Unlock Cash Flow Flexibility with Cardiff’s Revenue-Based Business Loans
Some months, sales soar. Other times, the numbers dip. For many small businesses, that rhythm is an expected part of doing business. But traditional loans don’t always fit that reality, though. Fixed payments and rigid terms can strain cash flow when what you need is flexibility.
For many small businesses, revenue-based funding is a better financing option. Instead of strict repayment terms, it can link the amount you pay to what you earn, creating a flexible way to borrow the cash you need now and repay at the rhythm of your business. It works well for businesses with momentum that don’t always have predictable income.
At Cardiff, our revenue-based business loans give small business owners fast access to working capital with repayment terms that flex alongside your cash flow. We offer our clients repayment options, so you don’t get locked into payments that hinder your growth or financial flexibility. If fixed payments work better for your business, we can do that, too.
Choosing the best financing for your business always starts with understanding the options; even within revenue-based financing, you have options.
What’s Different About Revenue-Based Loans?
Revenue-based loans (RBL) allow businesses to repay financing in flexible payment amounts tied to their current revenue. Loan repayment adapts to business’s performance. Companies with fluctuating income streams, such as retail stores, restaurants, and e-commerce businesses often find this flexibility particularly helpful as they balance repayment with operating expenses and investments in business growth.
If you’re specifically looking for products that rely on sales-based repayment, revenue-based business loans should be at the top of your list.
Are Revenue-Based Loans, MCA, and Cash Flow Lending the Same?
On the surface revenue-based financing, merchant cash advance (MCA), and cash flow lending may look the same. They all offer flexible business financing options that can tie repayment to your business’s revenue. However, each has distinct features that let each funding type serve different purposes. The best one for your business will depend on your particular circumstances. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide which one is right for your business:
1. Merchant Cash Advance (MCA)
How it Works:
An MCA is an advance on your future revenue (often credit card sales). Typically, you receive a lump sum up front and repay that amount as a percentage of daily, weekly, or monthly transactions until you satisfy the debt, including any interest owed. At Cardiff, this repayment can also take the form of fixed payments, if you prefer payment predictability.
One of the standout features of MCA is that repayment can adjust based on sales. If sales are slow, your payment adjusts down. When sales rise, your payment will increase as well, helping you repay the loan faster.
With a Cardiff MCA, you gain the added benefit of having the remaining interest on the advance forgiven if you repay it early. If you need more capital before you repay it, you can apply for another MCA on top of the original advance.
Key Features of MCA:
- Fast Access to Funds: Applicants typically receive approval in minutes and funding the same day.
- Easy Repayment: We can auto-deduct payments (as a fixed percentage of sales) from your transactions.
- No Fixed Repayment Amount: The more you sell, the faster you pay; slower sales result in smaller payments. You can also choose fixed monthly payments.
MCAs Are Best For:
- Businesses with a large percentage of income through sales.
- Companies in industries with fluctuating sales, like restaurants, retail, or online businesses.
- Businesses that need a quick influx of capital to cover a short term financial gap.
Pros:
- Quick approval and access to cash
- No collateral required
- Flexible repayment schedules, such as fixed payments or adjustable payments tied to sales
2. Cash Flow Lending
How it Works:
Rather than focus on credit card transactions, cash flow lending considers your business’s entire financial picture, such as monthly revenue, profit margins, and overall cash management to determine a loan amount that aligns with your business’s performance and capacity to repay.
This broader approach opens the door to a wider range of businesses, including those that don’t rely heavily on card sales but still generate consistent income. The repayment structure for cash flow loans is often fixed daily, weekly, or monthly payments.
Cardiff aims to make capital accessible without forcing you into terms that limit your ability to seize financial or growth opportunities. By evaluating your company’s real financial activity rather than just credit history, Cardiff’s cash flow loans provide a practical path to working capital, especially for businesses that are growing, seasonal, or in the midst of reinvestment.
Key Features of Cash Flow Lending:
- Loan Amount Based on Cash Flow: Cardiff considers your overall cash inflow, not just credit card sales for approval and loan amounts.
- Flexible Repayment: Payments adjust with your cash flow, offering more flexibility than traditional loans.
- Broadly Accessible Funding: Businesses with consistent income from sources other than sales can apply and qualify.
Cash Flow Lending Is Best For:
- Businesses with diverse revenue sources (e.g., retail, service, or manufacturing).
- Companies with strong, consistent cash flow but potentially seasonal fluctuations.
- Businesses that need quick access to operating capital to bridge cash flow gaps.
Pros:
- Doesn’t require specific revenue streams like credit or debit card sales
- Flexible, adaptable repayment tied to cash flow
- Quick, easy access to funds
3. Revenue-Based Loans
How it Works:
A revenue-based business loan gives business owners access to capital that scales with performance. You’ll receive the capital you need now, and repay it automatically as a fixed percentage of your revenue until you satisfy the agreed-upon total. Loan payments adjust based on your actual revenue, keeping payments manageable even when sales fluctuate.
A revenue-based loan is based on your current revenue and future income projections. If your business generates solid income through online sales, invoice payments, or recurring subscriptions, you may qualify. That makes revenue-based loans a strong option for service providers, e-commerce businesses, and companies with mixed or variable revenue sources.
Cardiff’s revenue-based business loans move quickly. Many clients receive same-day approvals and funds. And because repayment aligns with your income, you can invest in marketing, inventory, or expansion without the pressure of fixed monthly payments. It allows you to manage cash flow more effectively while maintaining your business’s momentum.
Key Features of Revenue-Based Loans:
- Repayment Tied to Overall Revenue: Payments adjust to match fluctuations in sales or income, eliminating the burden of fixed monthly payments.
- No Collateral Required: Loan approval is based purely on your business’s ability to generate revenue.
- Ideal for Seasonal Businesses: Revenue-based loans are well-suited for companies with fluctuating income because they scale with your earnings.
Revenue-Based Loans Are Best For:
- Businesses with irregular revenue or those in seasonal industries (e.g., tourism, construction, retail).
- Companies that need flexible repayments that adjust to their cash flow.
- Businesses that need a financial boost to increase existing revenue streams
Pros:
- No collateral required
- Flexible repayments based on actual revenue
- Ideal for businesses with seasonal fluctuations or unpredictable income
Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) | Cash Flow Lending | Revenue-Based Loans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repayment | Most often based on credit/debit card sales (daily, weekly, or monthly) | Based on overall cash flow, often fixed repayments | A fixed percentage of overall business revenue |
| Speed | As fast as same day | As fast as same day | As fast as same day |
| Loan Type | Unsecured, lump sum | Unsecured, lump sum | Unsecured, lump sum |
| Best For | Businesses with high daily sales, such as restaurants or retail | Businesses with fluctuating cash flow from multiple revenue sources | Businesses with variable or seasonal income |
| Collateral | No collateral required | No collateral required | No collateral required |
| Term Length | Short (usually three to 18 months) | Short (usually three to 18 months) | Short (usually three to 18 months) |
| Flexibility | High flexibility based on daily, weekly, or monthly sales | Flexible based on overall cash flow | Highly flexible, adjusts with revenue |
If you are ready to take the next step in securing funding for your business, consider Cardiff’s tailored revenue-based lending solutions. From our fast merchant cash advance to our flexible revenue-based loan, we can help you find an accessible funding option that works for you and your business.
What to Expect When Applying for a Revenue-Based Loan
1. Application Process:
Our application for a revenue-based business loan requires submitting some basic information about you and your business, including revenue history, business bank statements (often by connecting your account securely through Plaid), and your most recent tax return.
2. Loan Amount and Terms:
3. Flexible Repayment:
4. Fast Access to Capital:
Why Choose Cardiff’s Revenue-Based Business Loans?
Many lenders offer revenue-based loans for business owners, but Cardiff’s solution offers unique benefits. Here’s why businesses choose our solution:
No Collateral Required
Our revenue-based business loans are unsecured. We don’t ask you to pledge and risk valuable assets to get the capital you need.
Flexible Terms
Quick Approval Process
Easy Repayment
Which Businesses Benefit from Revenue-Based Business Loans?
Revenue-based business loans are ideal for businesses in a wide range of industries, including:
- Retail: Perfect for businesses with fluctuating sales, especially during peak seasons, a revenue-based loan can help you bridge cash flow gaps between busy periods.
- Restaurants and Hospitality: With varying revenue streams based on seasons, events, or holidays, revenue-based loans are a great way to maintain operations during slower months.
- Service-Based Businesses: This type of financing can cover costs to manage staffing costs or invest in marketing campaigns during high-demand periods.
- E-commerce: Online businesses can use revenue-based loans to fund inventory purchases, marketing efforts, or fulfillment needs without overburdening cash flow.
- Construction and Contractors: For businesses with long gaps between payments, a revenue-based loan ensures that you can manage your cash flow and operations until project completion.
If you run a business where income varies over time and you need a flexible way to borrow, a revenue-based business loan could be the perfect solution.
How to Qualify for a Revenue-Based Business Loan
To qualify for a revenue-based business loan with Cardiff, you need to meet a few basic criteria:
- Minimum Monthly Revenue: Generally, we want to see a minimum monthly revenue of $20,000 per month.
- Time in Business: If your company has been operational for at least six months, and you can demonstrate stability and a consistent revenue stream, you may be a strong candidate.
- Financial Documentation: You will need to provide recent business bank statements by connecting your account through Plaid to show your business’s cash flow and growth potential.
- No Collateral: We don’t require collateral for revenue-based loans, making them a more accessible option for businesses with limited assets.
Start Your Application Today
Revenue-based financing is a smart way to fund growth without locking your business into rigid repayment terms. Your financing can move at the same pace as your revenue, giving you the freedom to scale, invest, and adapt to unexpected expenses without cash flow headaches.
Whether you’re managing seasonal demand, launching new products, or just need more liquidity between invoices, Cardiff’s revenue-based business loans give you the operational capital you need now with the flexibility to pay when your business gets paid. We pride ourselves on providing fast approvals, transparent terms, and funds as fast as the same day.
We can help you stay ahead of the competition. Apply for Cardiff’s revenue-based financing today and give your business the capital it needs to move faster, grow stronger, and seize every opportunity that comes your way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a revenue-based business loan?
How does repayment work for a revenue-based loan from Cardiff?
What are the eligibility requirements for a Cardiff revenue-based loan?
How quickly can I get a revenue-based business loan from Cardiff?
What types of businesses should consider a revenue-based loan?
Revenue-based loans are ideal for covering cash flow gaps. For this reason, businesses with fluctuating income streams often choose this type of financing. These can include:
- Retail businesses that experience high and low sales cycles
- Restaurants that see a surge during the holiday season or special events
- Service-based businesses with inconsistent revenue or project-based work
- E-commerce companies with spikes in sales during holidays or product launches
Are there any collateral requirements for a revenue-based loan?
What is the maximum revenue-based loan amount I can qualify for with Cardiff?
How do I know if a revenue-based business loan is right for me?
A revenue-based loan may be a good fit for you if:
- Your business experiences varying monthly sales or seasonal cash flow issues
- You need fast access to capital with flexible repayment terms
- You don’t have collateral to offer, but have a solid revenue stream