In Advance Capital Review

Pros

• Relaxed credit score requirements
• Easy application process

Cons

• High factor rates
• High origination fee

In Advance Capital Overview

In Advance Capital, not to be confused with Advance Capital, is a New York-based merchant cash advance (MCA) alternative funder. Its clientele is primarily small businesses with stable revenue but poor credit.

In Advance is one of the newer MCAs on the scene and appears to be trying to distinguish itself by funding businesses with a higher risk profile. The company seems fairly transparent, but businesses should make sure they’re getting a reasonable rate before they commit to an MCA.

Note: You should approach the world of alternative funding with caution; the rates are often usurious and the terms can be punishing for the unprepared or unlucky. You should always make sure you’ve exhausted other potential sources of funding first. (Take a look at our handy short-term funding comparison chart to review your other options.)

Industries Served

In Advance Capital serves the following industries:

• Franchise financing
• Hospitality financing
• Restaurant financing
• Wholesaler financing
• Contractor financing

Services Offered

In Advance Capital offers the following types of business funding:

• Merchant cash advances

The company also offers a line-of-credit-like product that allows businesses to seek pre-approval for an advance.

Borrower Qualifications

In Advance has lenient qualifications even by alternative lender standards.

To qualify for funding from In Advance Capital, you must meet these prerequisites:

Terms & Fees

In Advance Capital’s terms and fees fall into this range:

All of In Advance’s products are MCAs, although the company does offer some flexibility in terms of how the advances are structured. Advances superficially resemble loans, but the funder isn’t technically lending you money; they’re purchasing a percentage of your future sales for a lump sum. This puts advances outside of the bounds of the lending laws of many states. The advantage there is that funders are willing to issue MCAs to companies that would have a hard time getting a loan. The downside to it is that you won’t, in most states, have the protections that you would if you took out a loan.

Depending on the way your business handles payments and your own preferences, In Advance can structure your MCA like a traditional advance or something closer to a short-term loan. In the case of a traditional advance, that means you’ll be splitting a percentage of your daily credit card sales with In Advance. As a result, your term length will be more of a rough estimate since your daily sales may vary. The less money you make, the longer your MCA will take to pay off.

In some instances, however, In Advance may also be able to create a more fixed payment system in which you have a set amount withdrawn from your business account each business day through an automated clearing house (ACH) transaction, the same mechanism used to make direct payday deposits. In this case, you’ll have a more traditional term length for repayment.

You can, if you choose, approach In Advance’s products like a line of credit. If approved, you’ll be able to initiate one or more advances up to the approved amount.

Note the absence of interest rates in the charts above. MCAs effectively frontload your interest rate into the amount of money you owe. If you borrow $10,000 from In Advance Capital, you’ll be paying between $11,500 and $15,000, not including 3% to 5% in origination fees. This is based on a multiplier called a factor rate. The rate you are assessed will depend on your time in business, creditworthiness, and cash flow. Expect most offers to fall somewhere in the middle, most likely between x1.20 and x1.40.

Application Process

One of the big selling points of MCAs is that their approval process is substantially faster than those of traditional lenders. You can begin the application process online by submitting some basic information about your business and the amount of money you’re seeking. Alternately, you can download the application or call In Advance and speak to a sales rep.

Expect a soft pull on your credit and a request for you to submit some corroborating bank statements. If all goes well, you can be approved within 24 to 48 hours.

Sales & Advertising Transparency

In Advance is better than average when it comes to transparency, disclosing most of the information you need to make an informed decision about the company’s product. Missing, however, are details about rates and an in-depth look at what MCAs are.

Sales staff seem willing to fill in most of the gaps before you sign any contracts, which is always welcome.

Customer Service & Technical Support

I found In Advance’s staff to be pretty forthcoming with information, using a reasonable amount of sales pressure.

In Advance can be contacted by phone through its toll-free number. You can also contact the company through its online form. In Advance also operates social media accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

User Reviews

Negative Reviews & Complaints

In Advance’s review footprint is extremely small at the moment. The company is accredited by the BBB and currently has a B+ ranking, with two complaints on record.

Here are some reasons you might not want to seek financing with In Advance Capital.

• Unknown Quantity: Alternative lending is a volatile industry, making it hard to predict whether newer companies will be around a few years from now.
• Costly: MCAs are a costly way to finance your business. In Advance appears to be slightly more expensive than average, albeit willing to take on riskier clients.
• Daily Payments: Your account will be debited every business day, which can make for a punishing regimen for unprepared businesses.

Positive Reviews & Testimonials

Here are some reasons to give In Advance a closer look:

• Well-Capitalized: In Advance recently received a large infusion of money and is a direct funder, meaning you’ll probably be in for fewer surprises than you would be with a company acting as a middleman.
• Easy Application Process: It’s a lot easier to apply for an advance than a traditional loan.
• Easy To Qualify: Even more so than most MCA providers, In Advance is willing to work with businesses with really poor credit.

Final Verdict

In Advance Capital is a relative newcomer to an increasingly crowded and volatile sector of the financial industry. The company’s strategy appears to be focused on reaching out to riskier businesses in exchange for slightly-higher-than-average factor rates. Despite a relatively short time in business, it appears that In Advance Capital has succeeded in establishing its niche. For some businesses, In Advance’s easy qualifications will be a lifesaver. For others, it could result in taking on more debt than they’re prepared to handle.

As always, we suggest serious comparison shopping when it comes to subprime lending/funding. Take a look at our alternative suggestions page for some ideas.

Featured Free Corporate Card

Ramp	Apply Now Read our Review

Ramp offers a free corporate card for virtually any business. Start earning rewards with your corporate spending today. Get your free card.

Featured Free Corporate Card

Ramp	Apply Now Read our Review

Ramp offers a free corporate card for virtually any business. Start earning rewards with your corporate spending today. Get your free card.