Pros
- Fast & easy application process
- Free ERC analysis
- Competitive fees
- No upfront fees
Cons
- Potentially long processing times
- No ERC loan or advance options
- Slow application process
On 1/10/24, IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel announced that the IRS is continuing to improve and automate ERC review procedures and will begin processing new ERC claims in the spring following the moratorium implemented in September. Existing claims are still being processed and eligible businesses can still submit an ERC claim through reputable top ERC companies to be processed when the moratorium ends. Visit our full breakdown of the ERC pause for the latest information.
What Is Lendio ERC?
Lendio has established itself in the small business space with its lending marketplace that connects business owners to various types of funding through its 75 lending partners. Now, Lendio has teamed up with a team of experts to help eligible small businesses claim the Employee Retention Credit.
Lendio and its partners have already helped small business owners process $23 million in ERC refunds. Lendio has a simple ERC application process and has very competitive fees for its ERC service, as well as a variety of resources to help educate business owners about claiming the ERC.
Lendio ERC Services
Lendio and its ERC partners help eligible small business owners prepare, file, and claim the ERC.
Lendio also has 75 lending partners that can provide business owners with funding like small business loans, lines of credit, and SBA loans. For the purpose of this review, we are only analyzing Lendio’s ERC services. If you’re interested in all that Lendio has to offer, learn more in our comprehensive Lendio review.
Lendio ERC Fees
Lendio’s ERC fee is 15% of your ERC refund, which is an extremely competitive rate for ERC services. This fee is paid only if you get paid, and no money is required upfront. There are no hidden fees. Lendio’s transparency behind its fees — as well as the low fee itself — is why it received a perfect score in this area.
Lendio ERC Features
From an easy-to-use calculator and a simplified application to payroll integrations and materials to educate business owners on the ERC, Lendio has everything you need to claim your ERC refund. It did lose points for missing some features found with other ERC companies, such as audit protection and ERC loans.
Here’s what Lendio has to offer:
- Easy Application Process: Lendio offers a simplified application that can be completed in just minutes. Once completed, an ERC expert will walk you through the rest of the claims process.
- Maximum ERC Refunds: Lendio’s ERC experts work diligently to maximize your refund, all while complying with IRS guidelines.
- HRIS & Payroll System Integrations: Lendio integrates with over 150 HRIS and payroll systems, making it easy to access the records needed to calculate your ERC refund.
- ERC Calculator: Lendio does have a basic ERC calculator. However, this feature is best used just to use if you may qualify. Once you’ve input basic information (such as the number of employees and the date your business started), you’ll see if you potentially qualify for ERC and the maximum amount you may be eligible to receive. Note that this is a very basic calculator and does not guarantee that you’ll qualify for ERC or the maximum refund amount.
- ERC Resources: Lendio has several ERC resources, including videos, podcast episodes, and articles available to educate small business owners about ERC.
Lendio ERC Refund Process & Timeline
Lendio has a very easy ERC refund process. Simply start by filling out the ERC application, which requires you to create an account and provide some basic information about your business. If you qualify, you’ll be connected with an ERC expert who will walk you through the rest of the process. This includes gathering documentation, preparing and filing amended tax returns on your behalf, answering questions, and providing updates throughout the process.
Lendio did score lower for its ERC timeline. In most cases, your claim will be filed within 25 days, which isn’t the fastest turnaround on the market. Once your application has been processed by the IRS, you’ll receive a check in the mail. This may take anywhere from two months to over a year and can’t be expedited by Lendio or its partners.
Lendio ERC Customer Service
Lendio offers several ways to get in touch. The best way to contact Lendio if you haven’t yet applied for ERC is through its ERC application. If you have questions before you sign up, you can get in touch with Lendio in other ways, including by phone or online form.
Lendio ERC Customer Service |
Availability |
Phone Support |
|
Email Support |
|
Support Tickets |
|
Live Chat |
|
Dedicated Support Representative |
|
Knowledge Base or Help Center |
|
Videos & Tutorials |
|
Company Blog |
|
Social Media |
|
Lendio’s funding managers can answer questions you have about ERC and other financial products. Lendio offers many resources about ERC, including videos and articles, and maintains social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Lendio also offers several in-person locations throughout the United States where business owners can receive help from an expert Lendio representative.
Customers of Lendio are generally pleased with the level of service they receive. The number of ways to get in touch plus an overall positive customer experience is why Lendio ERC is rated highly for its customer service.
Lendio ERC Reviews
Lendio is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, where it holds an A+ rating. It’s important to note that while Lendio has lots of reviews, few are specific to its ERC services. Given its past track record of excellent service (evidenced by its 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot), it’s safe to assume that most customers will be satisfied with Lendio’s ERC services, which is why we gave Lendio a near-perfect rating in this category.
Lendio ERC Complaints
As mentioned, Lendio has thousands of reviews but most address Lendio’s small business lending services. However, there are a couple of complaints, including:
- Long processing times
- Additional delays in submitting claims to the IRS
While there are many complaints of slow application and processing times, a huge factor in this is the IRS’s ERC pause which is outside of Lendio’s control.
One final thing to note is that Lendio is responsive to negative reviews. The company has reached out to unhappy customers on review sites to gather further feedback to prevent making the same mistakes in the future.
Positive Lendio ERC Reviews
Lendio has thousands of positive reviews, but most feedback is unrelated to ERC. Taking all services into consideration, here’s what customers like the most:
- Responsive & attentive reps
- Quick & easy application process
- Excellent support from start to finish
- Numerous funding options
Is Lendio ERC Worth It?
Lendio’s ERC program has a lot going for it. Similar to its application process for small business funding, Lendio’s ERC application is quick and easy to fill out. Lendio’s experienced ERC partners can also help you along the way to simplify and expedite the ERC process. While Lendio doesn’t offer ERC loans for fast access to cash, customers can apply for multiple types of funding from the company’s lending partners. Finally, let’s not forget about Lendio’s extremely competitive 15% fee and exceptional customer support.
One potential drawback is the time it takes to process your ERC refund. While Lendio can’t control how quickly the IRS processes ERC claims, it may take up to 25 days or longer for your documentation to even be submitted to the IRS. While this isn’t the longest turnaround we’ve seen, many ERC services offer processing times of two weeks or less.
Check out Lendio for yourself by taking a few minutes to fill out an application. If you decide the service isn’t right for you, there’s no obligation, so there’s nothing to lose. Don’t forget to compare your options before committing to a service. You can get started by checking out our picks for the best ERC companies.
Lendio ERC FAQs
Is Lendio ERC legit?
Yes, Lendio’s ERC services are legit. The business loan marketplace has teamed up with ERC experts to help small business owners easily claim their ERC refunds.
What are Lendio's fees for ERC?
Lendio charges a contingent fee of 15% of your ERC refund. This fee isn’t paid until you receive your refund.
ERC Company Review Methodology
We spend hours researching and evaluating each ERC company that we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on key characteristics to generate our service provider ratings.
Weighted Rating Breakdown
Refund Process & Timeline 35%
Features 30%
Fees 20%
User Reviews 10%
Customer Service 5%
When rating ERC companies, we use a 22-point rubric that looks at fees, features, refund process and timeline, customer service, and user reviews. We weigh each section differently to calculate the total star rating.
- Fees: 20% of the total star rating
- Features: 30% of the total star rating
- Refund Process & Timeline: 35% of the total star rating
- Customer Service: 5% of the total star rating
- User Reviews: 10% of the total star rating
Each section is further broken down into granular, weighted subsections, in which we look at specific attributes, like whether reduced fees are available for upfront payments, the availability of ERC loans and advances, audit protection, and no-cost ERC consultations.
Learn more about how we rate ERC providers.