The best working capital for a cleaning business is the one that bridges the gap between your weekly payroll and your clients' payments without squeezing you: Merchant Fund Express, our recommended funder, for fast cash based on your deposits; OnDeck and Bluevine credit lines as a cushion you draw only when needed; Credibly for companies with 6+ months and credit from 550; a Bank of America line for companies with a banking history; and an SBA microloan as the cheapest route for small amounts.
This guide isn't about buying machines or vans. It's about day-to-day money: crew payroll, chemicals and liners, gas, uniforms, and the cost of starting a contract before the first monthly check arrives.
Key takeaways
- The classic problem: you pay crews every week and commercial clients pay in 30 to 60 days.
- A line of credit is usually the cheapest tool for a gap that keeps coming back; you only pay on what you use.
- OnDeck asks for 1 year, $100,000 in annual revenue and FICO 625; Bluevine asks for $10,000 a month, FICO 625 and an LLC or corporation.
- Credibly publishes working capital loans from $25,000 to $600,000 with 6 months in business and FICO 550.
- Bank of America offers a cash-secured line from $1,000 with 6 months in business and $50,000 in annualized revenue.
- Our recommended funder often decides in 2 to 4 hours and reviews sales and deposits, not just your score.
The 6 best working capital options for cleaning companies
- Merchant Fund Express (recommended funder). Best when you've landed a contract and need to cover two or three payrolls before the first check, or when a big client is paying late. Amounts run from $5,000 to $5,000,000, decisions often come in 2 to 4 hours and credit starts at FICO 500. It reviews your sales and deposits, not just your score, and doesn't require collateral in most cases. Applying is free with no credit impact, ITIN applicants are accepted (no SSN needed) and Spanish-speaking support is available.
- OnDeck (line of credit). Best for a company with at least a year that wants a standing cushion. Lines from $6,000 to $200,000 with 12, 18 or 24-month terms. Minimums: 1 year in business, a business checking account, $100,000 in annual revenue and FICO 625. It doesn't lend in North Dakota (per its site, checked October 2026).
- Bluevine (line of credit). Best for an LLC or corporation with stable sales. Lines up to $250,000; it asks for $10,000 in monthly revenue, FICO 625, 12+ months and good standing with your state. It accepts an SSN or an ITIN plus EIN (per its site, checked October 2026).
- Credibly (working capital loan). Best for companies with 6+ months and credit from 550. It offers $25,000 to $600,000 on 6 to 24-month terms with automatic daily or weekly payments. It asks for $20,000+ in average monthly deposits and uses a soft pull when you apply (per its site, checked October 2026). Daily or weekly payments work better if you have residential clients who pay often.
- Bank of America (Business Advantage line). Best for companies with 2 years under the same owner and $100,000 in prior-year revenue: its unsecured line starts at $10,000. If you're newer, its cash-secured line starts at $1,000 and asks for 6 months in business and $50,000 in annualized revenue; it's a way to build history (per its site, checked October 2026).
- SBA microloan. Best for small amounts at the lowest cost: up to $50,000 for working capital, inventory and supplies, through SBA-approved community nonprofits. According to the SBA, rates generally run 8% to 13% and the maximum term is seven years. It's slow and can't be used to refinance existing debt.
Comparison table
| Option | Type | Speed | Minimum time | Minimum credit | ITIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant Fund Express | Working capital | Decisions often in 2 to 4 hours | Reviews sales and deposits | FICO 500+ | Yes |
| OnDeck | Line of credit | Funding as soon as same day after approval | 1 year | FICO 625 | Not published |
| Bluevine | Line of credit | Decision in minutes | 12 months | FICO 625 | Yes, with EIN |
| Credibly | Working capital loan | Funds in as little as 4 hours after approval | 6 months | FICO 550 | Not published |
| Bank of America | Line of credit | Days | 2 years (6 months for secured) | Not published | Not published |
| SBA microloan | Loan | Weeks | Varies | Varies | Varies by microlender |
How we ranked these options
No ratings or points. We compare every option on the same criteria: speed, minimum time in business, minimum credit, ITIN acceptance or owners without an SSN, documents required, amounts and collateral. Each company's details come from its official site, and if we couldn't confirm something, we left it out. The full method is in how we rank business funding options.
For cleaning working capital we put heavy weight on payment frequency. If your revenue comes from monthly contracts, a daily payment can drain your cash the week before you get paid. If you clean homes and get paid every day, a daily payment hurts less.
Size your payroll gap before you apply
Don't ask for "whatever they'll give me." Work out the real gap:
- Weekly payroll: crew hours times the hourly rate, plus payroll taxes.
- Monthly supplies: chemicals, liners, paper goods, uniforms and gas.
- Days to get paid: how long from the first clean until the client pays. On commercial contracts it's often 30 to 60 days after invoicing.
- Multiply: weekly costs times the weeks you go without getting paid. That's your gap.
- Add a cushion for a client who pays late, but not much more.
For example, if a new contract forces you to fund six weeks of payroll before the first payment, your gap is those six weeks of payroll and supplies, not the full value of the contract.
What to bring when you apply: business bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months, a list of recurring clients with what they pay monthly, signed contracts (especially the new one you're starting), open invoices with due dates, ID and your EIN. With that, any funder quickly sees that your problem isn't a lack of sales but the timing of collections, and that works in your favor. If residential clients pay by Zelle or card, make sure those payments land in the business account, not your personal one. For a more detailed calculation, see how much working capital do I need.
Line of credit, loan or factoring: which to use
| Situation | What usually fits |
|---|---|
| The gap repeats every month | Line of credit: draw it, repay it, and it's available again |
| One big new contract, one time | A working capital loan with a term that ends after you collect the first months |
| Commercial clients that pay in 60 days | Invoice factoring or a line of credit |
| Slow season for residential cleaning | A line of credit or a small amount of working capital |
| You need money today and your credit is low | Deposit-based working capital |
If your clients are offices and buildings, factoring can be cheaper than a loan because the risk rests on your client. We explain more in business line of credit for cleaning businesses.
Expensive mistakes to avoid
- Taking a second advance to cover the first. If you already have an advance and it's squeezing you, read how to lower an expensive MCA payment before you take on another.
- Using working capital to buy equipment. A floor machine is better financed with an equipment loan.
- Invoicing late. Every week you wait to invoice is another week you're financing. Invoice the same day you close the month.
- Not negotiating payment terms with the client. Before signing a contract, ask whether they can pay in 15 or 30 days instead of 60.
- Applying with several funders the same day. Start with those that use a soft credit pull.
Our recommendation
For a gap that keeps coming back, a line of credit usually costs less. If you can wait and the amount is small, an SBA microloan is cheaper still.
If the contract starts Monday and you need to cover payroll now, our recommended funder is Merchant Fund Express: it often decides in 2 to 4 hours based on your sales and deposits, and offers Spanish-speaking support for owners and office staff who prefer it. You can apply with Merchant Fund Express; it's free and doesn't affect your credit. Leer en español.
Frequently asked questions
What is working capital for a cleaning company?
It's the money you use to operate while you wait to get paid: crew payroll, chemicals, liners, gas and uniforms. In commercial cleaning the gap is often large because you pay weekly and the client pays in 30 or 60 days. Good financing covers that gap without the payment squeezing you.
Can I use working capital to make payroll?
Yes. Covering payroll while you wait to collect is one of the most common uses of working capital and credit lines. Just make sure the term ends after you collect the contract's first payments, so you're not repaying the financing with money that hasn't come in yet.
Can I get approved with just one big client?
Possibly, but a funder sees it as a risk: if that client leaves, your sales drop. It helps to show the signed contract, its length and the client's payment history. If you can, add clients before asking for a large amount.
Can a cleaning company get working capital with an ITIN?
Yes, there are options. Merchant Fund Express accepts ITIN applicants with no SSN needed, and Bluevine says on its site that it accepts an SSN or an ITIN plus EIN for its line of credit, though it requires an LLC or corporation. Ask each funder which number it accepts. If you have questions about your immigration situation, talk to an immigration attorney.
How fast can I get the money?
It depends on the option. Our recommended funder often decides in 2 to 4 hours. OnDeck can deposit the same day after approval, and Credibly says funds can arrive in as little as 4 hours after approval. A bank or the SBA takes longer.
Is a daily or monthly payment better for a cleaning business?
If your clients are homes that pay when the job is done, a daily or weekly payment can track your sales. If your clients are businesses that pay once a month, a monthly payment or a line of credit fits better. What matters is that the payment fits your slowest week.