Credibly is an online funder that directly provides working capital loans and merchant cash advances from $5,000 to $600,000, with factor rates “as low as 1.11” and terms up to 24 months. Through partners it also arranges SBA loans, lines of credit, equipment financing and long-term loans. It suits businesses with at least six months of history and steady deposits that need money within a day; borrowers with strong credit and time in business can usually find cheaper money.
This review is part of the SMB Compass lender reviews series. SMB Compass is a financing broker, not a lender: we help owners compare offers from a panel of lending partners. The figures below come from Credibly’s own website and a Credibly press release, checked on September 21, 2026. Where Credibly’s pages give different minimums, we show both.
Credibly at a glance
| Product | Who provides it | Amount | Term | Pricing (as Credibly quotes it) | Published minimums | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working capital loan | Credibly (direct) | $25,000 to $600,000 | 6 to 24 months | Factor rate from 1.11; “most deals” carry a 2.5% origination fee | 6 months in business, $15,000 monthly revenue, 500 credit score | Approval as fast as 2 hours; funding as fast as 4 hours |
| Merchant cash advance | Credibly (direct) | $5,000 to $600,000 | 3 to 24 months | Factor rate as low as 1.11; 2.5% underwriting fee; $50 monthly administration fee | 6 months in business, $20,000 average monthly revenue, 550 credit score | Approval as fast as 2 hours; funding as fast as 4 hours |
| Business line of credit | Partners | Up to $300,000 | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Long-term loans | Partners | $50,000 to $10 million | Not published | Not published | 2+ years in business | Not published |
| Equipment financing | Partners | $10,000 to $10 million | Not published | Not published | 1+ year in business | Not published |
| SBA loans | Partners | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Who provides the money: Credibly says it “is a direct lender of working capital loans and merchant cash advances. Through our partners, we offer SBA loans, business lines of credit, equipment financing, and long-term loans.” Credibly does not name a bank partner on the pages we checked, so the name on your agreement will depend on the product. If you are offered a partner product, ask which company is funding it.
About Credibly
Credibly was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, according to a May 12, 2026 press release announcing “over $260 million in new financing” for the company. The release says Credibly has provided over $3 billion to more than 60,000 businesses. Its website says “55,000+ small businesses served” and “$3B+ in small business financing.”
Credibly’s products
Working capital loans
Credibly’s working capital loan is a fixed-cost short-term loan of $25,000 to $600,000 repaid over 6 to 24 months with daily or weekly payments. It is priced with a factor rate that “starts at 1.11,” and Credibly says “most deals have a 2.5% origination fee.” For how these loans are usually used, see our guide to working capital.
Merchant cash advance
The merchant cash advance runs from $5,000 to $600,000 over 3 to 24 months. Credibly describes it as “a purchase of a portion of your future receivables” and states that “The cost is expressed as a factor rate, not an interest rate, and state usury and/or lending laws do not apply.” Payments are a “Fixed daily or weekly ACH transfer sized to your revenue at approval.” If a month’s sales come in below projections, Credibly’s reconciliation process lets you “request a credit for any overage back to your account.”
Two cost details matter here. Credibly’s FAQ says “Merchant cash advances also incur a $50 monthly administration fee,” and that for direct funding “a 2.5% underwriting fee is paid through the first several remittances.” There is also an early-payoff discount: if you pay the full balance in one lump sum, “Credibly can reduce the factor (cost) component of your Amount Sold by 20%.”
For more on how MCAs work and where they fit, read our merchant cash advance guide.
Partner products
Credibly’s FAQ says it “can help qualifying businesses access credit lines up to $300,000, long-term loans from $50,000 to $10 million, and equipment financing from $10,000 to $10 million.” These come from outside funding partners, so the terms, pricing and underwriting belong to the partner, not to Credibly.
What Credibly costs
Credibly quotes factor rates, not APRs. A 1.11 factor means you repay $1.11 for every $1 funded before fees; Credibly notes that “Best factor rates are available to merchants with excellent credit and financial strength,” so most borrowers should expect higher. Add the 2.5% fee, and for MCAs the $50 monthly administration fee, to get your total cost. Because terms can be as short as 3 months, the equivalent APR can be high. Our explainer on factor rates vs APR shows how to convert an offer.
Who qualifies
Credibly’s homepage and working capital loan page list:
- “6+ months time in business”
- “$15,000+ in monthly revenue”
- “credit score of 500+”
- US operations, with revenue deposited into a business bank account
Its MCA page and FAQ set a higher bar: “Minimum $20,000 in average monthly revenue” and “A credit score of 550 or higher.” The FAQ says “550+ credit score for most products.” Plan on the stricter figures unless a Credibly representative confirms otherwise in writing. Partner products need longer histories: “1+ year for equipment financing, 2+ years for long-term loans.”
Credibly says it “performs a soft credit pull during the application process,” so checking your options should not affect your personal score.
How fast is Credibly?
Credibly advertises “Approval in as fast as 2 hours” and “Funding as fast as 4 hours” for its direct products. Partner products run on each partner’s timeline.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Low published minimums: 6 months in business and a 500 to 550 credit score
- Very fast approval and funding
- Factor rates start at 1.11 and there is a 20% factor discount for lump-sum early payoff
- MCA reconciliation if sales fall short
- Access to longer-term partner products, including equipment financing up to $10 million
Cons:
- Short terms and factor-rate pricing mean a high effective APR
- Added fees: a 2.5% origination or underwriting fee, plus $50 a month on MCAs
- Minimum revenue and credit score vary between its pages, so confirm them with Credibly
- Partner lender details aren’t listed publicly, so ask who funds your offer
- Daily or weekly payments can squeeze cash flow
Who Credibly suits, and who should look elsewhere
Credibly suits businesses with at least six months of consistent card or bank deposits, fair credit and a short, specific need, such as inventory, a repair or payroll during a slow patch, where speed is worth the cost.
Look elsewhere if:
- You have two or more years in business and good credit. An SBA loan or bank term loan quoted as an APR may cost far less; see our Live Oak Bank review and SBA loans page.
- You want a direct line of credit. Compare the OnDeck and Fundbox reviews.
- You want to see several offers at once. Our Lendio review covers a marketplace model.
- You are already paying one advance. Adding another can quickly overload cash flow; read about stacking loans.
For a similar short-term funder, see our Fora Financial review.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Reading 1.11 as your rate. It is the lowest factor rate, reserved for the strongest applicants.
- Missing the fees. The $50 monthly MCA administration fee adds up over a 24-month term.
- Confusing an MCA with a loan. Credibly says state lending laws do not apply to its MCAs.
- Not asking who funds partner products. Terms and protections come from the partner.
Frequently asked questions
Is Credibly a direct lender?
Credibly says it is a direct lender for working capital loans and merchant cash advances. SBA loans, lines of credit, equipment financing and long-term loans come through its partners.
What credit score do you need for Credibly?
Credibly’s homepage and working capital loan page list 500+, while its MCA page and FAQ list 550+ for most products.
How much does Credibly cost?
Credibly quotes factor rates starting at 1.11, plus a 2.5% origination or underwriting fee on direct funding. Merchant cash advances also carry a $50 monthly administration fee.
How fast can Credibly fund?
Credibly advertises approval in as fast as 2 hours and funding in as fast as 4 hours for its direct products.
Can you pay off a Credibly MCA early?
Yes. If you pay the full balance in one lump sum, Credibly says it can reduce the factor (cost) component by 20%.
Next step
Before you accept a short-term offer, line it up against longer-term options on total dollar cost. Our lender reviews hub covers other lenders, and the business loans page explains how SMB Compass can help you compare offers from our lending partners.
Sources
- Credibly, homepage and disclosures: credibly.com
- Credibly, working capital loans: credibly.com/working-capital-loans/
- Credibly, merchant cash advance: credibly.com/merchant-cash-advance/
- Credibly, FAQ: credibly.com/resources/faq/
- PR Newswire, “Credibly Secures over $260 Million in New Financing to Accelerate SMB Financing Growth” (May 12, 2026): prnewswire.com
About this page. Written by Ezra Cabrera, Content Team Lead at SMB Compass. Figures were checked against each lender’s own website on September 21, 2026; lenders change their terms, so confirm current terms before you apply, and let us know if you spot a figure that has changed. SMB Compass is a business financing broker: we don’t lend our own money, and we are paid by the lenders we place loans with. This page is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.