How we picked
Filtered to lenders whose product structure actually fits the progress-payment cash-flow cycle. Revolving LOC structures (Bluevine, OnDeck LOC, Credibly LOC) ranked first because draw-as-needed-and-repay-as-progress-payments-clear is the structurally correct shape for the use case — the contractor controls draw timing to match mobilization needs and repayment timing to match progress-payment receipts. Construction-payable factoring (Altline, eCapital) included for large-commercial jobs where the receivable size and broker/customer credit quality justify the structure. Equipment financing (Beacon, Crest) ranked for owned trucks, tools, and equipment purchases that build long-term contractor asset base. SBA (Live Oak) included for fleet expansion, second-yard expansion, contractor-acquisitions, and any major capital event with multi-year payback. Funding Circle for tactical term loans that don't justify drawing on the primary LOC. Fixed-daily-ACH MCA generalists ranked last and only as a last-resort bridge — daily ACH against lumpy progress-payment deposits creates reconciliation distress fast.
Top picks at a glance
| Lender | Best for | Amount | Speed | Min credit | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluevine | Best revolving LOC for progress-payment bridges on commercial and multifamily projects | $10K – $250K | 1 – 3 business days | 625+ | Apply → |
| OnDeck | Best second-call LOC when Bluevine declines or capacity is constrained | $5K – $400K (term); $6K – $200K (LOC) | Same-day for approved files | 600+ | Apply → |
| Credibly | Best multi-product working-capital relationship for contractors needing LOC + term flexibility | $5K – $600K | As fast as 4 hours | 550+ | Apply → |
| altLINE (Southern Bank) | Best construction-payable factoring for large commercial and public-works receivables | $30,000 – $4,000,000 per month | 1 – 3 business days from setup | Any | Apply → |
| Beacon Funding | Best equipment financing for construction trucks, trailers, and heavy equipment | $5,000 – $1,000,000 | Funding in 1 – 5 business days | 550+ | Apply → |
| Crest Capital | Best alternative equipment financing for specialty trade equipment and tools | $5,000 – $1,000,000 | Approval in 4 hours; funding 1 – 3 days | 650+ | Apply → |
| Live Oak Bank | Best SBA 7(a) for contractor fleet expansion, yard expansion, and contractor-business acquisition | $25,000 – $25,000,000+ | 30 – 90 days underwriting (SBA standard) | 680+ typical | Apply → |
Advertiser disclosure: Fundnode may earn referral fees from funders listed on this page when you apply through us. This does not affect editorial rankings — see our methodology.
Detailed reviews — our 7 picks
#1 · Best revolving LOC for progress-payment bridges on commercial and multifamily projects
Bluevine
Max amount
$250K
Cost
APR 6.2% – 27%
Speed
1 – 3 business days
Min credit
625+
Why we picked it
Bluevine revolving LOC up to $250K with 625+ credit and 24+ months operating is the structurally correct primary working-capital tool for contractors with the progress-payment cycle. The contractor draws against signed contracts for mobilization (material orders, crew payroll, equipment rentals on a specific commercial or multifamily job), repays as each progress payment clears, and pays interest only on the drawn portion. This avoids the fixed-daily-ACH trap that destroys most generalist MCA structures against lumpy progress-payment deposits. For any commercial GC or specialty sub bidding on $50K-$500K projects with 30-60 day progress payments, Bluevine LOC should be the first call for the primary working-capital relationship.
The strength
Materially cheaper than any MCA when you qualify. Strong product-led UX. Builds business credit (reports to commercial bureaus).
The watch-out
Higher qualification bar — 12+ months TIB, 625+ credit, established revenue. Not an option for thin-file or B/C-paper merchants.
Qualifications
12 months
$10,000
625+
#2 · Best second-call LOC when Bluevine declines or capacity is constrained
OnDeck
Max amount
$400K (term); $6K
Cost
Term APR 27%+
Speed
Same-day for approved files
Min credit
600+
Why we picked it
OnDeck LOC up to $100K offers a comparable draw-as-needed structure when Bluevine declines, is at capacity, or the file profile fits OnDeck better. 625+ credit, 12+ months operating, $100K+/yr revenue. Same structural logic as Bluevine — the contractor controls draw timing for mobilization and repayment timing for progress-payment receipts. The right second-call LOC for contractors who want a revolving structure rather than a fixed term-loan or MCA product. Often paired with Bluevine to give the contractor combined capacity above either single lender's individual underwriting cap.
The strength
Direct-lender brand trust. Same-day funding on approved files. Term loan product fills the gap between SBA and MCA.
The watch-out
Their broker/ISO program has a high entry bar (2+ years, $1M+/mo volume). Most merchants access OnDeck directly, not via brokers.
Qualifications
12 months
$8,000
600+
#3 · Best multi-product working-capital relationship for contractors needing LOC + term flexibility
Credibly
Max amount
$600K
Cost
Factor 1.11+ (MCA)
Speed
As fast as 4 hours
Min credit
550+
Why we picked it
Credibly is the cleanest multi-product working-capital relationship for contractors who want both LOC capacity for progress-payment bridges and term-loan capacity for specific expansion events (additional crew, second yard, owned equipment). 550+ credit, 6+ months TIB, $15K+/mo revenue. The multi-product set (MCA + LOC + term) means the contractor can structure the right shape for each use case rather than being forced into a single product. 4-hour funding for clean files when a job mobilizes on short notice. The right relationship for contractors below the Bluevine/OnDeck credit threshold (550-625 credit) who still need a draw-as-needed structure for progress-payment work.
The strength
March 2026 API V2 + Cloudsquare integration — most modern submission UX in MCA. $3B+ deployed, 60K+ SMBs. Publishes factor rates honestly (starting 1.11 for A-paper).
The watch-out
The 1.11 headline is the A-paper floor; average factor is closer to 1.32. ISO commission terms aren't public.
Qualifications
6 months
$15,000
550+
#4 · Best construction-payable factoring for large commercial and public-works receivables
altLINE (Southern Bank)
Max amount
$4,000,000 per month
Cost
0.5 – 3% per invoice (lower than non-bank competitors)
Speed
1 – 3 business days from setup
Min credit
Any
Why we picked it
Altline (Southern Bank) provides bank-backed factoring on construction-payable receivables for large commercial and public-works contracts ($500K+ receivable size). Advance rates 80-90% on construction payables (lower than freight factoring because of the lien-and-retainage complexity), 5-10 day funding from clean documentation, and the underlying balance-sheet strength of a regulated commercial bank. The right pick for established commercial GCs and large subs with $500K+ progress-payment receivables on creditworthy commercial customers or public-works owners — particularly useful when the LOC capacity is already drawn and the contractor needs to monetize a specific large receivable without further straining the LOC.
The strength
Bank-direct factoring (Southern Bank subsidiary) — often lower rates than non-bank competitors due to bank funding costs. No long-term contract required. Good fit for B2B businesses with creditworthy customers.
The watch-out
Slower setup than non-bank competitors (longer due diligence). Smaller market presence than altLINE's parent bank suggests.
Qualifications
6 months
$30,000+ in AR
Any
#5 · Best equipment financing for construction trucks, trailers, and heavy equipment
Beacon Funding
Max amount
$1,000,000
Cost
APR 8 – 25%
Speed
Funding in 1 – 5 business days
Min credit
550+
Why we picked it
Beacon Funding is the dominant equipment-financing relationship for construction contractors purchasing trucks, trailers, dump trucks, skid steers, mini-excavators, scissor lifts, and specialty trade tools. Revenue-flexible underwriting (the equipment is the collateral, so the underwriting weight on cash flow is lighter), 5-7 year terms, monthly amortization. The right product for building out the owned-equipment asset base that long-term contractors need — owned equipment is dramatically cheaper than rental over multi-year operating periods and improves bid-cost competitiveness on labor-and-equipment-heavy project types.
The strength
Equipment financing with broader industry acceptance than larger competitors. Will fund specialty equipment (food trucks, photography gear, fitness equipment, salon equipment). Lower credit threshold (550+).
The watch-out
Higher rates than bank equipment financing for prime credit. Smaller deal cap. Industry specialization can mean less depth in any single vertical.
Qualifications
12 months
$10,000+
550+
#6 · Best alternative equipment financing for specialty trade equipment and tools
Crest Capital
Max amount
$1,000,000
Cost
APR 7 – 22%
Speed
Approval in 4 hours; funding 1 – 3 days
Min credit
650+
Why we picked it
Crest Capital offers equipment financing as an alternative to Beacon, particularly strong for specialty trade equipment (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC tools and diagnostic equipment), smaller-ticket equipment ($5K-$100K range), and contractors wanting a second-source equipment-financing relationship to maintain competitive pricing on equipment purchases. Same monthly-amortization structure, revenue-flexible underwriting, 5-7 year terms. The right second-call equipment financing when Beacon's pricing comes in tight or the specific equipment doesn't fit Beacon's underwriting box.
The strength
Online-first equipment financing — application to funding in 1-3 days for clean files. Strong commercial vehicle program. Section 179 tax-deduction-friendly structures.
The watch-out
Higher credit + TIB requirements (650+, 24+ months). Equipment-only. Limited to specific equipment categories.
Qualifications
24 months
$10,000+
650+
#7 · Best SBA 7(a) for contractor fleet expansion, yard expansion, and contractor-business acquisition
Live Oak Bank
Max amount
$25,000,000+
Cost
SBA 7(a) APR prime + 2.75% to 4.75%
Speed
30 – 90 days underwriting (SBA standard)
Min credit
680+ typical
Why we picked it
Live Oak Bank SBA 7(a) at prime + 2.75% APR with 10-25 year tenors is the structurally correct tool for major capital events that don't fit the LOC or equipment-financing products — fleet expansion (adding 5+ trucks at once), second-yard or warehouse expansion, contractor-business acquisitions (buying a competitor or retiring owner-operator), or refinancing accumulated MCA stacks from prior cycles where the contractor took the wrong product shape. Monthly amortization survives progress-payment seasonality far better than any daily-ACH product. Typical qualifying file: 24+ months operating, $40K+/mo trailing average, 680+ credit, clean tax returns, demonstrable use of proceeds for growth or acquisition.
The strength
Largest SBA 7(a) lender in the US by dollar volume for 7+ consecutive years. Industry-specialty teams (veterinary, dental, funeral homes, self-storage, agriculture, hotels). Deep understanding of niche-vertical underwriting. Dramatically cheaper than MCA for qualifying merchants.
The watch-out
Long underwriting timeline (45-90 days typical). Requires strong credit (680+), 2+ years operating, clean financials. Industries outside their specialty get less attention.
Qualifications
24 months
$20,000+
680+ typical
Frequently asked questions
- Why is daily-ACH MCA structurally wrong for progress-payment construction work?
- Progress-payment deposits are inherently lumpy and lagged. A $200K commercial job might produce zero deposits for 30 days (mobilization), then a $60K progress payment in day 35, zero for another 30 days, $80K in day 70, zero for another 30 days, $40K in day 100, and the final $20K retainage 180+ days after substantial completion. A daily-ACH MCA written off a contractor's trailing-3-month revenue produces a fixed daily debit that hits the operating account regardless of progress-payment timing. On the 60+ days between progress-payment receipts, the daily ACH grinds down whatever working-capital balance the contractor has accumulated, often forcing the contractor to skip vendor payments or delay subcontractor checks. By the time the next progress payment arrives, the contractor is in vendor-payment distress, subcontractor-lien risk, and (with aggressive MCA funders) UCC notice risk. The structurally correct product is a revolving LOC where the contractor draws to cover the mobilization gap and repays when each progress payment clears — the debt service timing matches the receipt timing.
- When does construction-payable factoring make sense vs LOC?
- Construction-payable factoring (Altline, eCapital) makes sense for specific large receivables ($500K+ progress-payment receivable size) on creditworthy commercial customers or public-works owners, particularly when the contractor's primary LOC is already drawn and additional capacity is needed without further straining the LOC. The factoring product is structurally more expensive than LOC (the advance rate is lower at 80-90% of receivable value, and the discount fees are higher) but it provides additional capacity that's specifically secured by the underlying receivable rather than competing with the LOC's underwriting cap. The right play is to use LOC as the primary working-capital relationship for the typical $50K-$500K progress-payment-bridge use case, and add construction-payable factoring as a supplemental capacity tool for very large receivables that exceed what the LOC can comfortably support.
- Is SBA 7(a) realistic for a contractor with progress-payment seasonality?
- Yes — SBA 7(a) is well-suited to established contractors because the monthly amortization schedule survives progress-payment lumpiness far better than any daily-ACH product. Live Oak Bank specifically underwrites construction-contractor SBA 7(a) and is comfortable with normalized trailing 12-month revenue rather than penalizing the contractor for the lumpy progress-payment shape. The right use cases are fleet expansion, second-yard expansion, contractor-business acquisitions, equipment-heavy build-out, or refinancing MCA stacks accumulated through prior cycles where the contractor took the wrong product shape. APR runs in the 11% range with 10-25 year tenors and the monthly amortization is structurally easier to manage through progress-payment receipt timing than any daily-debit product.
- What revenue and credit do I need for construction progress-payment funding?
- Bluevine LOC: 625+ credit, 24+ months operating, $80K+/yr revenue. OnDeck LOC: 625+ credit, 12+ months operating, $100K+/yr revenue. Credibly multi-product: 550+ credit, 6+ months TIB, $15K+/mo revenue. Altline construction-payable factoring: established contractor with $500K+ commercial or public-works receivables on creditworthy customers, 24+ months operating typical. Beacon and Crest equipment financing: revenue-flexible because the equipment is the collateral, typically $5K+/mo revenue and 6+ months operating. Live Oak SBA: 680+ credit, 24+ months operating, $40K+/mo trailing average, demonstrable use of proceeds. Match yourself at /match to compare structures.
Related reading
- Best MCA funders for general contractors 2026
- Best MCA funders for construction companies 2026
- Best MCA funders for construction 2026
- Best large business loans 2026
Methodology
How we chose
Ranking criteria
- Use-case fit — funder must qualify the merchant profile this page targets (credit, time-in-business, revenue, industry).
- Pricing transparency — published factor-rate or APR-equivalent disclosure outweighs marketing-only quotes.
- Speed-to-fund — verified time from signed contract to ACH deposit, not 'as fast as' marketing claims.
- Contract terms — daily/weekly debit structure, prepayment treatment, COJ / personal guarantee posture.
- Customer-experience signals — BBB profile, Trustpilot, ISO chatter, and direct merchant feedback collected via Fundnode applications.
Sources consulted
- Funder-published rate cards, contract templates, and disclosure pages (refreshed quarterly).
- Public regulatory filings — California DFPI commercial-financing disclosures, New York commercial-financing disclosure law filings.
- Direct merchant feedback collected through Fundnode's /qualify funnel (n > 200 since 2026-01).
- ISO desk operator interviews — anonymized commentary on approval patterns and stipulations.
Update cadence
Reviewed quarterly. Last updated 2026-06-24.
Conflict of interest
Fundnode may earn referral fees from funders listed on this page when merchants apply through us. Rankings are editorial and independent of fee economics — funders cannot pay for placement.