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Access from $5,000 to $300,000 fast
Pay back via a share of future card sales
Funding based on sales volume, not assets
Best for businesses with strong turnover needing short-term cash flow
Available even with imperfect credit history
Cover stock, marketing, payroll or urgent expenses
Provide your average monthly EFTPOS or online sales details.
Lenders assess turnover and offer a lump sum advance based on future card sales.
Money is deposited quickly—sometimes within 24 hours.
A percentage of daily or weekly card sales is deducted until the advance is settled.

A merchant cash advance gives you a lump sum upfront in exchange for a share of future credit and debit card sales. Unlike loans, there’s no fixed repayment schedule—deductions happen automatically based on turnover.
This makes MCAs attractive for Australian businesses with strong card transaction volumes such as cafés, retailers, and service providers. They’re fast, flexible and don’t usually require collateral—but costs are higher than traditional loans, so they’re best for short-term needs with clear returns.
This guide is broken down into the following sections. Click a link if you want to skip ahead.
MCA funds can be used for almost any short-term business purpose:
Cover everyday costs like wages, rent and utilities with funding tied to your sales cycle.
Buy seasonal stock or bulk inventory quickly without draining cash flow.
Purchase or lease new equipment and repay as your revenue flows in.
Launch advertising campaigns and repay from increased sales.
Refresh your premises or fund expansion into new locations.
Bridge shortfalls caused by slow-paying customers or seasonal fluctuations.
Cover urgent repairs or unforeseen costs without long approval delays.
Replace multiple obligations with one streamlined repayment tied to turnover.

Daniel Costa, Costa’s Kitchen
Industry: Hospitality
Challenge: Unexpected equipment breakdown during peak trading period.
Solution: A $50,000 MCA repaid via 15% of daily EFTPOS sales.
When the refrigeration system failed at his busy restaurant, Daniel needed urgent funding. A merchant cash advance gave him $50,000 upfront within 48 hours, repaid automatically as a share of daily card sales. This allowed him to replace equipment quickly, keep trading, and repay stress-free as revenue flowed in.
In Australia, MCAs typically range from $5,000 to $300,000 depending on your card turnover. Lenders advance a percentage of your average monthly sales—often between 50% and 100%.
Repayments adjust automatically to sales, so in slower months you pay less and during peak periods you pay more, aligning obligations with revenue.
Balance over time
Eligibility depends mainly on card sales volume rather than assets or credit history. MCAs are well-suited to retailers, cafés, hospitality and eCommerce businesses with steady turnover.
You may be eligible if you are:
An Australian business with regular card transactions
Trading for at least 6 months
Average monthly EFTPOS or online sales over $5,000
Able to provide merchant facility or sales statements
Apply online with your ABN and card sales history. We’ll match you with MCA providers who assess turnover and repayment capacity. If approved, funds are usually deposited within 1–3 business days.
Documents you may need:
ABN details
Photo ID (driver’s licence or passport)
Merchant facility statements
Business bank statements
MCAs are more expensive than traditional loans, so minimising costs is key. Compare factor rates and fees across lenders, as charges can vary widely. Use advances only for short-term needs that generate fast ROI, like stock purchases or campaigns. Paying off early can sometimes reduce fees—check your agreement carefully before committing.
Merchant cash advances are structured differently to traditional loans. Repayment, fees, and flexibility vary depending on your agreement with the provider:
Repayments are automatically deducted from a set percentage of your daily or weekly EFTPOS/credit card sales. The higher the percentage, the faster you repay, but the greater the impact on daily cash flow.
MCAs use a factor rate instead of an interest rate. This is a fixed multiplier on the borrowed amount, meaning the total repayment cost is known upfront. While predictable, it can work out more expensive than standard loans.
Some providers fix the repayment duration based on projected sales, while others let it vary depending on turnover. Variable terms give flexibility during slow months but can extend the repayment period.
Certain MCA providers allow early repayment without penalty, while others still require the full factor rate to be paid regardless. Always confirm the policy if you expect strong sales growth or want flexibility.
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