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Funder review · #24 of 100 in 2026

Clearco — honest 2026 review.

Best for: Direct-to-consumer brands needing capital without equity dilution. Amount range: $10,000 – $20,000,000. Speed: Funding in 1 – 5 business days. Below: the rate card, the watch-out, alternatives we'd compare against, and the honest verdict.

By Keerthana Keti8 min read

TL;DR

Clearco ranks #24 in our 2026 funder ranking. Best for established dtc brands ($30k+/mo revenue) who specifically want to avoid equity dilution and personal guarantees on smaller capital needs. The strength: Pioneered revenue-based financing for DTC/e-commerce. The watch-out: Underwent significant cost cuts and pivots in 2023-2024 — product mix has shifted, some prior offerings (Clearco Capital for ad spending specifically) were paused.

Clearco rate card 2026

CategoryRevenue-based financing
Best forDirect-to-consumer brands needing capital without equity dilution
Amount range$10,000 – $20,000,000
Cost (factor / APR)Single fee 6 – 12% of advance
Speed to fundFunding in 1 – 5 business days
Min time in business6 months
Min monthly revenue$10,000
Min credit scoreNo FICO check — underwrites against revenue data

The strength — what Clearco does better than anyone

Pioneered revenue-based financing for DTC/e-commerce. Strong brand recognition with founders. No equity, no personal guarantee on standard programs. Built integrations with Shopify, Stripe, ad platforms for automatic underwriting.

The watch-out — what Clearco doesn't put in marketing

Underwent significant cost cuts and pivots in 2023-2024 — product mix has shifted, some prior offerings (Clearco Capital for ad spending specifically) were paused. Single fee can equate to 25-50% APR.

Who Clearco is best for

Established DTC brands ($30K+/mo revenue) who specifically want to avoid equity dilution and personal guarantees on smaller capital needs.

Who shouldn't apply

Merchants ranking solidly above Clearco's box may want to apply to OnDeck or Credibly first for cheaper money. Established multi-location operators may get better terms at OnDeck or NewCo Capital Group. As with any MCA decision, the cheapest money is the money you don't borrow — start with the calculator at /calculator to see if the deal you'd take from Clearco actually makes sense.

How Clearco compares to the rest of the top 10

FunderCategoryCostSpeed
Clearco (this funder)Revenue-based financingSingle fee 6 – 12% of advanceFunding in 1 – 5 business days
CrediblyMCA + multi-productFactor 1.11+ (MCA); APR varies for term + LOCAs fast as 4 hours
Greenbox CapitalMulti-productFactor varies; published up to 19% ISO commission24 – 48 hours
Accord Business FundingMCA specialtyFactor varies by paper grade (often 1.40+)Next-day for approved files
BluevineLOCAPR 6.2% – 27%1 – 3 business days
OnDeckTerm + LOCTerm APR 27%+; LOC APR 30%+Same-day for approved files

What to ask Clearco before signing

  • "What's the APR-equivalent on this deal?" A funder who can't or won't quote it has something to hide. Required disclosure in five states as of 2026.
  • "Is there a prepayment discount?" Some funders charge the full factor regardless of payoff speed. Get the discount in writing before you sign.
  • "What's the reconciliation policy if my revenue drops?" The best funders adjust the daily ACH downward when deposits drop. Many won't. Ask in writing.
  • "Will you stack on top of an existing position?" Stacking is one of the top reasons MCA merchants default. If a funder accepts second/third position freely, that's a yellow flag for the merchant.

Frequently asked questions

Is Clearco a direct funder or a broker?
Clearco is a direct funder — they underwrite and deploy capital from their own balance sheet (or institutional credit facility), not by routing your file to other lenders. This matters because direct funders are accountable for the terms they quote.
What's the minimum revenue Clearco will fund?
Clearco's published floor is $10,000 in average monthly revenue, with 6 months minimum time in business. Credit score floor is No FICO check — underwrites against revenue data. These are box minimums — actual approval requires bank statements showing consistent daily deposits and acceptable NSF history.
How fast can Clearco fund?
Clearco's public speed quote is Funding in 1 – 5 business days. In practice, clean files (consistent revenue, no NSFs, no second position) fund at the fast end of that range. Files needing additional documentation, second-position deals, or larger amounts ($250K+) take longer.
Should I go directly to Clearco or through a broker?
Going direct gets you a single quote with no broker commission baked into the factor rate. Going through a broker (like Fundnode) gets you scored against multiple funders, including Clearco, with full disclosure of how we earn. There's no universal right answer — but if you only want one quote, going direct saves the broker's cut.
What's Clearco's biggest weakness vs alternatives?
Underwent significant cost cuts and pivots in 2023-2024 — product mix has shifted, some prior offerings (Clearco Capital for ad spending specifically) were paused. Single fee can equate to 25-50% APR.

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