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Funder comparison · 2026

Credibly vs Yellowstone Capital — who wins for what.

Both fund small businesses. They solve different problems. Here's the honest side-by-side, then five use-case verdicts so you don't have to guess.

By Fundnode Editorial7 min read

The specs

CrediblyYellowstone Capital
Product typeMulti-productMCA
Amount range$5K – $600K$5K – $400K
Cost (factor / APR)Factor 1.11+ (MCA); APR varies (term)Factor 1.25 – 1.49 depending on paper grade
Speed to fundAs fast as 4 hoursSame-day to 24 hours on approved files
Min time in business6 months4 months
Min monthly revenue$15,000$10,000
Min credit score550+500+
Products
  • MCA
  • Working capital LOC
  • Short-term term loan
  • MCA (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th position)

Verdicts by use case

  • Clean A-paper merchant on a first-position file — Winner: Credibly. Credibly's A-paper factor band (1.11 – 1.25) and 4-hour API V2 + Cloudsquare funding (March 2026) materially undercuts Yellowstone Capital's historical 1.30 – 1.49 factor range. Credibly also operates without the regulatory and contract-risk legacy that Yellowstone carries from NY AG settlements and historical COJ practice.
  • Aggressive 1st + 2nd position stacking in $50K – $200K band — Winner: Yellowstone Capital. Credibly is first-position-preferred and declines stacked files. Yellowstone Capital's historical underwriting depth includes aggressive 2nd and 3rd position placements that few other funders touch. For broker-channel files seeking aggressive stacking Yellowstone remains in the cascade — at materially higher factor pricing and stronger contract-language scrutiny required.
  • Larger deal size ($300K+) — Winner: Credibly. Credibly underwrites up to $600K with consistent execution and unambiguous direct-lender capital. Yellowstone's deal-size consistency above $200K is variable and the contract language at larger placements warrants legal review on COJ jurisdiction, cross-collateralization, and default-acceleration clauses. For larger files Credibly is materially cleaner.
  • Fastest funding on a clean file — Winner: Credibly. Credibly funds in as fast as 4 hours via API V2 + Cloudsquare. Yellowstone Capital funds in 24 – 72 hours after underwriting on most files. Credibly's tech stack and underwriting speed is meaningfully ahead.
  • Counterparty risk and regulatory exposure — Winner: Credibly. Credibly's contract structure does not rely on Confession of Judgment provisions, has no historical NY AG enforcement actions, and operates with transparent ISO economics. Yellowstone Capital was named in the 2020 NY AG enforcement action regarding alleged over-collection, COJ misuse, and bank-account freezes; subsequent state legislation (NY 2019 ban on out-of-state COJ enforcement, CA / NJ disclosure laws, and 2024 – 2025 state rule updates) constrains practical enforcement, but contract-language risk and reputational risk remain meaningfully elevated vs Credibly.

The honest takeaway

Credibly and Yellowstone Capital 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 Yellowstone Capital still active in 2026, and what changed after the NY AG settlement?
Yellowstone Capital continues to originate MCA paper as of 2026-06-28, but the 2020 NY AG enforcement action and subsequent state legislation (NY 2019 COJ ban for out-of-state merchants, CA and NJ disclosure laws, 2024 – 2025 follow-on state rules) materially changed industry practice. Yellowstone's published contract terms in 2026 are tighter than the 2018 – 2019 era, but the legacy contract-risk concerns and reputational concerns remain elevated compared to direct A-paper funders like Credibly. Always have an MCA attorney review the specific contract before signing a Yellowstone placement above $50K.
My broker is pushing Yellowstone at 1.40 factor — should I push back?
Yes. Always shop Credibly first if your file qualifies (550+ FICO, 6+ months TIB, $15K+/mo revenue, single position) — Credibly will typically quote 1.22 – 1.30, saving 10 – 18 points of factor. If your file is genuinely a stacked-position or sub-floor file where Credibly declines, the more reputable alternatives in 2026 are Libertas Funding (2nd position specialist with documented contract language) and Greenbox Capital (Priority 1 ISO program with broker-friendly economics and lower contract-risk profile than Yellowstone). The Yellowstone factor markup typically reflects both genuine risk pricing and the contract-risk premium — competing offers usually beat it.
What contract clauses should I scrutinize in a Yellowstone agreement specifically?
Four areas to review with counsel: (1) COJ jurisdiction clause — confirm enforcement is governed by your merchant state's law if you're out-of-NY, not NY law; (2) reconciliation trigger and documentation requirements — what specifically counts as revenue decline and what proof is required; (3) default-acceleration clauses — what triggers immediate full payoff and on what notice; (4) cross-collateralization and cross-default language across any other Yellowstone or affiliated-entity contracts. The 2020 NY AG action specifically called out practices in some of these areas industry-wide; current contracts are tighter but worth scrutiny on placements above $50K.