How we picked
Filtered to lenders that fund single-location and small-multi-unit convenience stores (excluding combo c-store + fuel canopy operations where the petroleum side dominates — those go through specialty petroleum lenders). MCA ranked first because the inventory pre-buy and remodel-bridge use cases match the holdback-on-card-deposit structure. Equipment financing prioritized for walk-in coolers, beer caves, and freezer cases where the asset is collateral. SBA reserved for store acquisition. CDFI for first-generation immigrant operators with thin credit files.
Top picks at a glance
| Lender | Best for | Amount | Speed | Min credit | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credibly | Best overall for $1M-$3M revenue c-stores | $5K – $600K | As fast as 4 hours | 550+ | Apply → |
| Fora Financial | Best for $25K-$1.5M working capital tickets | $5,000 – $1,500,000 | Funding in 72 hours for typical files | 500+ | Apply → |
| Greenbox Capital | Best for thin-file immigrant operators (500+ credit) | $5K – $250K (MCA); other products vary | 24 – 48 hours | Flexible — accepts down to 500 on some programs | Apply → |
| Balboa Capital | Best application-only for walk-in coolers and beer caves | $5,000 – $250,000 | 1 – 3 business days | 600+ | Apply → |
| Accion Opportunity Fund | Best APR for credit-clean operators under $250K need (CDFI) | $5,000 – $250,000 | Funding in 5 – 15 business days | 550+ (more flexible than banks) | Apply → |
| Live Oak Bank | Best SBA 7(a) for store acquisition ($250K-$5M) | $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 6 picks
#1 · Best overall for $1M-$3M revenue c-stores
Credibly
Max amount
$600K
Cost
Factor 1.11+ (MCA)
Speed
As fast as 4 hours
Min credit
550+
Why we picked it
Credibly funds in as fast as 4 hours, 550+ credit, $15K+/mo revenue, 6+ months operating. Multi-product (MCA + LOC + term) — the LOC structure is correct for recurring Q4 cigarette pre-buys and beer / wine inventory loads ahead of football season, Super Bowl, and holidays. The MCA option is there for one-shot remodel bridges. Holdback on daily card deposits matches c-store revenue rhythm.
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+
#2 · Best for $25K-$1.5M working capital tickets
Fora Financial
Max amount
$1,500,000
Cost
Factor 1.15 – 1.40+
Speed
Funding in 72 hours for typical files
Min credit
500+
Why we picked it
Fora funds $5K-$1.5M with terms up to 15 months — useful for larger remodels (beer cave conversion, walk-in cooler + freezer combo, full POS + back-office upgrade) where Credibly's typical ticket runs short. 6+ months TIB, $12K+/mo revenue, 500+ credit. Strong industry-flex underwriting; will fund single-location stores other A-paper funders pass on.
The strength
Wide industry acceptance — fund construction, trucking, staffing, retail, restaurants, healthcare — including industries other funders flag as 'cautious.' Strong on renewals (published 5% discount). 6-month TIB minimum is more accessible than most established funders. $1.5M cap allows large deals when warranted.
The watch-out
Higher factor rates than A-paper specialists when you have other options. Underwriting can swing wide on the same file depending on which account manager pulls it. Get the offer in writing before paying any fees.
Qualifications
6 months
$12,000
500+
#3 · Best for thin-file immigrant operators (500+ credit)
Greenbox Capital
Max amount
$250K (MCA); other products vary
Cost
Factor varies
Speed
24 – 48 hours
Min credit
Flexible — accepts down to 500 on some programs
Why we picked it
First-generation c-store operators frequently carry thin personal credit files even when the business is strong. Greenbox accepts down to 500 credit on some programs, is industry-flexible, and published ISO commission caps bound broker markup. The right call when the personal credit doesn't reflect a 5-figure-monthly-card-volume business.
The strength
Five products under one roof: MCA, invoice factoring, equipment financing, collateral loans, LOC. White-label contracts let brokers run the deal under their own brand. Priority 1 status for new ISOs.
The watch-out
$250K MCA cap is below competitors. Marketing tilts broker-friendly more than merchant-transparent.
Qualifications
6 months
$15,000
Flexible — accepts down to 500 on some programs
#4 · Best application-only for walk-in coolers and beer caves
Balboa Capital
Max amount
$250,000
Cost
Equipment APR 8 – 22%
Speed
1 – 3 business days
Min credit
600+
Why we picked it
Balboa funds walk-in coolers ($25K-$60K), beer cave conversions ($45K-$120K), reach-in freezer cases ($8K-$30K), and full POS + back-office hardware packages in one application-only equipment-finance transaction up to $350K — no full financials required. 600+ credit, 2+ years TIB. APR 8-22% structurally beats MCA on any capex over $25K. Section 179 friendly in year of purchase.
The strength
Strong equipment financing + working capital combined. Public-bank-backed (Bank of America subsidiary historically; now Ameris Bank). Section 179 friendly structures.
The watch-out
Equipment-only restriction on lower-rate products. Working capital pricing not always the cheapest.
Qualifications
12 months
$10,000
600+
#5 · Best APR for credit-clean operators under $250K need (CDFI)
Accion Opportunity Fund
Max amount
$250,000
Cost
APR 8.49% – 24.99%
Speed
Funding in 5 – 15 business days
Min credit
550+ (more flexible than banks)
Why we picked it
CDFI with APR 8.49-24.99% — dramatically cheaper than MCA for operators with 550-680 credit who can wait 5-15 days for funding. Mission-aligned with immigrant-owned and minority-owned small business. The right call when the capital need is $25K-$250K and not time-critical.
The strength
Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) — government-supported mission lender for underserved markets. Lower credit thresholds (550+). Strong support resources beyond just lending — coaching, networking. Lower APRs than alternative MCA equivalents.
The watch-out
Long underwriting timeline (5-15 days). Application paperwork heavier than fintech competitors. Maximum loan size ($250K) caps mid-market use.
Qualifications
12 months
$4,000+
550+ (more flexible than banks)
#6 · Best SBA 7(a) for store acquisition ($250K-$5M)
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 does SBA 7(a) c-store acquisitions cleanly — real estate, inventory, goodwill, and working capital wrapped into one 10-25 year package at prime + 2.75-4.75% APR. The structurally correct path when buying a second or third location. 60-90 day close. 24+ months operating in the industry and 680+ credit required.
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
- What revenue do I need to qualify as a convenience store?
- Credibly MCA: $15K+/mo, 6+ months TIB, 550+ credit. Fora MCA: $12K+/mo, 6+ months TIB, 500+ credit. Greenbox MCA: $10K+/mo with 500+ credit. Balboa equipment financing: revenue-flexible (the cooler / cave is collateral) — 6+ months operating, 600+ credit. Live Oak SBA: $50K+/mo and 680+ credit for a $250K+ acquisition. Match yourself at /match.
- Should I take an MCA to fund a Q4 cigarette tax pre-buy?
- Only if the math pencils. A typical Q4 tax pre-buy on cigarettes runs $40K-$120K for a single store and the post-tax sell-through margin is thin. If you're paying factor 1.30+ on the MCA and tax-stamped cartons sit on the shelf 60-90 days before sell-through, the MCA cost can eat most of the pre-buy savings. A short-duration Credibly LOC drawn against confirmed-velocity SKUs is structurally cheaper than a one-shot MCA. McLane and Core-Mark also have inventory-finance programs worth asking about first.
- How do I finance a walk-in cooler or beer cave conversion?
- Balboa Capital is the cleanest path — equipment-secured APR 8-22% on $25K-$120K walk-in coolers and beer cave builds, application-only up to $350K, Section 179 deduction in year of purchase. Avoid MCA on a $60K cooler buy — the math doesn't work versus equipment financing. SBA 7(a) via Live Oak is the right structure if the cooler is part of a larger remodel package wrapped with inventory and working capital.
- Can I get funded if I'm a first-generation operator with thin credit?
- Yes. Greenbox Capital underwrites down to 500 credit and is industry-flexible — first-generation immigrant c-store operators are a documented part of their book. Accion Opportunity Fund (CDFI) is mission-aligned with thin-file immigrant-owned operators and offers APR materially cheaper than MCA, though funding is 5-15 days versus 4-24 hours. Both are legitimate paths. Avoid the high-risk MCA tail (Par Funding, World Business Lenders) on a thin-file file — pricing reflects desperation pricing more than risk.
Related reading
- Best MCA funders for liquor stores
- Best MCA funders for vape shops
- Best equipment financing 2026
- How to qualify for an MCA in 2026
- The full 2026 ranking — 100 funders
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.