If you are searching "Raul Harnasch" in connection with a business loan, cash advance, or funding offer, the honest answer is this: treat any individual name attached to a financing pitch as a claim you must verify, not a credential you can trust on sight. We hold no verified public record tying this specific name to a licensed lender or broker, so this page does not assert one either way. What we can give you is the exact process an experienced underwriter uses to check who is behind an offer, the red flags that separate a real funding source from a lead-seller or a scam, and how a legitimate revenue-based approval works so you can recognize a fair deal when you see one. Read the vetting steps first, then the funding mechanics.
Key takeaways
- A personal name on a funding offer is not a license: real business lenders and brokers operate under a registered legal entity, and many states require broker or lender registration you can look up.
- Never wire money, buy gift cards, or pay an upfront fee to secure a business loan; legitimate revenue-based funding takes its cost from future sales, not from an advance payment.
- Revenue-based and MCA-style approvals weigh your bank deposits and monthly revenue far more than your FICO, with many programs accepting scores around 500+.
- Typical qualifying floors are roughly $10,000 in funding, 3-6 months in business, and consistent monthly deposits; funding can move in about 24-48 hours once documents are clean.
- No honest funder guarantees approval before reviewing your bank statements; a guarantee is a marketing tell, not an underwriting fact.
- Cross-check any name against the entity on the contract, the EIN or DBA, the business address, and state registration before you sign anything.
- Ask for the offer in writing with the factor rate or cost, the remittance schedule, and any fees stated plainly; a source that resists putting terms in writing is telling you something.
Why a name alone tells you almost nothing
In small-business financing, deals are made by companies, not by individuals acting on their own reputation. A broker, ISO (independent sales organization), or direct funder operates under a registered legal entity with an EIN, a business address, and in many states a registration or license on file. When someone hands you a funding offer under a personal name and little else, you are missing the layer that actually carries legal accountability.
That does not make the person illegitimate. A loan officer, an account rep, or a broker principal will absolutely have a name, and building a relationship with a real human is normal and good. The point is sequencing: the name is where you start your diligence, not where you finish it. Before you send bank statements, before you sign, and long before any money moves, you tie that name to a verifiable business and verifiable terms.
The five-minute vetting checklist
Run this every time, regardless of how the introduction was made. It takes about five minutes and it filters out most bad actors.
- Match the name to a legal entity. Ask which company the person represents and get the exact legal name and, if a broker, the funder they are placing you with.
- Check state registration. Many states maintain a searchable business registry (Secretary of State) and some regulate commercial-financing brokers. Confirm the entity exists and is active.
- Verify contact channels. A real operation has a business domain email and a consistent business address, not only a personal cell and a free email account.
- Read the paper. Insist on the offer in writing showing the cost (factor rate or interest), the remittance amount and frequency, and every fee. Compare it to what you were told verbally.
- Test for pressure. Manufactured urgency, "sign today or lose it," and any request for an upfront payment are the three clearest warning signs.
Red flags that should stop the conversation
Some signals are not yellow lights but hard stops. If you see any of these, disengage and go through a vetted marketplace instead.
- Upfront fees to "release" or "secure" funding. Legitimate revenue-based funding is repaid from future revenue; you do not prepay to unlock it.
- Guaranteed approval before your bank statements are seen. Underwriting is done on your actual deposits and revenue. A guarantee in advance is a script, not a decision.
- Requests to move money off-platform via wire, gift card, crypto, or a personal account.
- Refusal to name the funding entity or to put terms in writing.
- Terms that change between the verbal pitch and the contract.
See our business funding guide for how these tactics map to the broader lending landscape.
How legitimate revenue-based approval actually works
Once you have confirmed you are dealing with a real source, here is the model most owners with imperfect credit end up using. Revenue-based financing and merchant cash advance (MCA) style products approve you primarily on cash flow. An underwriter looks at your last few months of business bank statements: how much comes in, how steady it is, your average daily balance, and how many negative days you run. Revenue and deposit consistency drive the decision. Credit is a factor, not the gatekeeper, which is why many programs work with FICO scores around 500 and up.
The cost is usually expressed as a factor rate rather than an APR, and repayment is collected as a fixed daily or weekly remittance tied to your sales rhythm. Because the file is thin and cash-flow based, decisions move fast, often in about 24-48 hours once your statements and basic documents are in. It is not the cheapest capital available, and it should not be your first choice if you qualify for a bank line. But for an owner who needs speed and cannot wait on a traditional credit-first process, it is a legitimate, widely used tool.
Decision framework: when this route fits and when to avoid it
Revenue-based funding works best when:
- You have steady daily or weekly sales and can carry a fixed remittance without choking operations.
- The capital funds something that generates return quickly: inventory ahead of a busy season, a piece of equipment that unlocks a job, payroll to take on a signed contract.
- Your credit keeps you out of bank products but your deposits are strong and consistent.
- Timing matters and a slow, credit-first application would cost you the opportunity.
Avoid it, or pause, when:
- Your margins are thin enough that a daily remittance would push you into negative cash-flow days.
- You are borrowing to cover a structural loss rather than a timing gap; funding does not fix an unprofitable model.
- You already qualify for a bank term loan or SBA product and can wait for it.
- You are being pressured to stack multiple advances at once, which compounds daily obligations dangerously.
Example scenarios (illustrative, not quotes)
The figures below are labeled examples to show how a file reads, not offers. Your actual terms depend on your statements.
| Business (example) | Monthly revenue | FICO | Use of funds | Likely fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shop | ~$60,000 | ~540 | Diagnostic equipment | Strong fit; steady deposits, fast payback on new capacity |
| Restaurant | ~$90,000 | ~600 | Pre-season inventory | Good fit if daily sales absorb a fixed remittance |
| Seasonal landscaper | ~$25,000 (off-season) | ~520 | Payroll gap | Caution; thin off-season cash flow may strain remittance |
Notice the pattern: the decision follows deposits and use of funds, not the credit score in isolation.
A smarter path than chasing one name
Instead of trying to confirm whether one individual is legitimate, put your file in front of multiple vetted funders at once through a revenue-based marketplace. You submit basic business details and a few months of bank statements, and underwriters compete on cash-flow strength rather than credit alone. Minimums are typically around $10,000, FICO 500+ is workable, and clean files can fund in roughly 24-48 hours. You keep control: you see the terms in writing, you compare, and no one asks you to prepay a fee. This is the same standard we hold every source to across our business funding guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Raul Harnasch a lender or broker I can trust?
We hold no verified public record connecting this specific name to a licensed lender or broker, so we do not vouch for it either way. Treat any name on a funding offer as a starting point for diligence: tie it to a registered legal entity, confirm state registration, get terms in writing, and never pay an upfront fee. If it checks out, fine; if any red flag appears, use a vetted marketplace instead.
How do I verify that a business funding offer is legitimate?
Match the person to a legal entity name and EIN or DBA, look the company up in the relevant Secretary of State or broker registry, confirm a business domain email and consistent address, and insist on written terms showing the cost, remittance schedule, and any fees. Legitimate revenue-based funding never requires an upfront payment to release the money.
Can I get funded with a 500 credit score?
Often yes. Revenue-based and MCA-style programs approve primarily on your bank deposits and monthly revenue, so many work with FICO scores around 500 and up. Consistent deposits and few negative days matter more than the score itself.
How fast can revenue-based funding move?
Once your business bank statements and basic documents are in and clean, decisions commonly come in about 24-48 hours. The speed comes from underwriting on cash flow rather than a slow, credit-first review.
What is the minimum to qualify?
Common floors are roughly $10,000 in funding, about 3-6 months in business, and steady monthly deposits. The exact bar depends on the funder and the strength of your statements.
Should I ever pay a fee to secure a loan?
No. Paying upfront to "release" or "secure" business funding is one of the clearest scam signals. Legitimate revenue-based funding takes its cost from future sales through a remittance schedule, not from a payment you make in advance.
Why does no honest funder guarantee approval?
Because approval is a decision made on your actual bank statements and revenue. Anyone guaranteeing approval before reviewing your file is reciting a sales script, not underwriting your business. A guarantee is a red flag, not a benefit.
Is revenue-based funding the same as a bank loan?
No. It is faster and easier to qualify for because it is based on cash flow, but it is typically more expensive and repaid through frequent fixed remittances. If you qualify for a bank term loan or SBA product and can wait, that is usually cheaper. Revenue-based funding shines when speed and credit flexibility matter most.
