Stock up before your peak season, fund a marketing push, or bridge slow months. Business capital built for retail and eCommerce operators.
Retail and eCommerce businesses live and die by inventory timing and marketing spend. Having the capital to buy inventory in bulk, run peak-season ads, or expand to a new platform can be the difference between capturing a market and missing it. Our lenders fund retail businesses of all sizes — brick-and-mortar, online, wholesale, and hybrid.
Retail funding splits cleanly between brick-and-mortar and eCommerce, with very different lender appetites for each. Brick-and-mortar retail (small chains, single stores, specialty boutiques) faces tightening lender appetite post-2020 due to elevated default rates and store-closure trends in the sector. eCommerce, by contrast, has a thriving specialty lender ecosystem (Shopify Capital, Amazon Lending, Wayflyer, Clearco, Settle) underwriting to platform revenue data with attractive terms.
Inventory financing is the structural funding need for both. Retailers typically tie up 30–60% of working capital in inventory at any time, with seasonal swings doubling that during pre-peak buildouts. Beyond inventory, retail funding flows into store buildouts, equipment (POS, display fixtures), expansion to new locations, and seasonal working capital. Card-split MCAs are common because retail businesses generate high card volume.
| Product | Fit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Platform-specific Lending | Best for eCom | Shopify Capital, Amazon Lending, Wayflyer, Clearco. Underwrites to platform sales data. Often cheapest eCom option. |
| Card-Split MCA | Strong for B&M | Brick-and-mortar with card processing. Daily card-split repayment. 1.25–1.40 factor. 580+ FICO. |
| Inventory Financing | Specific use | PO financing for inventory builds. Cleared as inventory sells. 1.5–3% monthly fee. |
| Equipment Financing | For build-outs | POS systems, fixtures, refrigeration (specialty retail), shop fitouts. 10–18% APR. |
| SBA 7(a) | For acquisitions | Multi-store expansion, acquisitions, real estate. 9.75–13.25% APR. Up to $5M. |
| Line of Credit | Cyclical needs | For 2+ year operators with 660+ FICO. 14–22% APR. Useful for inventory cycles. |
The 6 most common capital deployments we see in retail & ecommerce businesses, with the funding product that fits each.
Q4 holiday inventory ramp for retail; summer ramp for eCom. Platform lending (eCom) or PO financing (B&M).
Build-out + inventory + equipment + working capital. $100K–$1M. SBA 7(a) for combined needs.
New POS system, display fixtures, refrigeration, racking. $25K–$200K. Equipment financing.
$200K–$3M acquisition. SBA 7(a) is cheapest for under $5M.
Paid acquisition for eCom; promotional buildout for retail. $25K–$200K. Platform lending (eCom) or LOC (retail).
Bridging Jan-Feb retail dip. $30K–$100K. LOC if pre-approved; smaller MCA if not.
Beyond the standard credit + revenue + time-in-business thresholds, retail & ecommerce businesses face industry-specific underwriting variables.
Platform-specific lending typically wins on price for eCom. Shopify Capital, Amazon Lending, Wayflyer, and Clearco underwrite to your platform sales data and offer revenue-based repayment. Multiples are typically 1.10–1.30× on shorter terms (3–12 months). For larger amounts ($500K+) or longer terms, RBF specialty lenders (Pipe, Capchase, etc.) compete. Generic small business products (MCAs, term loans) usually price worse for eCom because they don't leverage platform data.
Difficult. Most lenders want 6+ months of bank statements showing real revenue. Pre-revenue retail businesses typically fund through personal credit, SBA Microloans ($500–$50K), or franchise-specific lender programs (for franchised concepts). Once you're past 6 months with consistent deposits, the broader market opens up.
Platform lending (eCom): typically 1–2 months of platform revenue. Card-split MCA: $10K–$300K (1–1.5 months card volume). Equipment financing: equipment value, $15K–$200K. SBA 7(a): up to $5M for acquisitions and real estate. LOC: $25K–$250K. Inventory financing: scales with inventory needs.
Often yes for Shopify merchants. Pricing is competitive (typically 1.13–1.20× multiple), no application required (Shopify offers pre-qualified amounts based on store data), and repayment auto-deducts a fixed % of daily sales. The downside: sized to recent platform revenue (1–1.5 months typical), so larger needs require external financing.
Amazon Lending offers similar product to Shopify Capital but for Amazon FBA sellers. Pre-qualified offers based on FBA sales history. Shorter terms (3–12 months typically), revenue-share repayment, and competitive pricing for sellers in good standing. Available to merchants meeting Amazon's eligibility (typically $10K+ monthly sales for 12+ months).
Yes, if SBA-eligible (2+ years TIB, 680+ FICO, etc.). SBA 7(a) refinancing typically targets high-cost MCAs and expensive working capital lines. The math has to show 10%+ reduction in debt service and/or extended maturity. Process takes 60–90 days, so coordinate with existing debt payoff dates.
B&M: 4–6 months of business bank statements, merchant processing statements, voided check, photo ID, EIN letter, business formation. eCom: platform login or data export from Shopify/Amazon/Stripe, bank statements, photo ID. SBA loans require: last 2–3 years of business and personal tax returns, lease, business plan, P&L, personal financial statement.
Platform lending (Shopify, Amazon): often same-day after acceptance of pre-qualified offer. Card-split MCA: 24–72 hours. Equipment financing: 5–14 days. LOC: 1–5 days. SBA 7(a): 45–90 days. SBA Express: 15–36 days.
Three editorial picks based on our 72-lender review of operators who actually fund this industry well. Each profile carries our full scoring methodology and comparison data.