TL;DR
Best construction funder 2026: Greenbox Capital for sub-$250K retention bridges, Currency Capital or Crest Capital for equipment, Accord for 1099-heavy crews with NSFs, Credibly for A-paper GCs with clean books. Use MCA for cash-flow gaps, equipment financing for trucks/excavators/lifts. Factoring beats MCA for retention bridges on creditworthy GC projects.
The categories — which tool for which need
Construction is one of the few industries where the funding decision tree is actually clear, because the needs split cleanly:
- Cash-flow MCA — fast money for payroll gap, materials for the next job, surprise repair. Use only when speed beats cost.
- Equipment financing — trucks, excavators, lifts, generators, fleet vehicles. 9-15% APR over 24-60 months. Cheapest money for asset-backed needs.
- Invoice / AR factoring — for retention or progress payments from creditworthy GCs. 1-2% per invoice beats any MCA when the GC is solid.
- Term loan — for build-outs, acquisitions, established growth capital. SBA 7(a) if you can wait 60 days; OnDeck term if you need it in 24-48 hours.
At a glance — seven funders compared
| Rank | Funder | Best for | Public spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Greenbox Capital | GCs with retention timing gaps + sub-$250K needs | $5K–$250K MCA, equipment financing, white-label option |
| #2 | Currency Capital | Equipment-first construction needs | $5K–$2M for equipment + working capital riders |
| #3 | Crest Capital | Direct equipment loans with vendor pricing | $5K–$1M equipment loans; section 179 / depreciation friendly |
| #4 | Accord Business Funding | 1099-heavy crews + B/C-paper builders | $5K–$150K MCA, accepts NSFs, 3+ months TIB |
| #5 | Credibly | Established A-paper construction with clean books | $5K–$600K, factor 1.11+ A-paper, funds in 4 hours |
| #6 | OnDeck | Term loan instead of MCA | Term loans up to $400K; LOC up to $200K; same-day funding |
| #7 | Rapid Finance | Multi-product construction with embedded SaaS | MCA + term + LOC + embedded; up to 18-month terms |
Greenbox Capital
Best for: GCs with retention timing gaps + sub-$250K needs
$5K–$250K MCA, equipment financing, white-label option
Strength
Five products under one roof means a single relationship covers retention bridge (MCA), truck/equipment purchase (equipment financing), and AR-backed lines (factoring). Accepts NSF history common to seasonal builders.
Watch out
$250K MCA cap excludes larger GCs or multi-project bonding needs.
Fit: Subcontractors and small GCs ($15K–$35K/mo, 12+ months operating) with revenue dips when retention is held.
Currency Capital
Best for: Equipment-first construction needs
$5K–$2M for equipment + working capital riders
Strength
Equipment financing is the right tool for excavators, lifts, pumps, generators. Currency rate-shops across underwriters, which materially beats most MCA-first funders for asset-backed deals.
Watch out
Not for pure cash-flow MCA needs — they'll route the request but their best terms are when there's an asset to secure.
Fit: Construction businesses buying equipment in 2026 (skid steers, excavators, scissor lifts, fleet trucks).
Crest Capital
Best for: Direct equipment loans with vendor pricing
$5K–$1M equipment loans; section 179 / depreciation friendly
Strength
Vendor-direct deals fund in 24 hours when your equipment dealer has a vendor agreement with them. Best speed in equipment financing.
Watch out
Equipment only — no MCA, no LOC. Application requires more documentation than an MCA but the rate is materially lower.
Fit: Construction businesses with vendor-introduced equipment deals; section 179 buyers in Q4.
Accord Business Funding
Best for: 1099-heavy crews + B/C-paper builders
$5K–$150K MCA, accepts NSFs, 3+ months TIB
Strength
Underwrites paper other funders decline. For construction businesses with seasonal NSFs, recent slow periods, or second-position deals, Accord is one of the few options.
Watch out
MCA only — no LOC, no equipment. Higher factor rates as the trade for accessibility.
Fit: Newer GCs (3+ months), seasonal subs with NSF history, second/third-position deals.
Credibly
Best for: Established A-paper construction with clean books
$5K–$600K, factor 1.11+ A-paper, funds in 4 hours
Strength
Modern submission UX, transparent A-paper pricing. Best fit for established GCs with 24+ months operating, clean bank statements, and 600+ credit.
Watch out
Higher qualification bar. The 1.11 headline is only the A-paper floor — average construction factor is 1.30+.
Fit: GCs with 24+ months operating, $25K+/mo revenue, 600+ credit.
OnDeck
Best for: Term loan instead of MCA
Term loans up to $400K; LOC up to $200K; same-day funding
Strength
For established construction businesses with predictable revenue, a 24-36 month term loan beats MCA on total cost by 30-50%. Same-day funding on approved files.
Watch out
12+ months TIB and $8K+/mo revenue minimum. Construction businesses with seasonal swings need stronger averages.
Fit: Established GCs (12+ months, clean credit) wanting fixed-payment financing instead of daily-ACH MCA.
Rapid Finance
Best for: Multi-product construction with embedded SaaS
MCA + term + LOC + embedded; up to 18-month terms
Strength
Strongest embedded-lending narrative — works with construction SaaS platforms (job-cost software, vendor portals). White-label offerings.
Watch out
ISO commission ceilings lower than Greenbox or Accord. Less broker-friendly for new ISOs.
Fit: Construction businesses already using vertical SaaS that offers embedded financing.
Construction-specific watch-outs
Three patterns that hurt construction businesses on MCA more than other industries:
- Retention math doesn't support daily ACH. If 10-15% of every invoice is held as retention for 30-90 days, your actual daily cash deposits are 85-90% of revenue. A funder pricing on top-line revenue may set a daily ACH you can't cover.
- Seasonality + NSFs. Q4 / Q1 deposits drop hard in most regions. If you have NSFs in winter, A-paper funders will decline. Greenbox or Accord with reconciliation language is the move.
- Bonding capacity. Any open MCA reduces bondable capacity. If you bid public-works or larger commercial, talk to your surety agent BEFORE signing MCA paper.
What to ask any construction funder before signing
- "What's the APR-equivalent on this deal?" Required disclosure in five states as of 2026.
- "Will my daily ACH reconcile if my revenue drops?" Critical for seasonal builders. The answer is in the agreement — read it.
- "Will this MCA show up on my surety bond paperwork?" Yes, it will. Ask anyway to see how the funder responds.
- "Is there a prepayment discount?" If a big retention check is about to release, you want the discount.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the cheapest MCA for a construction business in 2026?
- For established GCs (24+ months, 600+ credit, $40K+/mo revenue): Credibly's A-paper factor of 1.20-1.30 is competitive. For most construction businesses ($15K-$35K/mo, 12+ months operating): Greenbox at 1.30-1.40. For B/C-paper or 1099-heavy crews with NSFs: Accord at 1.40-1.50. Anything above 1.50 needs a second opinion.
- Should I take an MCA or equipment financing for new construction equipment?
- Equipment financing wins on cost almost every time. A $50K excavator financed over 36 months at 9-12% APR is materially cheaper than the same $50K as MCA at a 1.35 factor over 12 months (≈45% APR-equivalent). Use MCA for cash-flow gaps, not equipment.
- Can a construction business with 1099 subs get an MCA?
- Yes — funders care about business bank deposits, not your tax classification of workers. Bigger considerations: do your deposits look consistent? Do you have 6+ months of statements? Most MCA funders won't reject you for paying 1099 subs; they'll reject for NSFs, low monthly volume, or bank statements showing irregular deposits.
- What about bonding? Will an MCA affect my bonding capacity?
- Yes — surety bond underwriters look at total business debt including MCAs. A high-balance daily-ACH MCA can reduce bondable capacity by 20-30% depending on your bond program. If you have bonding needs, talk to your surety agent BEFORE taking MCA. Equipment financing affects bonding less because the equipment is collateral.
- Can I use an MCA to bridge retention?
- Yes, but factoring or invoice financing usually beats MCA for AR-style cash gaps. If your retention is held by an established GC or municipality, an AR-secured line at 1-2% per invoice is cheaper than MCA at 1.30+ factor. Use MCA only when factoring isn't available (e.g., projects with non-creditworthy general contractors).
Related reading
- The full 10-funder ranking for 2026 — beyond construction
- How factor rates actually work — the math behind every offer above
- Stacking MCAs: why it fails — relevant for any GC tempted to layer a second MCA on top of an existing one
- MCA vs LOC vs term loan — which product fits your situation