The specs
OnDeckMulligan Funding
Product typeMulti-productMulti-product
Amount range$5K – $400K (term); $6K – $200K (LOC)$5K – $2M (across products)
Cost (factor / APR)Term APR 27%+; LOC APR 30%+Factor 1.20 – 1.49 (MCA); APR varies on term loan + LOC
Speed to fundSame-day for approved filesFunding in 24 – 48 hours after underwriting
Min time in business12 months9 months
Min monthly revenue$8,000$10,000
Min credit score600+525+
Products
- Term loan
- LOC
- Short-term business loan
- MCA
- Working capital LOC
Verdicts by use case
- Cheapest cost of capital if you qualify for both — Winner: OnDeck. OnDeck term APR (27%+) on a 24-month amortization typically beats Mulligan's MCA factor (1.20 – 1.49 = 40 – 100% APR-equivalent on a 12-month hold). OnDeck wins on cost for borrowers who clear OnDeck's bar.
- B/C-paper merchants (sub-600 FICO) — Winner: Mulligan Funding. Mulligan accepts 525+ FICO. OnDeck wants 600+. Sub-600 FICO merchants are Mulligan-only in this pair.
- Larger deal size ($400K+) — Winner: Mulligan Funding. Mulligan funds up to $2M across products. OnDeck term loans cap at $400K. For sizable capital, Mulligan wins outright.
- Newer business (9 – 12 months) — Winner: Mulligan Funding. Mulligan accepts 9+ months TIB. OnDeck wants 12+ months. Sub-12-month merchants are Mulligan-only.
- Direct-lender brand trust — Winner: OnDeck. OnDeck is the most recognized direct-lender brand in the segment with $14B+ deployed. Mulligan is a respected direct funder but lower brand recognition. Brand-conscious merchants favor OnDeck.
The honest takeaway
OnDeck and Mulligan Funding 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
- I'm at $40K/mo with 670 FICO and 14 months TIB — which?
- OnDeck. Their term APR (27%+) will beat Mulligan's MCA factor (1.25+) materially at this file grade. The only reason to take Mulligan is if you need $400K+ (above OnDeck's term cap) or you specifically want the MCA structure rather than a term loan.
- I'm at $30K/mo with 540 FICO and 10 months TIB — which?
- Mulligan. OnDeck's 600+ FICO and 12+ month TIB floor declines you. Mulligan's 525+ floor and 9+ month floor accept you. Expect a 1.40+ factor. Build credit and tenure aggressively for the next round.
- Does Mulligan share OnDeck's same-day funding speed?
- No. Mulligan funds in 24 – 48 hours after underwriting. OnDeck funds same-day on approved + verified files. If cash is needed today, OnDeck wins on speed when both will approve.