With two years in business, you qualify for a wider range of working capital than newer companies do, and revenue-based funders will approve you primarily on your bank-deposit history and monthly revenue rather than your credit score. The two-year mark clears one of the most common lender cutoffs (many require at least 12 months, and better pricing often opens up around 24 months), so a business with steady deposits and a FICO around 500 or higher can often get an offer of roughly $10,000 or more, with funding frequently in 24 to 48 hours. Approval is never guaranteed, but at this stage your operating history works in your favor.
Key takeaways
- Two years in business clears most time-in-business minimums and can unlock larger amounts and better terms than newer companies see.
- Revenue-based funders approve primarily on bank-deposit history and monthly revenue, not on credit score.
- A FICO of 500 or higher commonly works because repayment comes from future sales.
- Minimum funding often starts around $10,000, with offers sized to your average monthly revenue.
- Funding frequently arrives within 24 to 48 hours after you accept an offer.
- Most funders review the last 3 to 6 months of business bank statements.
- Approval is never guaranteed and depends on deposits, existing obligations, and each funder's criteria.
Why two years in business changes what you qualify for
Time in business is one of the first filters a funder applies. A company operating for 24 months has moved past the highest-risk window, which is why the two-year mark tends to unlock more options, larger amounts, and sometimes better terms than a 6- or 12-month-old business sees.
Here is what typically shifts as you cross that threshold:
- More funders will look at you. Some lenders set a hard 24-month minimum. At two years, that door opens.
- Deposit history carries the decision. With two years of bank statements, a funder can see seasonality, trends, and how consistently money moves through your accounts.
- Amounts scale with revenue. Offers are generally sized to your average monthly deposits, not to an arbitrary tier, so a longer track record of strong revenue supports a larger advance.
- Credit matters less than you fear. Revenue-based funders commonly work with a FICO of 500 or higher because the repayment comes from your future sales, not from a personal credit line.
Two years is a strength, not a formality. It is the difference between being seen as an unproven startup and being seen as an established operator.
What revenue-based funders actually check at this stage
A revenue-based or MCA marketplace is less interested in your credit report than in whether your bank account shows the cash flow to support repayment. When you apply, expect the review to center on a handful of concrete items.
| What they review | What they are looking for | Typical general guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Time in business | Established, past the startup window | 24+ months clears most minimums |
| Monthly revenue / deposits | Consistent money moving through the account | Often ~$10,000+ per month |
| Bank statements | Deposit trends, average balances, overdrafts | Usually the last 3-6 months |
| Personal credit (FICO) | Not a dealbreaker; a soft signal | 500+ commonly works |
| Negative days / NSFs | Few overdrafts, positive balances | Fewer is stronger |
| Existing advances | How many positions you already carry | Fewer open balances helps |
The single biggest driver is your deposit history. Two years of statements that show steady or growing revenue and few negative days will carry more weight in the decision than a middling credit score.
Apply with Merchant Fund Express in 60 seconds. Decisions in 2–4 hours.
How much working capital you can realistically expect
Revenue-based offers are typically sized as a share of your average monthly revenue rather than a fixed number. That means a business doing more each month generally sees a larger offer. The figures below are illustrative only, rounded for clarity, and not a quote or a promise.
| Example monthly revenue | Example offer range (for example) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ~$15,000 | ~$10,000-$15,000 | Around one month of revenue is a common starting point |
| ~$30,000 | ~$20,000-$35,000 | Stronger deposits support a larger advance |
| ~$60,000 | ~$40,000-$75,000 | Two years of consistency helps at this level |
| ~$100,000 | ~$75,000-$150,000 | Established revenue and clean statements matter most here |
These ranges are examples to show how offers scale, not guarantees. Your actual offer depends on your deposits, existing obligations, industry, and the funder's own criteria. Minimums often start around $10,000.
Timeline: from application to funding
One reason business owners choose revenue-based working capital is speed. Because the decision leans on bank data rather than a lengthy underwriting file, the process is usually measured in hours and days, not weeks.
- Application: A short form with basic business details. Minutes to complete.
- Documentation: Typically the last 3-6 months of business bank statements. Many funders now pull these through a secure read-only bank connection instead of manual uploads.
- Review and offer: Often the same day, sometimes within a few hours, once statements are in.
- Funding: Frequently 24 to 48 hours after you accept. Some situations move faster, some take a bit longer.
Timelines vary by funder, by how quickly you provide documents, and by your bank. Treat 24 to 48 hours as a common outcome, not a rule.
How repayment works and what it costs
Revenue-based working capital and merchant cash advances are repaid from your sales, usually through a fixed daily or weekly amount debited automatically. This is not an APR-based term loan, so it is worth understanding the structure before you accept.
- Factor-based cost. Instead of an interest rate, the cost is often expressed as a factor (for example, paying back 1.2 to 1.4 times the amount advanced). Always ask for the total dollar cost, not just the factor.
- Fixed payments. Payments come out on a set schedule until the balance is repaid, which shortens or lengthens the real timeline with your sales volume.
- Speed and access, at a price. This type of funding costs more than a bank loan. It fits owners who value fast access and revenue-based approval over the lowest possible rate.
- Fewer stacked positions is better. Taking on too many advances at once strains cash flow. Two years in business gives you the standing to be selective.
Because pricing and structure vary widely between funders, comparing offers matters. That is exactly what a marketplace helps you do.
Good and weaker fits at the two-year mark
Being two years in does not automatically make revenue-based working capital the right tool. It is strongest for specific situations and weaker for others.
| Situation | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Steady monthly deposits, need cash fast | Strong | Approval leans on your revenue; funding is quick |
| Credit around 500-600, but healthy sales | Strong | Deposits outweigh the credit score |
| Seasonal business bridging a slow stretch | Good | Two years of statements show the pattern |
| Long, cheap, multi-year financing needed | Weaker | A bank or SBA loan is a better cost fit if you qualify |
| Very thin or inconsistent deposits | Weaker | Offers are sized to revenue; thin deposits limit amounts |
| Already carrying several open advances | Caution | Stacking strains cash flow and can hurt approval |
If your deposits are strong and you need capital quickly, you are in the sweet spot. If you can wait and qualify for bank pricing, weigh that first.
How to apply and improve your odds
You cannot control every part of a funder's decision, but at two years in business you can present your company in the best possible light. A few steps make a real difference before you apply.
- Have your bank statements ready. The last 3-6 months are usually enough. Consistent deposits tell the story.
- Reduce negative days. A stretch of positive balances and few or no overdrafts strengthens your file.
- Know your average monthly revenue. This is the number offers are sized against, so be accurate.
- List existing obligations honestly. Disclosing open advances up front leads to realistic offers and avoids problems later.
- Apply through a marketplace. Instead of submitting to one funder and hoping, a revenue-based marketplace matches your deposits and revenue against multiple funders, so you can compare real offers.
Our recommended path is a revenue-based/MCA marketplace where approval leans on your bank-deposit history and monthly revenue rather than your credit score. Typical guidelines are a minimum around $10,000, a FICO of 500 or higher, and funding often in 24 to 48 hours. Approval is never guaranteed, but with two years behind you and steady deposits, your odds are good. One short application lets you see what you actually qualify for.
Frequently asked questions
Does two years in business guarantee I will get working capital?
No. Two years clears a common time-in-business minimum and puts you in a strong position, but approval still depends on your bank deposits, monthly revenue, existing obligations, and the funder's criteria. No legitimate funder guarantees approval.
Is my credit score a problem if it is around 500?
Usually not. Revenue-based funders commonly work with a FICO of 500 or higher because repayment comes from your future sales. Your bank-deposit history and monthly revenue carry far more weight in the decision than your score.
How much can I get with two years in business?
Offers are typically sized to your average monthly revenue, often starting around one month of deposits. Minimums frequently begin near $10,000, and stronger, more consistent deposits support larger amounts. Any specific figure depends on your actual statements.
How fast can I get funded?
Once your bank statements are in, many funders decide the same day, and funding often lands within 24 to 48 hours of accepting an offer. Timelines vary by funder, by your bank, and by how quickly you provide documents.
What documents do I need to apply?
Usually the last 3 to 6 months of business bank statements plus basic business details. Many funders can pull statements through a secure read-only bank connection, which speeds things up.
What does revenue-based working capital cost?
It is typically priced as a factor rather than an APR, meaning you repay a set multiple of the amount advanced through fixed daily or weekly payments. It costs more than a bank loan, so always ask for the total dollar cost and compare offers.
I already have one advance. Can I still qualify?
Possibly, but carrying multiple open advances strains cash flow and can lower your approval odds or your amount. Disclose existing obligations honestly so you receive realistic offers. Fewer open positions generally helps.
Why apply through a marketplace instead of one funder?
A revenue-based marketplace matches your deposits and revenue against multiple funders from a single application, so you can compare real offers instead of submitting to one funder and hoping. That usually means better options and less back-and-forth.
