Reliant Funding Business Financing Review
 | Starting factor rate: 1.20 Best for: Business owners who want a merchant cash advance with competitive rates and quick turnaround times. |
Pros and cons of Reliant Funding
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Relatively lenient eligibility requirements 24-hour funding available Origination fees waived for those with military affiliation | Only offers merchant cash advances (MCAs) Misleading website content makes it look like multiple loans are available May require daily payments |
Reliant Funding small business loans review
Reliant Funding is an online lender that has been issuing merchant cash advances (MCAs) since 2008. Based in San Diego, the company has helped over 10,000 small businesses secure nearly two billion dollars in financing. While merchant cash advances can be an expensive form of small business financing, Reliant Funding has competitive rates and a quick funding timeline, with cash advances going as high as $2,000,000.
Who is Reliant Funding for?
- Business owners willing to pay a premium for emergency funding. Reliant only offers merchant cash advances, which have higher fees than other types of business financing, but the extra cost could be worth it for companies needing same-day funding to cover emergency expenses.
- New businesses with relatively low annual revenue. While producing $60,000 in annual revenue could be a challenge for those needing startup financing, this amount is significantly lower than some other merchant cash advance lenders.
- Small business owners with military affiliation. Borrowers with current military affiliations or veterans can have origination fees waived.
Reliant Funding small business financing at a glance
| Product | Loan amounts | Repayment term | Starting factor rate | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant cash advance | $5,000 to $2,000,000 | 3 to 15 months | 1.20 | Origination fee varies by customer and loan size. |
Merchant cash advance
A merchant cash advance (MCA) is a type of small business financing that allows you to borrow against your future credit and debit card sales. While getting an MCA with Reliant Funding could help your small business access up to $2,000,000 in capital within 24 hours, the short repayment terms could strain your budget. Reliant Funding also requires daily or weekly payments, depending on the terms you are offered.
Note that MCAs are generally more expensive than traditional business and SBA loans. While many conventional lenders offer standard business loan interest rates, often measured as an annual percentage rate (APR), merchant cash advances tend to use factor rates. To calculate how much your MCA might cost with Reliant Funding, multiply the balance by the factor rate.
For example, if you qualify for the lowest factor rate of 1.20 and borrow $10,000, your equation would look like this:
If the above example included a three-month repayment term with weekly payments, your estimated APR rate would be 72.31%.
Waiver of origination fees
Borrowers will likely have to pay origination fees, although Reliant Funding does not disclose any details about these potential extra costs.
However, Reliant Funding will waive the origination fee for military members and veteran entrepreneurs if your business is at least 50% military owned. You will need to provide proof of military affiliation with one of the following documents:
- Military ID
- VA ID issued for healthcare
- Driver’s license with Veterans designation
- State-issued Veterans ID card
- Veterans group membership card
- DD214
If you were dishonorably discharged, you do not qualify for the origination fee waiver.
Reliant Funding borrower requirements
| Minimum annual revenue | $60,000 |
| Minimum time in business | 6 months |
| Minimum credit score | 500 |
You need at least $60,000 in annual revenue with a minimum six-month business history to qualify for a merchant cash advance from Reliant Funding. Low-credit borrowers could be eligible with scores as low as 500, but boosting your credit score before applying could improve your chances of securing a competitive factor rate with flexible repayment terms.
Reliant Funding’s merchant cash advances are a type of unsecured business loan, meaning you typically don’t need to provide collateral or sign a personal guarantee. However, you might not get approved if your business has any open bankruptcies. While Reliant Funding’s MCAs are available in most U.S. states, businesses based in North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont can’t apply.
Required documents
Reliant Funding doesn’t list the specific documents you will need when applying for a merchant cash advance. However, gathering the following paperwork in advance should help speed along the application process:
- Recent bank statements
- Personal and business tax returns
- Accounts receivable aging reports
- Current profit and loss statement
Alternatives to Reliant Funding
| Reliant Funding | Elevation Capital | Fora Financial | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum credit score | 500 |
| 570 |
| Loan products offered | Merchant cash advance |
|
|
| Time to funding | As little as 24 hours |
| 24 to 72 hours |
| Starting factor rate | 1.20 |
| 1.15 |
| Maximum loan size | $2,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $1,500,000 |
| Minimum annual revenue | $60,000 |
| $180,000 |
Reliant Funding vs. Elevation Capital
Reliant Funding and Elevation Capital both offer merchant cash advances with competitive rates and high funding amounts. While Reliant Funding provides a slightly lower starting factor rate, you could borrow up to $1 million more with Elevation Capital. For borrowers looking for a bad-credit business loan, Elevation Capital accepts scores as low as 500 — although you need double the annual revenue to qualify. If you want access to a broader range of small business products, such as lines of credit, term loans and equipment financing, then Elevation Capital might be a better fit for your company. Ultimately, the decision between the two comes down to your annual revenue and your business’s borrowing needs.
Reliant Funding vs. Fora Financial
Reliant Funding and Fora Financial are both solid choices for getting a merchant cash advance, especially since they have identical starting factor rates. However, Fora Financial has a slightly lower minimum credit score requirement and offers a more traditional short-term business loan. Just note that your company must generate at least $180,000 in annual revenue to qualify for either of Fora Financial’s products. Funding speed could also play a part in deciding which option is best for your business — Reliant Funding offers quick business financing where you could receive funds as soon as 24 hours after approval, while Fora Financial could take up to 72 hours to approve and process your loan.