Guide 5 min read

The Real Timeline: What Happens Between Applying and Getting Funded

Uncertainty is the biggest reason people put off applying. Here's exactly what happens, step by step, so there's nothing left to guess at.

TL;DR

Step 1: Submit statements → usually takes you 5–10 minutes.
Step 2: Initial review → same-day, often within hours.
Step 3: Offer(s) presented → you see terms before agreeing to anything.
Step 4: Docs signed → typically 15–30 minutes of paperwork.
Step 5: Funds land → as fast as same-day, typically within 24–72 hours.

1You submit your information

This is the only step that requires real effort on your end: your last 3–6 months of business bank statements, a basic application, and whatever you're financing the money for. See the full documents checklist so you can have everything ready before you start.

Most applicants finish this step in under 10 minutes if their statements are already on hand.

2Initial underwriting review

Your statements get run through revenue and cash-flow analysis, deposit consistency, average balance, existing debt load, industry. This is largely automated on the alternative lending side, which is why it happens in hours rather than the weeks a bank loan committee takes.

📌 Same-day initial responses are the norm, not the exception, for revenue-based products.

3You see offers, before you commit to anything

If your file qualifies, you'll see actual terms: amount, cost, repayment structure. Nothing is signed at this stage. This is the point to compare against what you learned in term loan vs. line of credit vs. MCA and make sure the structure matches what you actually need.

💡 Tip: Ask what the total repayment is in dollars, not just the rate. That's the number that matters when comparing offers.

4Paperwork and verification

Once you accept an offer, there's a short round of documentation, typically signing a contract and confirming banking details for the deposit. For larger or asset-backed facilities, this step can include verifying collateral, which adds time but also usually means better terms.

5Funds land

For most revenue-based products, funds typically arrive within 24–72 hours of signing. Larger or asset-backed facilities can take longer, often 1–3 weeks, because of the additional verification involved, but that's still a fraction of a typical bank timeline.

Product	Typical time to funding
MCA / revenue-based	24–72 hours
Line of credit	2–5 days
Term loan	3–7 days
Asset-backed facility	1–3 weeks
Traditional bank loan	60–90+ days

Ready to see your own timeline?

Send us your statements and we'll walk you through exactly what happens next, with real numbers, not guesses.

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