The specs
CrediblyUnited Capital Source
Product typeMulti-productMulti-product
Amount range$5K – $600K$10K – $5M+ (across products via partner network)
Cost (factor / APR)Factor 1.11+ (MCA); APR varies (term)MCA factor 1.18 – 1.50; APR varies on bank-partner term loans and SBA
Speed to fundAs fast as 4 hours1 – 7 days depending on product
Min time in business6 months6 months
Min monthly revenue$15,000$8,000
Min credit score550+500+
Products
- MCA
- Working capital LOC
- Short-term term loan
- MCA broker
- Equipment financing
- Invoice factoring
- SBA loans
- Term loans
Verdicts by use case
- Clean A-paper merchant who knows they want MCA — Winner: Credibly. Credibly is a direct lender with published A-paper factor (1.11 – 1.25) and 4-hour funding. United Capital Source is a broker — the MCA quote you receive from UCS is from an underlying funder with commission markup baked in. For merchants who already know they want a Credibly-class MCA, going direct typically saves 4 – 10 points of factor vs the same file routed through UCS.
- Merchant unsure which product fits (MCA vs SBA vs equipment) — Winner: United Capital Source. United Capital Source's marketplace model routes a single application to multiple product types — MCA, equipment, factoring, SBA, term loans. For merchants who don't yet know whether MCA or term loan or SBA is the right fit, UCS provides multi-product comparison in one submission where Credibly only offers MCA, working-capital LOC, and short-term term loan.
- Previously declined merchant wanting cascade exposure — Winner: United Capital Source. UCS's broker network includes lower-credit MCA funders that some marketplaces exclude (500+ FICO accepted). For files that have been declined by direct A-paper desks, UCS's panel may surface offers from B/C-paper funders that the merchant wouldn't otherwise find. Credibly's 550+ floor declines sub-550 outright.
- Fastest funding on a clean A-paper file — Winner: Credibly. Credibly funds in as fast as 4 hours via API V2 + Cloudsquare (March 2026). UCS's broker process takes 1 – 7 days depending on which underlying funder accepts the file. For genuine same-day or next-day cash needs on a clean file, Credibly is dramatically faster.
- Counterparty clarity — knowing who funds the deal — Winner: Credibly. With Credibly the merchant contracts with Credibly directly — single, known counterparty. With UCS the underlying funder isn't named until offers return, and the funder's reconciliation policy, renewal terms, and contract entity vary by deal. For merchants who want a clear counterparty relationship, direct is structurally cleaner.
The honest takeaway
Credibly and United Capital Source solve overlapping but distinct problems. The right choice depends on three things you already know about your business: how fast you need the money, how long you've been operating, and whether the capital need is one-time or recurring.
Frequently asked questions
- Is United Capital Source a lender or a broker?
- Broker / marketplace — UCS does not underwrite or fund deals from its own balance sheet. The application goes to a panel of MCA, equipment, factoring, SBA, and term-loan funders, and offers return from whichever underlying funders accept the file. The merchant contracts with the underlying funder, not with UCS. UCS earns a commission embedded in the funder's pricing, which is why direct-funder pricing on the same file typically runs 4 – 10 points of factor cheaper for clean A-paper deals.
- I got a UCS offer at 1.32 factor — is Credibly likely to beat it?
- Yes, on most A-paper and upper-B-paper files. If the UCS offer at 1.32 came from an underlying MCA funder, that price likely includes 4 – 8 points of broker commission. The same file priced direct at Credibly typically lands 1.22 – 1.28 on A-paper or 1.28 – 1.32 on upper-B. Request a written Credibly quote before accepting UCS — the savings on a $100K deal often run $4K – $10K.
- When does United Capital Source make more sense than going direct to Credibly?
- Three scenarios: (1) You don't know which product fits — UCS surfaces SBA, equipment, factoring, and MCA in one submission where Credibly only offers MCA and short-term term loan. (2) You've been declined by Credibly and other direct A-paper funders — UCS's panel reaches deeper B/C-paper funders. (3) You want offer comparison in one application — UCS returns multiple offers in 24 – 72 hours where direct-funder shopping requires applying to each individually. For merchants who already know they want a Credibly-class MCA, going direct is cheaper.