The three types of ISO program (they're not comparable)
Most "best ISO programs" lists mix these together. They're different businesses with different economics.
| Direct-funder ISO agreement | Super broker / placement desk | Lead-sale programs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | You sign with one funder and submit into their credit box | One agreement covers a network of funders and products; the desk routes each file | You sell the lead outright and exit the deal |
| Best when | Your deal flow reliably fits that funder's box and you want maximum control | Your files vary — products, positions, sizes, industries — and you want one submission path | You generate volume but don't want to work deals at all |
| Economics shape | Often the highest points on files that fit; zero on everything that doesn't | Strong points across many more file types; the desk earns its share by doing placement work | Small flat fees; no renewals, no upside |
| The catch | You need several of these to cover a real book — each with its own agreement, portal, and clawback terms | You're trusting one desk's execution; judge it on a test file before committing volume | You're not building a book — you're selling one |
| Renewal income | Per agreement — read the clause | Per agreement — accounts should stay credited to you | None |
Reviewed September 2026 — most working brokers end up with a hybrid: direct agreements for their core box, plus a desk for everything else. That combination is covered in where to place deals you can't fund.
The nine criteria that actually matter
Score any program — including ours — against this list before signing.
Commission structure, in the agreement
Points by product, calculated on what base, paid when. Industry revenue-based commissions run from low single digits into the mid-teens in points (industry sources put the average near 10). Any number not in the written agreement doesn't exist.
Renewal rights
Renewals are where the profit is — no acquisition cost. Does the program pay you on renewals of merchants you introduced, at what rate, for how long? This clause is worth more than 2 extra headline points.
Clawback terms
Window (30/60/90 days), triggers (default only, or early payoff and restructures too), and repayment mechanics. Full breakdown in the commission guide.
Relationship protection, in writing
Your merchants stay your accounts; the program doesn't market to them; non-circumvention runs both ways. A program that won't put this in the agreement is telling you its plan.
Product breadth
Can the program place the strong-credit file that wants a term loan or SBA structure, the equipment purchase, the stacked file needing restructure? Every file type you can't place is income left on the table.
Submission workflow
One intake or five portals? Real-time status or email black hole? Ask to see the portal before signing, and send one test file — the response tells you everything.
Payment speed and reliability
Days after funding, not "monthly when we get around to it." Ask existing partners; payment reputation travels fast in this industry.
Compliance posture
Ten states now have commercial financing disclosure laws and four have broker registration regimes — Texas's deadline is December 31, 2026. A program that helps you stay compliant is protecting your license to operate; see the state tracker.
Decline honesty
Good programs tell you a file won't place — quickly, with the reason. Programs that sit on dead files are burning your merchant relationships to protect their intake numbers.
Red flags vs. green flags
Walk away when you see
Good signs
Where Elite Funders fits — and where it doesn't
Disclosure first
This page is published by Elite Funders, which runs an ISO program. Judge us by the same nine criteria above — that's why we published them.
What we are: a business funding brokerage/marketplace working with a network of funding partners — the super-broker model. One agreement, 14 funding products including term, SBA, LOC and equipment alongside revenue-based, a partner portal with deal-by-deal tracking, and a placement desk for selective overflow use. Full ISO partners earn 6–12 points on eligible funded revenue-based transactions; commissions vary by product, deal size, and partner type, and exact terms are in the partner agreement you can read before committing. $0 to join, no exclusivity, renewals credited to you, no automated outreach to your merchants.
Where we're NOT the answer: if your book is uniform files that all fit one funder's box, a direct agreement with that funder may out-earn routing through anyone — keep it, and use a desk only for the files that fall outside it. And if you want to sell leads and walk away, we're the wrong model entirely.
The honest way to evaluate us is the same as anyone: send one test deal and grade the response.
ISO program FAQs
What is the best MCA ISO program?
How much do ISO programs pay?
Can I be in multiple ISO programs at once?
Do I need to register anywhere to be an ISO?
How do I test a program without risking my book?
Score us against the nine criteria.
Read the agreement before you commit, then send one test deal and grade the execution. $0 to join, no exclusivity, no obligation.