Finance Monthly November 2019 Edition

23 www.finance-monthly.com FINANCE & BUSINESS - MERCHANT CASH ADVANCES MCAs explained Merchant or Business Cash Advances are advance payments made to a business in exchange for an agreed percentage of future sales through credit or debit cards. More suited to businesses that take a reasonable proportion of their income through credit or debit cards, a Merchant or Business Cash Advance is considered a short-term, unsecured business loan based on future sales. In agreeing to a Merchant or Business Cash Advance, a business effectively sells a proportion of their future sales or income in order to receive a large cash sum to aid increased cashflow. Compared to conventional business bank loans, Merchant Cash Advances come with a host of benefits to businesses in need of additional cash: High approval rate: Merchant Cash Advances have a typically high approval rate when compared to traditional bank loans, meaning younger businesses who often struggle with cash flow are more likely to benefit as a result. Speedy cash injection: Once a loan has been approved, Merchant Cash Advances have a quick turnaround, where businesses are normally in receipt of their requested cash injection within 24 hours. No interest rates or APR : Compared to conventional bank loans or other means of business funding, Merchant Cash Advances have zero interest rates, providing a more manageable loan option for both small businesses and start-ups. No fixed payment amounts: Unlike other business loans, Merchant Cash Advances operate on an agreed percentage as opposed to a fixed payment, where the business in receipt of the loan pays a daily percentage on the sales received. This means that during quieter sales periods, the business does not struggle with the return of high loan payments. PROS Shorter payment terms: The payment terms offered through a Merchant Cash Advance tends to be shorter than conventional business loans. Therefore, it is important for the recipient to be as accurate as possible when forecasting future sales to ensure the loan can be repaid in full within the given timeframe. Not suitable for all businesses: If your business does not receive payments through either debit or credit card, or only a small percentage of sales are received through cards, then it is unlikely that you will be able to receive a sizeable loan amount compared to alternative options. CONS To find out more, visit: www.quotegoat.com/business-finance/merchant-cash-advances/