Merchant Cash Advance
Working capital against your future card sales. Repayments automatically flex with your daily revenue — no fixed monthly obligations.
Apply now →Funding nationwide in all fifty states.
From merchant cash advances to invoice factoring, CBC structures funding around your cash flow — not the other way around.
Restaurants & Retail
Storefronts & Service
When you bring your business to CBC, we don't just have one answer — we have an entire network of direct lending partners behind us. We assess your business, match you to the right product and lender, and structure a deal that actually fits. You get one point of contact, one streamlined process, and access to capital most businesses never even knew they could qualify for.
"We don't send your application to one lender and hope. We match you to the right partner from a vetted network built over a decade — so you get the best possible terms for your situation."
The CBC Approach to Business Funding
CBC works as an originating partner, connecting businesses to the right lender within our network. All funding is subject to lender approval and underwriting. Products and availability vary by business type, revenue, and credit profile.
Tell us about your business and we'll match you to the right product. No obligation, no hard credit pull — just a straightforward conversation about what you need and what you qualify for.
A member of our business funding team will reach out within one business day.
CBC works alongside producers, sales agents, and distributors to structure film financing that closes on schedule.
CBC's film financing is backed by direct lending capital — deployed from a balance sheet built specifically for the entertainment industry. We work with producers, sales agents, and distributors to structure deals around the assets your production already has.
"Tax incentives and pre-sale contracts are the most underutilized assets in a film's capital stack."
Industry Insight — Film Finance
Qualifying projects typically require confirmed state or federal tax incentives, international pre-sales, or a domestic minimum guarantee from a recognized distributor. All film financing is subject to underwriting and approval.
Bring us your project. We work with independent producers, sales agents, and distributors to structure financing around your existing assets — tax credits, pre-sales, or distribution guarantees.
Our film finance team will review your submission and be in touch within two business days.
Fill out our contact form in under 5 minutes. Tell us about your business or project and what you need capital for.
A real member of our team reviews your submission within one business day and reaches out to discuss your options.
Once approved, funds can be in your account in as little as 24–72 hours. No unnecessary delays. No surprises.
Enter your average monthly revenue and we'll show your estimated funding range.
Estimated Funding Range
Based on 80%–110% of your $50,000 monthly revenue.
"We don't just provide capital. We provide it with intention."
Conscious Business Capital was founded on a simple idea: that lending should be a partnership, not a transaction. We work with small business owners and independent filmmakers who are doing meaningful work — and we structure financing that respects both their ambitions and their realities.
With more than a decade of experience across two distinct industries, CBC has developed the expertise to move quickly, structure creatively, and close on time. We don't just ask about your numbers. We ask about your goals.
"We built CBC to be the firm we wished existed when we were starting out."
Co-founder of CBC with over 15 years in commercial finance. Tim leads client relationships and funding strategy across every deal we touch.
Alex drives CBC's growth and lender partnerships. His background in structured finance helps clients secure capital that banks consistently overlook.
"Speed, structure, and relationships — that's the CBC difference every client feels."
We measure success by what our clients are able to build with the capital we provide.
CBC didn't just hand us money and walk away. They took the time to understand our restaurant, our seasonality, and our growth plan. We expanded to a second location within eight months of funding.
I've been trying to get my independent film financed for three years. Banks said no. Traditional investors wanted too much control. CBC structured a deal that let us retain creative ownership and close in under 30 days.
My credit score wasn't perfect and my salon had only been open 18 months. Every lender I called turned me down before I even finished my sentence. CBC listened, looked at my actual revenue, and funded me in 5 days.
We needed capital fast to fulfill a large government contract. The bank would have taken 60 days. CBC had us funded in 9 business days. That speed literally saved our company.
What I appreciate most is that CBC treats you like a partner, not a file number. They called to check in after funding. That kind of relationship is rare in finance.
Our e-commerce brand had the sales numbers but not the collateral traditional lenders require. CBC looked at our data, understood our model, and provided a revenue-based solution that scaled with us.
Not all capital is equal. See how Conscious Business Capital compares.
| ✦ CBC | Traditional Bank | Other Lenders | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding Speed | As fast as 24–72 hrs | 30–90 days | 1–2 weeks |
| Minimum Credit Score | 500+ | 680+ | 550+ |
| Collateral Required | ✓ Not always | ✗ Almost always | ~ Sometimes |
| Revenue-Based Options | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ~ Limited |
| Film Financing | ✓ Specialized | ✗ No | ✗ Rarely |
| Dedicated Advisor | ✓ Every client | ✗ No | ~ Sometimes |
| Funding Amount Range | $5K – $5M+ | $50K+ (typical) | $5K – $500K |
| Time in Business Required | As low as 6 months | 2+ years | 1+ year |
We believe in full transparency. If you don't see your question here, call or email us — a real person will answer.
Talk to an advisor →Most small business clients receive funding within 24–72 business hours of approval. More complex deals or larger film financing may take 5–15 business days. We move at the speed your business needs.
No. Our pre-qualification process uses a soft pull that has zero impact on your personal or business credit score. A hard pull only occurs if you choose to proceed with a formal application after reviewing your offer.
We work with credit scores as low as 500 for certain products like merchant cash advances. A score of 680+ opens the door to term loans with longer repayment windows and lower factor rates. We look at the full picture of your business, not just a number.
Small business funding typically ranges from $5,000 to $2M+, based primarily on your monthly revenue — most clients qualify for 80%–110% of their average monthly. Film financing deals range from $50,000 to $5M+ depending on budget, distribution, and presales.
For small business funding: 3–6 months of bank statements, a voided business check, and a completed application. For film financing: a script or treatment, budget breakdown, chain of title, and any existing distribution letters of intent. We keep paperwork minimal.
We consider businesses with as little as 6 months of operating history for certain products. If you're pre-revenue or pre-launch, we may still be able to help depending on your industry and personal financial profile — reach out and we'll assess your situation directly.
It depends on the product. Merchant cash advances typically have no prepayment penalty — you pay a fixed total amount regardless of payoff timing. Term loans may include early payoff discounts. We'll explain the full terms of your specific offer before you sign anything.
Insights to help your business grow smarter, borrow better, and move faster.
Small Business
Film Financing
Strategy
Tell us about your business or project. We'll respond within one business day.
Phone
Office Hours
Monday – Friday
9am – 6pm ET
We'll be in touch within one business day.
Most business owners assume their credit score is the deciding factor when applying for capital. The truth is, lenders — especially alternative lenders and MCA providers — look at a much broader picture. Here are five factors that often matter more than your score.
Your average monthly revenue tells lenders how much cash is flowing through your business. For merchant cash advances and revenue-based financing, this is typically the primary underwriting factor. Consistent revenue of $15,000–$25,000/month or more opens doors that credit scores alone cannot.
Longevity matters. A business that has been operating for 12–24 months demonstrates stability and resilience. Many alternative lenders require a minimum of 6 months in operation, but 12+ months significantly improves your options and the quality of terms you'll receive.
Some industries are considered higher risk than others — restaurants, retail, and entertainment may face higher factor rates than healthcare, construction, or professional services. Understanding how your industry is perceived helps you set realistic expectations and choose the right funding product.
Lenders closely review 3–6 months of business bank statements. They look for consistent deposits, low rates of non-sufficient funds (NSFs), positive average daily balances, and the absence of other outstanding merchant cash advances. Clean bank statements can compensate for a lower credit score in many cases.
If you already have outstanding advances or loans, lenders will assess your debt service coverage — whether your revenue can comfortably support another payment. Multiple stacked positions can reduce your eligibility or result in less favorable terms.
At Conscious Business Capital, we look at your full business profile — not just a three-digit number. If you've been turned down by traditional lenders, we may still be able to structure a solution that works. Contact us to find out what you qualify for today.
Independent film financing is one of the most complex capital structures in any industry. Unlike a business loan or a merchant cash advance, film financing often layers multiple sources of capital — each with its own terms, priority, and risk profile. Here's what you need to know before walking into any conversation with a funder.
Gap financing bridges the difference between what a production has already secured (through pre-sales, equity, or grants) and what it actually needs to complete the film. Lenders who offer gap financing are betting on the value of unsold distribution rights. It's typically short-term, interest-bearing debt that gets repaid once distribution deals are executed.
A pre-sale is when a distributor agrees to purchase the rights to distribute a film in a specific territory before the film is complete — or even before production begins. These agreements can be used as collateral to secure financing. The strength of a pre-sale depends heavily on the distributor's creditworthiness and the territory's market value.
Soft money refers to non-repayable funds — grants, tax incentives, and rebates provided by governments, film commissions, and cultural institutions. Many productions leverage state and international tax credits to reduce their actual cash requirement. This can significantly improve a film's financing structure and make it more attractive to other investors.
Equity investors put capital into a film in exchange for a share of the profits — after the film recoups its budget and any prior obligations are satisfied. Equity is the highest-risk position in a film's capital stack, which is why investors typically require a larger return multiple and creative input rights.
Conscious Business Capital specializes in helping independent filmmakers navigate this complexity. We structure financing solutions that respect your creative control, work within your production timeline, and are built around your specific project — not a generic template. Whether you're pre-production, in production, or post, we can discuss what a funding partnership looks like. Learn more about our film financing services.
Two of the most common business funding products are merchant cash advances (MCAs) and term loans — but they work in very different ways. Choosing the wrong one can cost you money and create unnecessary cash flow stress. Here's how to think about which is right for your situation.
A merchant cash advance is not a loan. It's the purchase of a portion of your future receivables at a discount. Instead of a fixed monthly payment, you repay through a daily or weekly percentage of your revenue — called a holdback rate, typically 10–20%. Because repayment flexes with your sales, MCAs are well-suited to businesses with variable or seasonal revenue.
Best for: Restaurants, retail, service businesses, and any company that needs fast access to capital without fixed monthly obligations.
A business term loan provides a lump sum of capital repaid over a fixed schedule — typically monthly — with a set interest rate. Term loans are more structured, often require stronger credit profiles and documentation, and take longer to fund. But they typically carry lower total cost of capital than MCAs.
Best for: Established businesses with strong credit, predictable revenue, and a specific capital need — equipment purchase, real estate, or long-term expansion.
Speed: MCAs fund in 24–72 hours. Term loans typically take 2–8 weeks.
Credit Requirements: MCAs start at 500+. Term loans generally require 650+.
Repayment: MCAs use a factor rate (e.g., 1.25–1.49). Term loans use an interest rate (e.g., 7–25% APR).
Collateral: MCAs are typically unsecured. Term loans may require collateral.
Flexibility: MCAs adjust with revenue. Term loans are fixed.
If you need capital quickly, have strong monthly revenue, and can absorb a daily or weekly holdback — an MCA is likely the right tool. If you have time, strong financials, and a specific long-term investment to make — a term loan may cost you less overall.
The best answer depends on your specific situation. At CBC, we evaluate both options for every client and recommend the structure that makes the most sense — not the one that earns us the highest commission. Talk to our team and we'll help you decide.