How we picked
Filtered to lenders that actively fund independent retail including pet specialty. POS-embedded options ranked first when the store runs Square or Clover (the two dominant pet-retail POS systems). Generalist MCA for fast working capital. SBA prioritized for any deal over $150K where a 60-90 day timeline is acceptable.
Top picks at a glance
| Lender | Best for | Amount | Speed | Min credit | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Capital | Best for Square-using pet stores | $300 – $250,000 | Funds as soon as next business day | No FICO pull — Square underwrites entirely against your Square sales history | Apply → |
| Clover Capital (Fiserv) | Best for Clover-using pet stores | $500 – $1,000,000 | Funding in 1 – 3 business days | No FICO check — uses Clover sales history | Apply → |
| Credibly | Best fast working capital for pet retail | $5K – $600K | As fast as 4 hours | 550+ | Apply → |
| Greenbox Capital | Best for credit-recovering pet store operators (500+) | $5K – $250K (MCA); other products vary | 24 – 48 hours | Flexible — accepts down to 500 on some programs | Apply → |
| OnDeck | Best for established multi-location pet stores | $5K – $400K (term); $6K – $200K (LOC) | Same-day for approved files | 600+ | Apply → |
| Live Oak Bank | Best SBA 7(a) for pet store acquisition or build-out | $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 for Square-using pet stores
Square Capital
Max amount
$250,000
Cost
Single fixed fee (typically 10 – 16% of loan amount)
Speed
Funds as soon as next business day
Min credit
No FICO pull — Square underwrites entirely against your Square sales history
Why we picked it
Square is the dominant POS in independent pet retail — especially shops with grooming, training, or daycare add-ons. Pre-qualified offers appear in the Square dashboard with no separate application. Single fee 5-14% priced off Square processing volume. No FICO check, fast deposit.
The strength
Most merchant-friendly headline structure in the industry: one fixed fee, no APR equivalents, no daily/weekly debits — repayment is a flat percentage of daily Square card sales until paid off. Eligibility check appears in your Square dashboard with no application. Approval typically arrives in minutes.
The watch-out
Square chooses who they offer to — you can't apply if Square doesn't surface an offer. Loan amount usually caps at ~1.4× monthly Square sales. The single fixed fee on a 9-month payback typically works out to 30–60% APR-equivalent, similar to mid-tier MCA. Only available to active Square sellers — if you stop processing, repayment converts to fixed daily debits.
Qualifications
12 months
$10,000+ in Square card sales typical floor for meaningful offers
No FICO pull — Square underwrites entirely against your Square sales history
#2 · Best for Clover-using pet stores
Clover Capital (Fiserv)
Max amount
$1,000,000
Cost
Single fixed fee disclosed at offer (10 – 16%)
Speed
Funding in 1 – 3 business days
Min credit
No FICO check — uses Clover sales history
Why we picked it
Clover is common in pet stores with broader retail SKU counts (food, toys, supplies, hardgoods). Pre-qualified offers inside the Clover dashboard. Single-fee structure, fast deposit, no FICO check. Cleanest first option if you're already on Clover.
The strength
Embedded in Clover dashboard (Fiserv-owned POS platform). Single fee structure like Square Capital. Repayment as percentage of daily Clover card sales. Strong fit for Clover-equipped restaurants, retail, salons.
The watch-out
Only available to Clover POS merchants. Eligibility controlled by Clover/Fiserv — can't apply. Less brand recognition than Toast Capital or Square Capital.
Qualifications
6 months
Clover processing volume drives offers
No FICO check — uses Clover sales history
#3 · Best fast working capital for pet retail
Credibly
Max amount
$600K
Cost
Factor 1.11+ (MCA)
Speed
As fast as 4 hours
Min credit
550+
Why we picked it
Best generalist MCA for pet stores when POS-embedded isn't available. 550+ credit, 6+ months TIB, $15K+/mo revenue. Multi-product (MCA + LOC + term) covers seasonal inventory pre-buys, grooming equipment, or store expansion. Funds in as fast as 4 hours.
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 for credit-recovering pet store operators (500+)
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
Lowest published credit floor among generalist MCAs that fund independent retail. Industry-flexible — will fund single-location pet stores at lower revenue thresholds than most competitors. Published ISO commission caps bound broker markup.
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
#5 · Best for established multi-location pet stores
OnDeck
Max amount
$400K (term); $6K
Cost
Term APR 27%+
Speed
Same-day for approved files
Min credit
600+
Why we picked it
12+ months TIB, $8K+/mo revenue, 600+ credit. Same-day funding for approved files. Direct lender — no broker markup. Best for established pet stores running 2+ locations or doing $50K+/mo who need a bridge for expansion or inventory.
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+
#6 · Best SBA 7(a) for pet store acquisition or build-out
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
#1 SBA 7(a) lender in the US. SBA 7(a) for buying an existing pet store, opening a 2nd location, or full build-out with grooming and daycare. $150K-$2M typical. Prime + 2.75-4.75% APR dramatically beats MCA on any deal over $150K. 60-90 day timeline.
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
- Should I take Square Capital or a standalone MCA for my pet store?
- Square Capital almost always wins on convenience (no application, deposited inside Square) and frequently wins on price for established stores. Standalone MCA wins when you've maxed out Square's pre-qualified offer or need larger capital than Square will extend. Compare both — Square shows the fee directly in your dashboard so the math is transparent.
- How do I finance pet store inventory for the holiday rush?
- Best fit is a Credibly LOC or short-term MCA timed 60-90 days before peak season — you draw against the line for Q4 holiday inventory and pay down through holiday cash flow. Avoid 12+ month MCAs for seasonal inventory; the daily ACH outlasts the sell-through window.
- Can I get a loan to open a new pet store?
- SBA 7(a) via Live Oak is the cleanest path — $150K-$500K typical for a new pet retail build-out. Need a real business plan, 10-15% down, and personal credit 680+. Pre-revenue: SBA microloan via CDFI (Accion) or Kiva for $5K-$50K. Avoid MCAs pre-revenue — daily ACH against zero revenue is a fast path to default.
- How much can I borrow as a 2-year-old pet store doing $35K/mo?
- Square Capital: $10K-$80K based on Square sales history (if on Square). Clover Capital: similar based on Clover volume. Credibly: $20K-$100K MCA. Live Oak SBA: $100K-$400K if you can wait 60-90 days. Match yourself at /match to compare pre-qualified offers side by side.
Related reading
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.