Is National Funding a merchant cash advance provider?

Not exactly. National Funding's primary product is a working capital loan — not a merchant cash advance structured as a purchase of future receivables. The practical differences matter for borrowers. First, National Funding collects via fixed daily or weekly ACH withdrawals (a set dollar amount per payment) rather than a percentage holdback tied to daily deposits. On a slow week, your Credibly holdback shrinks proportionally; your National Funding payment does not. Second, National Funding charges an origination fee of 1–3% (typically around 2%) on top of the factor rate, so the factor rate alone understates the total cost. Add the origination fee to compare offers on the same basis. National Funding's working capital loans otherwise behave similarly to MCAs in the market — fast approval, factor-rate pricing, no collateral for advances under $150,000 — but borrowers should understand the fixed-payment structure and the added origination cost before signing.

Which has lower factor rates, Credibly or National Funding?

National Funding's stated factor rates start at 1.10 — marginally lower than Credibly's floor of 1.11. But National Funding's published typical range is 1.10–1.20, and its origination fee of 1–3% (typically ~2%) must be added to the total cost comparison. On a $100,000 advance: National Funding at a 1.15 factor with a 2% origination fee produces total repayment of $115,000 plus $2,000 upfront — $117,000 total. Credibly at a 1.15 factor with a 2% origination fee (0–5%, often 2–3%) produces the same $117,000 total. At identical factor rates and fees, cost is equivalent. National Funding's advantage is a narrower published range capped at 1.20; Credibly's range extends to 1.45, so weaker applicants may receive higher rates at Credibly. For established businesses likely to receive rates in the 1.10–1.20 range, both providers land in similar territory once all fees are counted.

Who qualifies at Credibly but not National Funding?

Credibly accepts businesses with monthly revenue as low as $15,000 ($180,000 annually) and credit scores of 500+. National Funding requires $250,000 in annual revenue ($20,833/month) and does not publish a minimum credit score — it focuses on revenue quality and business history. A business with $18,000/month in revenue, a 520 credit score, and 8 months in business qualifies for Credibly but falls below National Funding's revenue threshold. Credibly is specifically designed for credit-challenged and earlier-stage businesses; National Funding is positioned for established operations with $250,000+ in annual revenue. If your annual revenue is between $180,000 and $250,000, Credibly is the realistic option of the two.

How does repayment differ between Credibly and National Funding?

Credibly collects via a holdback percentage of daily bank deposits — typically 10–20% of daily sales — so payments automatically flex with revenue. A day with lower deposits means a smaller ACH withdrawal. National Funding collects via fixed daily or weekly ACH withdrawals — the same dollar amount regardless of whether sales were strong or slow. The holdback structure is generally preferable for businesses with variable revenue, because it preserves cash on slow days. The fixed-payment structure is predictable and may suit businesses with highly consistent daily revenue who want a known daily debit. National Funding also offers longer term options — up to 5 years for working capital loans — while Credibly's typical MCA term runs 6–18 months.

Which is better for an established business with strong revenue?

For a business with $300,000+ in annual revenue, 12+ months in operation, and consistent cash flow, both providers are worth pricing. National Funding's dedicated Funding Specialist model, 25+ year track record ($4.5B+ funded, 75,000+ businesses), and longer term options (up to 5 years) make it appealing for established businesses seeking a more deliberate funding relationship and predictable repayment schedule. Credibly's advantages at this revenue tier are a higher funding ceiling ($600,000 versus National Funding's $500,000), the true holdback MCA structure (revenue-flexible payments), and slightly better customer ratings (4.8/5 Trustpilot versus 4.6/5). For both: get itemized offers, add origination fees to the factor-rate total before comparing, and convert the result to APR using the /calculator.

Credibly vs National Funding: Which Lender Is Better for Your Business?

Credibly and National Funding are two well-established direct lenders in the small business funding market. Both offer fast, technology-assisted underwriting with 24–72 hour approval and funding. But they are not identical products aimed at the same borrower: Credibly is a merchant cash advance lender built for newer and credit-challenged businesses, while National Funding offers working capital loans with a fixed-payment structure, a longer track record, and a revenue floor that excludes smaller businesses.

Here is how they compare on the factors that determine which one is right for your situation.

The Short Answer

Choose Credibly if your credit score is below 600, your monthly revenue is between $15,000 and $20,000, your business is 6–12 months old, or you want a true holdback MCA structure where payments flex with your daily revenue.
Choose National Funding if your annual revenue is $250,000+, you have 12+ months in business with consistent cash flow, you want longer repayment terms (up to 5 years), or you value working with a dedicated Funding Specialist at a lender with a 25-year track record.

A Key Distinction: MCA vs. Working Capital Loan

Before comparing the numbers, one structural point matters.

Credibly offers merchant cash advances — purchases of future receivables where repayment is collected as a holdback percentage of daily deposits (typically 10–20%). On a slow day, your repayment is proportionally smaller.

National Funding offers working capital loans structured with factor-rate pricing. Repayment is via fixed daily or weekly ACH withdrawals — the same dollar amount per payment day regardless of revenue. National Funding also charges an origination fee of 1–3% (typically ~2%) in addition to the factor rate, which is not true of a standard MCA. This fee must be added to the total cost comparison — a 1.15 factor rate at National Funding with a 2% origination fee costs more than a 1.15 factor rate at Credibly with no origination fee.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Credibly	National Funding
Product type	Merchant cash advance	Working capital loan
Factor rate range	1.11–1.45	Starting at 1.10 (typical: 1.10–1.20)
Max funding	$600,000	$500,000
Min credit score	500+	Not published (revenue-driven)
Min monthly revenue	$15,000 ($10K e-commerce)	~$20,833 ($250,000/year)
Time in business	6+ months	6+ months
Origination fee	0–5% (often 2–3%)	1–3% (typically ~2%)
Monthly admin fee	$100–$300 (some products)	None
Repayment	Holdback % of daily deposits	Fixed daily or weekly ACH
Term length	6–18 months typically	4 months to 5 years
Funding speed	1–3 business days	Same-day to 48 hours
Trustpilot rating	4.8/5 (2,600+ reviews)	4.6/5 (2,100+ reviews)
Founded	Direct lender, nationwide	1999 (San Diego, CA)

Data from individual provider directory listings, verified 2026. Terms vary by applicant and are subject to change — confirm directly with each provider.

Qualification Requirements

The most important practical dividing line.

Credibly accepts businesses with personal credit scores as low as 500, time in business of 6+ months, and monthly revenue of $15,000+ ($10,000+ for e-commerce). Credibly’s underwriting emphasizes revenue trends and deposit consistency over credit score, which opens the door to credit-challenged and younger businesses.

National Funding does not publish a minimum credit score and underwrites primarily on business revenue quality and consistency, requiring $250,000+ in annual gross sales (approximately $20,833/month) and 6+ months in business, with preference for 12+ months. Businesses with revenue below $250,000/year fall outside National Funding’s minimums regardless of credit.

If your monthly revenue is between $15,000 and $20,000, Credibly is the realistic choice of the two. If you clear $250,000 in annual revenue, compare both.

Cost and Factor Rates

Both use factor-rate pricing, but the comparable cost includes all fees.

Credibly starts at 1.11 for its strongest applicants, with a typical funded range of 1.15–1.45. Origination fees of 0–5% (often 2–3%) apply to most advances. Some products also carry monthly administrative fees of $100–$300. Credibly offers prepayment discounts — early payoff can reduce the total repayment.

National Funding starts at 1.10, with a typical published range of 1.10–1.20 — a narrower ceiling than Credibly. The origination fee of 1–3% (typically ~2%) is charged on top of the factor rate. No monthly fee applies.

Total-cost example on a $100,000 advance

Provider	Factor Rate	Factor Cost	Origination Fee (2%)	Total Repayment
Credibly	1.15	$15,000	$2,000	$117,000
National Funding	1.15	$15,000	$2,000	$117,000
Credibly	1.30	$30,000	$2,000	$132,000
National Funding	1.20 (max typical)	$20,000	$2,000	$122,000
Credibly	1.45 (max)	$45,000	$2,000	$147,000

At identical factor rates, fees are comparable. National Funding’s narrower published ceiling (1.20 typical) is an advantage for established businesses likely to receive rates in the 1.10–1.20 range — those borrowers pay less than they would if Credibly assigned them a 1.30–1.45 rate. For borrowers who would receive rates at or above 1.25, comparing actual offers (not published ranges) matters more than the stated cap.

Use the MCA calculator to convert any factor rate and origination fee into an APR before accepting any offer from either provider.

Funding Amounts

Credibly’s ceiling is $600,000 (occasionally reached by exceptional businesses, per its directory listing). National Funding’s ceiling is $500,000 for working capital loans, with equipment financing up to $150,000.

For advances above $500,000, Credibly has the only path of the two.

Funding Speed

Both are fast. Credibly provides approval in 24–72 hours and funds in 1–3 business days, with same-day options available. National Funding delivers decisions in as little as 24 hours with same-day deposits available for approved loans. National Funding assigns a dedicated Funding Specialist to each applicant, which adds a human touchpoint to the process.

Neither has a decisive speed advantage in practice.

Repayment Structure

Credibly withdraws a holdback percentage of daily bank deposits — typically 10–20% of daily sales — so the daily ACH scales with revenue. A $500,000 deposit day produces a larger debit; a $200,000 day produces a smaller one. This is the true MCA structure, and it provides automatic cash-flow relief on slow days.

National Funding collects fixed daily or weekly payments regardless of revenue performance. This is predictable — you know exactly what goes out each day — but it does not flex on slow weeks. National Funding’s longer term options (up to 5 years) can reduce the daily payment significantly compared to a shorter-term Credibly advance, which may be the relevant comparison for larger advances.

Who Each Lender Is Best For

Choose Credibly if:

Your credit score is between 500 and 650
Your business is 6–12 months old
Monthly revenue is $15,000–$20,000 (below National Funding’s threshold)
You want payments that flex automatically with daily revenue
You may need more than $500,000
You are a first-time borrower looking for a cost-focused, transparent lender

Choose National Funding if:

Annual revenue is $250,000+ with 12+ months in business
You want longer repayment terms (up to 5 years for larger advances)
You value working with a dedicated Funding Specialist throughout the process
A 25+ year track record and $4.5B+ funded matters to you
You expect to receive factor rates in the 1.10–1.20 range and want a lender whose product is calibrated for that tier

The Bottom Line

Credibly is the more accessible, higher-ceiling choice for newer or credit-challenged businesses. National Funding is the established, revenue-focused lender best suited to businesses with $250,000+ in annual sales that want a fixed-payment structure and potentially longer terms.

The smartest move: if you qualify for both, request offers from each on the same dollar amount. Add origination fees to the factor-rate total before comparing. Convert both to APR using the MCA calculator. The combination of rate, fee, term, and daily-payment amount tells the real story — not the factor rate alone.

Learn More

Ready to Compare Your Options?

Compare every provider side by side, calculate your total cost, or browse the provider directory to build your shortlist. Ready to move? Apply for funding today.