rate, which makes it easy to underestimate. Always ask for the total amount you'll repay, the payment frequency and the estimated term, and compare it with a loan if you qualify.
When an advance usually makes sense: when the money generates sales quickly (inventory for a strong season, a large confirmed order, a repair that has you closed) and your sales are steady. When something else fits better: long-term expenses like a full remodel, or when you already have another advance open.
Resources that really are for women business owners
Even though advances aren't approved by gender, being a woman business owner does open resources worth using before and after you borrow:
- SBA Women's Business Centers. According to the SBA, Women's Business Centers offer free or low-cost counseling and training for women who want to start, grow or expand a business. They can help you review an offer or get your finances in order.
- Women-owned business certification. It can open contracts with companies and government agencies looking for women-owned suppliers. See how to become a certified women-owned business.
- CDFIs and community lenders. Some run programs for women or Hispanic communities, with lower costs and coaching.
A big contract won through certification can be exactly the kind of opportunity where fast financing does make sense: you know how much you'll collect and when.
How it fits your type of business
The way you get paid changes which kind of advance fits. Some examples, as a guide only:
| Type of business | How it usually gets paid | What usually fits best |
|---|---|---|
| Beauty salon, esthetics studio or spa | Cards every day | Percentage-of-sales advance; adjusts to slow weeks |
| Boutique or gift shop | Cards, with strong seasons | An advance for inventory before the season, not fixed costs |
| Restaurant or bakery | Cards and cash daily | Advance or working capital; deposit all cash |
| Commercial cleaning | Invoices on 30 or 60 days | Working capital or factoring rather than a card-based advance |
| Child care center | Weekly or monthly payments from families | Working capital with payments that match your collections |
The underlying rule: the advance payment should follow the rhythm of your collections. If you invoice once a month, a daily holdback on card sales has almost nothing to draw from, and a fixed daily payment forces you to keep a balance every day even though clients pay at month's end.
Checklist before you sign
Before you sign any advance, go through this list:
- Get the total amount to be repaid in writing, not just the amount you receive.
- Confirm the payment method: percentage of sales or fixed amount, and how often.
- Ask about upfront fees: origination or admin fees deducted from the money you receive.
- Ask what happens if your sales drop. Some contracts allow the payment to be adjusted if sales fall; others don't.
- Ask whether there's an early-delivery discount. It changes the cost a lot if you plan to deliver the full amount ahead of schedule.
- Avoid taking a second advance on top of the first. Stacking advances is the most common way a cash-flow problem turns into a crisis.
If an advance payment is already squeezing you, the goal should be to lower the payment, not add another one. And if you have an ITIN, ask which IDs each funder accepts before you send documents. For more options in this product category, see the best merchant cash advances.
Our recommendation
If your sales are steady and you need capital soon, start with Merchant Fund Express, our recommended funder: applying is free, it doesn't affect your credit and support is available in Spanish. Get the offer in writing and compare it with at least one other option. If you qualify for a term loan or the amount is small, also check OnDeck or Kiva, which may cost you less.
And lean on resources for women business owners: a Women's Business Center can review the offer with you before you sign, at no cost or low cost. Prefer Spanish? Leer en español.
Frequently asked questions
Are there special cash advances for women?
Not in the sense of different terms for being a woman: advances are approved on your sales and deposits. What does exist are resources for women business owners, like SBA Women's Business Centers, which according to the SBA offer free or low-cost counseling, plus some community programs.
Can I get a cash advance for my salon with bad credit?
Yes, in many cases. Merchant Fund Express works with FICO 500+, and Credibly lists 500 as a baseline, with 6 months in business and $15,000 in average monthly deposits. With low credit the cost is usually higher, so get the total amount to be repaid in writing and compare.
Which is better, a cash advance or a loan?
If you qualify for a term loan, it's usually more predictable and often cheaper. An advance is useful when you need money fast, your credit isn't enough for a loan, or your sales swing a lot and you'd rather pay a percentage. Compare both options using the same information.
Does Merchant Fund Express offer support in Spanish?
Yes. It offers Spanish-speaking support, reviews your sales and deposits from FICO 500+ and funds $5,000 to $5,000,000. It accepts applicants with an ITIN. Applying is free, it doesn't affect your credit, and decisions often come in 2 to 4 hours.
What happens if my sales drop while I'm repaying the advance?
It depends on the contract. If you pay a percentage of your sales, the payment drops when you sell less. If you pay a fixed daily or weekly amount, it keeps coming out the same. Some contracts let you request an adjustment if sales fall, so ask about that before you sign.
Should I get certified as a women-owned business before seeking funding?
It can help, though not with the advance approval itself. Certification can open contracts with companies and government agencies, and a signed contract is one of the best reasons to seek capital: you know how much you'll collect and when, and funders view that favorably.