Compare Merchant Cash Advances from 50+ Australian Lenders
Access fast funding repaid via a share of your card sales. Perfect for businesses with strong EFTPOS or online transactions needing quick cash flow support.
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Merchant Cash Advances Made Simple
An MCA is not a traditional loan—it’s an advance on future sales. Receive a lump sum upfront, then repay through a percentage of daily or weekly card transactions. Flexible, fast and collateral-free.
Quick Funding
Access from $5,000 to $300,000 fast
Flexible Repayments
Pay back via a share of future card sales
No Collateral
Funding based on sales volume, not assets
Short-Term Solution
Best for businesses with strong turnover needing short-term cash flow
Credit-Friendly
Available even with imperfect credit history
Any Business Purpose
Cover stock, marketing, payroll or urgent expenses
How it works
Repayments adjust to your sales volume—higher in busy periods and lighter during slow weeks.
Apply online
Provide your average monthly EFTPOS or online sales details.
Get approved
Lenders assess turnover and offer a lump sum advance based on future card sales.
Receive funds
Money is deposited quickly—sometimes within 24 hours.
Repay automatically
A percentage of daily or weekly card sales is deducted until the advance is settled.
Backed by over 50+ lenders
Giving you the best chance of being approved.
A quick guide to merchant cash advances
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.
Want to skip ahead?
This guide is broken down into the following sections. Click a link if you want to skip ahead.
What can I use a merchant cash advance for?
MCA funds can be used for almost any short-term business purpose:
Working Capital
Cover everyday costs like wages, rent and utilities with funding tied to your sales cycle.
Inventory & Stock
Buy seasonal stock or bulk inventory quickly without draining cash flow.
Equipment Upgrades
Purchase or lease new equipment and repay as your revenue flows in.
Marketing & Growth
Launch advertising campaigns and repay from increased sales.
Renovations & Expansion
Refresh your premises or fund expansion into new locations.
Cash Flow Gaps
Bridge shortfalls caused by slow-paying customers or seasonal fluctuations.
Emergency Expenses
Cover urgent repairs or unforeseen costs without long approval delays.
Debt Consolidation
Replace multiple obligations with one streamlined repayment tied to turnover.
Case Study
Daniel Costa, Costa’s Kitchen
Fast Funding with a Merchant Cash Advance
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.
How much can I access with a merchant cash advance?
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.
Am I eligible for a merchant cash advance?
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
How to apply for a merchant cash advance?
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
How to save money with a merchant cash advance
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.
Understanding merchant cash advance options
Merchant cash advances are structured differently to traditional loans. Repayment, fees, and flexibility vary depending on your agreement with the provider:
Holdback Percentage
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.
Factor Rate vs Interest Rate
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.
Fixed vs Variable Terms
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.
Early Repayment Policies
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.
Estimate your merchant cash advance costs
See what your repayments would look like before you apply. Enter a loan amount, term, and rate to get an instant estimate with a full amortisation schedule.
- Compare finance structures
- Full amortisation schedule
- Instant results, no sign-up
- Adjustable rates and terms
Testimonials
See what our customers have to say about us.
Verified Review
The process with Emu Money has been fantastic — completely stress-free. Thank you EMU Money I cannot thank the team enough. Having been given an opportunity to get a loan when my bank turned us away. The service team has been absolutely brilliant. When you've become used to waiting times of an hour or more with other companies - I don't think I have waited more than a couple of minutes for this team. Plus, their phone staff are so nice to deal with. Great job. I just had to acknowledge it.
Pardeep M.
Verified Review
We have received a tremendous service from Geetu and team they have helped us smoothly in getting the loan approved. I will definitely recommend to my friends and family.
Kiranjit K.
Verified Review
Peter was fantastic! Incredible responsive, provided clear instructions, and got us a very competitive rate. The whole process was so easy from start to finish. Can’t recommend Peter and Emu Money highly enough!
Katharina K.
Verified Review
I've worked with Brad from Emu Money a few times now, and I highly recommend. Brad is very responsive to emails (even when on holiday in Fiji), keeps me up to date and gets everything organised very quickly. Brad spoke directly with my supplier and they figured everything out. I won't hesitate to work with Brad again.
Christine F.
Verified Review
I've worked with Brad for quite some time, and after 25+ years in business across Australia, I can say with confidence: professionals like him are rare, in his case, unique in the industry. Brad understands business, printers, people, and lenders better than anyone I've worked with. The advice he's given, the care he's shown, and the way he's gone above and beyond to make sure my customers get the best deal possible has made a real impact. Some of my customers haven't just grown, they have exceeded expectations. For me, that's the proof in the pudding.
Gus A.
Verified Review
It's nice, quick and easy to get a new equipments through Emu Money. Big thanks to Brad for his great assistance.
Marvin Y.
Frequently Asked Questions
Merchant Cash Advance FAQs
These helpful FAQs will help you find the answers you need. If you can't find what you're looking for, you can request a callback below.
