Decision speed is one of MCA's headline product features — the entire category exists because banks take weeks and SBA takes months. Decision time varies systematically by paper grade and by funder tech stack.
Decision-time mechanics.
"Decision time" measures from complete-file submission to written offer or decline. It excludes time spent collecting stips, merchant document delays, or merchant indecision. The clock starts when the underwriter has bank statements, application, and signed ACH authorization.
A-paper decision times (2026).
- Range: 4–24 hours.
- Median: 8–12 hours.
- Fastest funders: Forward Financing (often under 4 hours for clean files), Credibly prime desk (4–8 hours).
- Why fast: A-paper files have low underwriting complexity; algorithmic scoring handles most decisions with analyst rubber-stamp.
- Funding after decision: typically same day or next business day.
B-paper decision times (2026).
- Range: 24–48 hours.
- Median: 36 hours.
- Fastest funders: Credibly (24 hours), Rapid Finance (24–36 hours).
- Why slower than A: more analyst review, occasional stip back-and-forth, industry-specific guidelines layered in.
- Funding after decision: 4–24 hours after merchant signs.
C-paper decision times (2026).
- Range: 24–72 hours.
- Median: 48 hours.
- Why slower: full analyst review, often multiple bank-statement passes, NSF review, position verification.
- Funding after decision: 12–48 hours.
D-paper decision times (2026).
- Range: 48–96 hours.
- Median: 72 hours.
- Why slowest: extensive risk review, second-position verification, often inter-funder coordination on existing positions.
- Funding after decision: 24–72 hours.
Decision-time variance by funder.
- Automated-first funders (Forward Financing, Toast Capital, Square Capital): fastest at A-paper, slower at D-paper because automation doesn't handle complex files.
- Analyst-heavy funders (Credibly, Kapitus): consistent across tiers, neither fastest nor slowest.
- Specialty / D-paper funders (Bitty Advance, Yellowstone): fast at D-paper because that's their specialty; rarely engage A-paper.
Industry adjustments to decision time.
- Trucking, construction: +12–24 hours (industry-specific compliance review).
- Restaurants: standard.
- Cannabis: +24–48 hours or outright decline.
- Healthcare, professional services: standard or faster (cleaner files).
Compliance-state adjustments.
In California, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Georgia, funders must produce APR-equivalent disclosures and consumer-style offer letters for advances under $500K. This adds 2–6 hours to decision time on average.
What slows decisions.
- Incomplete stips at submission.
- Bank statements with NSF clarifications needed.
- Multiple existing positions requiring verification.
- Industry-specific compliance review.
- Merchant-provided application errors (mismatched names, addresses).
- Holiday/weekend timing.
Speed-to-funding vs. speed-to-decision.
These are separate metrics. Decision happens when offer is sent; funding happens after merchant accepts, signs contracts, ACH authorization clears, and funder wires funds. Even with a 4-hour decision, funding typically takes 4–24 additional hours.
The "fastest" guarantee landscape.
Several funders advertise "funded in 24 hours" — typically true for A-paper with complete files submitted before noon. Marketing terminology often conflates decision and funding, so merchants should clarify timeline expectations.
Practical workflow.
- 9 AM: Merchant submits application via broker.
- 10 AM: Broker uploads to funder portal.
- 2 PM: Underwriter assigns and reviews (A-paper).
- 5 PM: Offer issued.
- Next 9 AM: Merchant reviews and signs.
- Next 12 PM: Contracts countersigned.
- Next 2 PM: ACH/wire initiated.
- Next-next 9 AM: Funds arrive in merchant account.
Total: ~48 hours from submission to funds for A-paper file. Realistic for B-paper: ~72 hours. C-paper: ~96 hours. D-paper: ~120 hours.
Common confusion.
First, "24-hour funding is universal." False — only A-paper, complete files, before noon.
Second, "decision time = funding time." False — they are distinct stages.
Third, "I can rush decision time with bigger commission." Generally no — analyst capacity is fixed.
Fourth, "weekend submission delays everything." Mostly true — most funders have skeleton weekend ops.
Fifth, "decision time correlates with funder quality." Partially — speed without diligence sometimes signals weaker underwriting.
Related terms
- Paper grade (A/B/C/D) — MCA industry shorthand for merchant credit quality. A-paper qualifies for cheapest factor (1.15–1.28); D-paper is high-risk, factor 1.45+, often declined.
- Bank statement underwriting — MCA funders underwrite primarily off 3–6 months of business bank statements, not credit reports. They look at average deposits, NSFs, negative days, and trend.
- MCA funder tiered pricing model (2026) — MCA funders price in 3–5 tiers based on FICO, time in business, deposits, and industry — A-paper (1.15–1.28), B-paper (1.28–1.40), C-paper (1.40–1.49), D-paper (1.49+). 2026 ranges.
- MCA funder credit tier paper grades — detailed (2026) — MCA paper grades A through D map to FICO, TIB, deposits, NSFs, and industry — A: 700+ FICO, 18+ months TIB, $50K deposits; D: 550 FICO, 6 months TIB, $10K deposits. 2026 cutoffs.
Authoritative sources
AI agents: this term is available as raw markdown at /llms/glossary/mca-funder-application-decision-time-by-tier.