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How to Prepare for Outside Syndicators
David Roitblat is the founder and CEO of Better Accounting Solutions, an accounting firm based in New York City, and a leading authority in specialized accounting for merchant cash advance companies.
To connect with David, email david@betteraccountingsolutions.com.
There’s a clear gap of knowledge in our industry, and how merchant cash advance businesses need to prepare themselves to receive outside money in investment or syndication.
Whether you’re seeking your first institutional investment or scaling to eight-figure funding rounds, the preparation required isn’t just about having good portfolio performance—it’s about having the financial infrastructure responsible investors need to see before forking over money to you. Not knowing how to prepare that for them can cost you months of delays or even kill promising funding opportunities entirely.
I’ve seen too many MCA shops operating under a misconception. They believe that the impressive Google Sheets presentation showing their advance volume, daily collection rates, and merchant performance will be sufficient when courting serious investors.
Sometimes that’s enough. When you’re looking to raise money from friends and family, you have flexibility. These investors typically accept basic performance reports showing advance volume and collection rates, might not request detailed merchant-level financials, and generally won’t demand formal audits. Basic spreadsheets might suffice at this stage when you’re raising up to about $1 million in capital to fund your advances.
The financial documentation requirements escalate dramatically when you need more than that.
Once you move beyond self-funding or friends and family money into the realm of raising $5-10 million or more, investors won’t accept your homegrown reporting systems or month-end bundle accounting—they want audited financials and proper transaction-level documentation.
Sophisticated syndicators expect a professional CRM system tracking all merchant relationships, detailed default modeling, GAAP-compliant accounting systems that properly account for income recognition on merchant advances, and as investment amounts increase, audited financials become non-negotiable.
Auditors don’t accept shortcuts in the MCA space. They require transaction-level detail with recognized income on each advance, estimated defaults by cohort, and precise documentation of collection performance. They’re specifically looking for attempts to bundle or obscure individual merchant performance – a common practice in some MCA shops that raises immediate concerns with institutional investors.
Here’s what most MCA operators don’t realize: Getting your books audit-ready isn’t a quick fix. It’s a process that can take several months to update historical advance and collection records, 3-4 months for a first-time audit (always longer than subsequent audits), and additional time for any remediation of collection documentation. In total, you’re looking at potentially 9-12 months from financial disarray to audited statements. That’s an eternity in the fast-moving MCA world when a funding opportunity appears.
If you even think you might seek significant outside capital within the next year, start preparing now. Implement proper merchant tracking systems immediately. Ensure all bookkeeping follows GAAP principles for advance recognition. Consider getting audited financials before you need them.
Yes, this requires upfront investment, but put it in perspective: If you’re raising $5 million to fund your advance portfolio (often just the starting point), the cost of proper financial infrastructure is minimal compared to the capital you’ll secure and the acceleration in your timeline.
The most successful capital raises in the MCA industry aren’t just about having a great portfolio performance – they’re about being ready when opportunity knocks. Don’t be the MCA provider explaining to eager investors why they need to wait a year while you get your advance and collection records in order. The most valuable asset in fundraising isn’t just your merchant performance – it’s being prepared to prove it immediately.
View PostPayPal’s Business Loan Biz: ‘Looks Pretty Steady Right Now’
During the Q1 earnings call, PayPal was asked about the state of its business loan and working capital business given the potential disruptions with tariffs and the economy.
“…when you look at just general consumer health, coming into what could be a more uncertain time, is looking pretty healthy and pretty good,” said PayPal CFO Jamie Miller. “And then with respect to SMB, good continued consistent performance there too. And on the merchant lending side, as we monitor that, honestly pretty consistent with what I’d say about consumer charge offs also improving. And obviously we’re monitoring the whole thing very, very carefully, but it looks, looks pretty steady right now.”
Later, an analyst asked the management team: “I’m just wondering if you’ve made any changes to underwriting, or how you would think about changes to underwriting in the face of merchants facing kind of cash flow strains on the back of sort of supply chain dynamics, tariffs specifically, and if you guys have any way of sort of dimensionalizing like what sort of cash flow strains your merchants may experience if tariffs do go into effect in terms of things like importing, importing inventory and things of that nature?”
That yielded this reply from Miller:
“I think it’s difficult to answer the latter part of your question, but if we go back to the merchant lending part of it, this is a portfolio that is actively managed, and it’s something that a year ago when [——] came in and really reconstituted the team, they’re very focused on how we can help our small businesses really navigate growth. And so the portfolio has a couple of different things in it. One is just really helping small businesses with working capital and inventory buy and we monitor that and underwrite it, you know, with an eye towards credit, towards cash flow. And when you look at this, these are things where we’ve got cash sweeps with sales as sales come in. It’s just a very well constructed portfolio from both an underwriting and from a risk management perspective. And the other side of it is PayPal Business Loans, which are cash flow based, they’re typically personally guaranteed. And again, these are things that we monitor, all the different indicators of the portfolio, and we adjust as we go. I mean we did make some adjustments in March to tweak and fine tune and make our underwriting slightly more conservative, but it’s something the team is all over. And I think we can react very quickly in a changing environment.”
View PostLendSaaS Embeds AdvanceIQ.ai’s SRI to Help Originators Filter, Price, and Allocate with Confidence
NEW YORK, April 29, 2025 — AdvanceIQ.ai, a data intelligence platform powering smarter risk assessment and portfolio optimization in the SMB alternative lending sector, today announced a strategic partnership with LendSaaS, a leading Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) origination and servicing platform. Through this partnership, AdvanceIQ.ai’s SMB Risk Index (SRI) — a purpose-built scoring model for SMB financing — is now fully integrated into LendSaaS, providing users with fast, actionable insights directly within their existing workflows.
With SRI embedded into the platform, LendSaaS customers can seamlessly filter opportunities, price risk with greater precision, and allocate capital more effectively — all without disrupting current processes.
“LendSaaS has established itself as a key platform for MCA originators,” said Tomo Matsuo, Founder and CEO of AdvanceIQ.ai. “By integrating SRI, LendSaaS users gain instant access to tailored risk scores and portfolio intelligence, empowering them to make smarter, data-driven decisions at the top of the funnel and improve portfolio performance.”
The SMB Risk Index (SRI) is engineered specifically for the alternative SMB financing space. Trained on real-world MCA performance data, it leverages intuitive, widely adopted underwriting attributes to help originators reduce operational overhead, improve pricing strategies, and optimize capital deployment. Fully integrated into LendSaaS, SRI enhances underwriting workflows, minimizes manual effort, and supports confident, scalable growth.
“As competition in the MCA space intensifies, our customers need every advantage to assess risk quickly and confidently,” said Josh Carcione, Owner and Founder of LendSaaS. “Partnering with AdvanceIQ.ai gives them access to a purpose-built scoring model and portfolio tools that cut through the noise and drive faster, more informed decisions.”
This integration further reinforces LendSaaS’ commitment to offering a comprehensive and customizable platform that supports MCA originators from application to funding — and beyond.
About AdvanceIQ.ai
AdvanceIQ.ai is a data intelligence platform powering smarter risk assessment and portfolio optimization in the SMB alternative lending sector. The company provides the SMB Risk Index (SRI), a specialized scoring model for evaluating SMB risk profiles, as well as portfolio intelligence solutions that help originators, brokers, and investors reduce acquisition costs, improve underwriting consistency, and maximize portfolio profitability. Learn more at www.advanceiq.ai.
About LendSaaS
LendSaaS is a leading software solution in the MCA industry, known for its comprehensive suite of tools designed to streamline and optimize the lending process. From origination to servicing, LendSaaS provides lenders with the technology they need to succeed in a competitive market. Learn more at www.lendsaas.com.
Edge Capital Expands Credit Line with Plains Commerce Bank, Increasing Lending Capacity
Boise, ID – 04/23/2025 – Edge Capital is pleased to announce a significant expansion of its credit facility through a strengthened partnership with Plains Commerce Bank. This increased credit line enhances Edge Capital’s ability to meet rising demand and provide more flexible funding solutions to its growing network of partners and clients.
The expanded warehouse lending line through Plains Commerce Bank allows Edge Capital to offer greater loan availability, faster turnaround times, and continued reliability for businesses seeking strategic financial support.
“We’re proud to deepen our relationship with Plains Commerce Bank,” said Dusty Wasmund, Chief Operating Officer of Edge Capital. “This increased capacity means we can better serve our clients, scale with demand, and continue delivering on our promise of speed and flexibility in lending.”
Edge Capital is actively seeking new partnerships and welcomes inquiries from brokers, lenders, and businesses interested in working together.
To explore partnership opportunities, contact us at partners@myedgecapital.com
Plains Commerce Bank now offers Plains Pay (www.plainspay.com) for seamless payment solutions and competitive warehouse lending lines to support the evolving needs of lenders in the fintech sector. Contact them today at sales@plainspay.com.
View PostCongressman Dan Meuser Visits CFG Merchant Solutions™ to Discuss Small Business Finance and Regulatory Trends
CFG Merchant Solutions™ (CFGMS™), a leading provider of revenue-based financing, was honored to welcome Congressman Dan Meuser (R-PA, 9th Congressional District) to its New York office for a discussion on the evolving landscape of small business finance and the importance of regulatory transparency.
During his visit, Congressman Meuser engaged with CFGMS leadership and staff to exchange insights on the current regulatory climate impacting small business funders. As a prominent member of the House Financial Services Committee—where he serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations—and the House Small Business Committee, Rep. Meuser’s visit underscored his ongoing efforts to ensure small businesses have access to responsible, innovative funding solutions.
“CFGMS is committed to setting the highest standards of compliance, disclosure and transparency in our industry,” said Bill Gallagher, President at CFG Merchant Solutions. “We’re proud to work alongside policymakers like Congressman Meuser who understand the critical role small businesses play in our economy and who are advocating for smart, balanced regulation.”
Rep. Meuser has represented Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District since 2019. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Revenue, where he was credited with making the department more efficient and customer focused. Earlier in his career, he was an executive at Pride Mobility Products, helping the company grow from $2 million to over $400 million in annual sales.
CFGMS continues to lead the industry in championing ethical, growth-driven funding practices for small businesses across the country. The company remains steadfast in its mission to expand access to capital while fostering transparency and accountability.
About CFG Merchant Solutions™
CFG Merchant Solutions™ (“CFGMS™”) is an independent, technology-enabled alternative funding platform focused on providing capital access to small and mid-sized businesses that have historically been underserved by traditional financial institutions and may have experienced challenges obtaining timely financing. CFGMS™ uses its historical transactional data, proprietary underwriting, predictive analytics, and electronic payment technologies and platforms to assess risk, and provide access to flexible and timely capital.
Media Contact:
Nick DeFeis
Head of Marketing
CFG Merchant Solutions™
(844) 662 – 3467
ndefeis@cfgms.com
cfgmerchantsolutions.com
Small Business Finance Leads at Broker Fair
We’ll be talking about small business finance leads on May 19th in NYC at Broker Fair 2025. Come attend this session and many more on top of great networking, food & beverages, etc. This is the industry’s largest annual conference in NYC.
SBA Places Restrictions on Use of Proceeds to Refinance Merchant Cash Advances and Factoring Agreements
The Small Business Administration has made some notable changes to its Standard Operating Procedures that go into effect on June 1. For instance, the new guidance specifically says that “merchant cash advances and factoring agreements are not eligible for refinancing” for Standard 7(a) loans, 7(a) Small loans, SBA Express loans, Export Express loans, and International Trade loans.
The new SOP is here. This was the previous SOP that did not mention MCAs.
View PostFundThrough Acquires Ampla, Strengthening its Digital-First Invoice Funding Solution
HOUSTON and TORONTO – April 22, 2025 – FundThrough, the leading fintech invoice factoring platform for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced its acquisition of Ampla, the leading provider of financial technology solutions for consumer brands offering working capital, business banking, corporate cards, and analytics. Ampla surpassed +$2B of loan originations and handled +$5T of transaction volume through its platform. This strategic acquisition strengthens FundThrough’s digital-first ecosystem, creating an unrivaled platform explicitly designed for small businesses that sell to larger companies and wait to get paid after invoicing.
Building on its successful acquisition of Bluevine’s factoring business in 2021, FundThrough again demonstrates its ability to identify and seamlessly integrate game-changing SMB technologies. Today, FundThrough’s expanding footprint now delivers crucial invoice factoring solutions across diverse B2B sectors, including retail, manufacturing, oil and gas, technology, professional services, and food supply and agriculture, with 85 percent of its funding helping American clients.
“Business owners have increasingly been forced to act like banks for their much larger customers who extend invoice payment terms beyond reasonable lengths. They need a seamless way to bridge the cash flow gap, and FundThrough provides a tech-enabled financial solution,” said Steven Uster, FundThrough’s CEO. “Now, Ampla’s technology significantly enhances FundThrough’s AI-powered model, enabling us to level the playing field further. With Ampla, we can scale faster, enhance our credit underwriting and monitoring processes, and help even more businesses solve their number one pain point, cash flow. I’m excited to work with Anthony, a proven entrepreneur with vast knowledge in this space.”
Ampla’s CEO, Anthony Santomo, will remain a strategic advisor to FundThrough and will be joined by his core team. “I’m excited about Ampla’s acquisition by FundThrough and the potential of the combined platform to support small businesses. This strategic move enhances commerce capabilities and provides operators with greater resources to succeed,” said Santomo.
Concurrently with the acquisition, FundThrough also raised $25M in equity capital led by existing investor Klister Credit Corp., an early, large investor in both Shopify and FundThrough. This strategic investment fuels aggressive expansion into key growth areas, including further acquisitions, investments in technology and AI, enhanced UX, and accelerated product innovation.
“Steven’s leadership has firmly established FundThrough as a bellwether in the fintech and specialty finance industry. FundThrough’s track record over the past years of uncertainty is impressive. FundThrough has stayed tightly focused on robustly serving the needs of small businesses forced to hold receivables from their much larger, better-capitalized customers,” said John Phillips, President of Klister. “The outlook for small business growth continues to be positive, and my increased investment reflects my confidence in the FundThrough team’s continuing focus on serving this important market through the best service and continual product innovation.”
“As small businesses navigate the evolving global tariffs, the best thing they can do is preserve their cash flow. FundThrough helps bridge the gap by providing peace of mind for business owners during these uncertain times,” concluded Uster.
FundThrough continues to earn recognition for its growth and technology, landing spots on the Deloitte Fast 500 and Globe & Mail’s Report on Business Top Growing Companies List.
About FundThrough
FundThrough is the leading fintech invoice factoring platform for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Based in Houston and Toronto, FundThrough’s digital-first ecosystem leverages real-time financial data and predictive analytics, offering flexible, tailored financing solutions for growing businesses. Since its founding, the award-winning organization has funded over $2.7 billion of invoices. For more information, visit fundthrough.com.
FundThrough Media Contact
Nadia Milani
VP, Marketing
nmilani@fundthrough.com
