At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About Lendini
Lendini fills the narrowest and riskiest niche in the MCA market: businesses with as little as 3 months of operating history. At 3-6 months old, a business has almost no track record, minimal bank statement history, and an unproven revenue trajectory. Every other provider in this review series requires at least 6 months; most require 12. Lendini takes on this risk by charging for it: factor rates of 1.25-1.50, with most deals for very new businesses landing at 1.38-1.50. On a $15,000 advance at a 1.45 factor rate, you repay $21,750 — a $6,750 cost of capital that represents a triple-digit effective APR. This is expensive, but for a 4-month-old business that needs capital to survive or seize a time-sensitive opportunity, the alternative is often no funding at all. Lendini's underwriting model analyzes the trajectory of your 3 months of bank statements rather than the volume. They are looking for upward trends in deposits, minimal NSFs, and consistent daily activity. A 3-month-old business that deposited $8K in month 1, $11K in month 2, and $14K in month 3 tells a growth story that Lendini will fund. A business that deposited $14K, $9K, and $6K tells a decline story that they will decline. Their small advance minimum of $2,500 allows micro-businesses and solo entrepreneurs to access modest amounts of capital without being forced into a $25K-$50K commitment that their cash flow cannot support. The growth path model — starting with a small advance and graduating to larger amounts with better terms — is useful for building a funding track record. Lendini is the right choice when you are 3-6 months old, need $2,500-$150K, and every other MCA provider has said no because of insufficient operating history. If you are past 6 months in business, apply to Credibly or National Funding first — both accept 6-month businesses at meaningfully lower factor rates (1.10-1.45 versus Lendini's 1.25-1.50). Lendini is the funder of last resort for the newest businesses, and their pricing reflects that risk positioning. Be honest with yourself about whether the cost of capital is justified by the business opportunity — at a 1.45 factor rate, every dollar borrowed costs 45 cents.
Key Features
Low Time-in-Business Requirement
Lendini's 3-month minimum is the lowest among BBB-accredited MCA providers in this review series. Most competitors require 6 months (Greenbox, Credibly), 12 months (Yellowstone, OnDeck), or 24 months (Bluevine). For a business that opened 4 months ago and needs capital now, Lendini may be the only reputable option. The 3-month minimum applies to the business entity's bank statement history, not the owner's personal industry experience — a chef opening a new restaurant 3 months ago qualifies even with 20 years in the industry.
Startup-Friendly Underwriting
Lendini analyzes the trajectory of your 3-month bank statement window rather than requiring years of stable history. They evaluate month-over-month deposit trends, average daily balance direction, NSF frequency, and deposit consistency within each month. A business showing \$8K in month 1, \$11K in month 2, and \$14K in month 3 reads as a growth story that Lendini will fund. The same \$33K total with a declining pattern (\$14K, \$11K, \$8K) typically results in a decline. This trajectory focus rewards businesses that are actively gaining traction.
Small Advance Options
Advances start at \$2,500, lower than almost any other MCA provider (most set \$5K-\$10K minimums). This micro-advance option serves solo operators who need modest capital: a mobile groomer needing \$3K for equipment, a food cart operator needing \$2,500 for permits and initial inventory, or a freelancer bridging a client payment gap. The small amount also limits borrower risk — if the business fails, the total repayment obligation on a \$2,500 advance at 1.40 is \$3,500, not the \$50K+ that makes larger MCA defaults business-ending.
Growth Funding Path
Lendini structures a deliberate progression path: start small, repay cleanly, graduate to larger amounts at improved terms. First advance is typically \$5K-\$10K at 1.38-1.45. After clean repayment (3-5 months), the second advance jumps to \$10K-\$20K at 1.32-1.40. Third cycle: \$20K-\$40K at 1.28-1.35. By the fourth cycle, the business has 12-15 months of Lendini repayment history and may qualify for \$40K-\$75K at rates approaching 1.25. This graduated model is Lendini's most strategically valuable feature for borrowers willing to build a track record.
Quick Decision Process
Lendini delivers decisions within 2-6 hours for most applications, with funding deposited in 1-2 business days after signing. Speed is possible because underwriting for small advances (\$2,500-\$15K) is heavily automated — the algorithm evaluates bank statement data and generates offers without manual intervention for clean profiles. Larger requests or applications with complicating factors (existing MCA positions, active tax liens) require human review, adding 12-24 hours. Renewals for existing clients can be approved same-day.
How It Works
Simple Application
Complete a brief application with your business name, industry, monthly revenue, and how long you have been in operation.
Bank Statement Upload
Provide the last 3 months of business bank statements. For very new businesses, shorter history may be accepted.
Quick Review
Lendini's team reviews your application and bank activity to determine an offer amount and terms.
Funding
Accept the offer, sign electronically, and receive funds in your business account within 1-2 business days.
What They Do
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Short-Term Loans
- Working Capital
- Startup Funding
- Micro-Advances
Debt Types They Take On
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Short-Term Loan
- Working Capital
- Micro-Advance
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Food Truck Launch — $15K at 4 Months Old
A food truck owner in Brooklyn who had been operating for only 4 months needed \$15,000 for inventory (\$6K), a generator upgrade (\$4K), and a prime weekend location permit (\$5K). Monthly deposits were trending upward: \$7K, \$9K, and \$12K over the first 3 months. He had been declined by Credibly and National Funding (both require 6 months minimum).
Mobile Dog Grooming Startup — $5K Micro-Advance
A mobile dog grooming business operating for 3 months from a converted van needed \$5,000 for professional grooming equipment (\$3K) and a targeted local advertising campaign (\$2K). Monthly deposits were only \$4K, \$5K, and \$6K — too small for most MCA providers' minimums. The owner had a 530 FICO from student loan delinquencies.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Funds businesses as new as 3 months old — the lowest time-in-business requirement among providers in this review, serving the segment that literally no one else will touch
- Micro-advance minimums starting at \$2,500 allow very small businesses and solo operators to access capital without being forced into a \$25K+ commitment their cash flow cannot support
- Growth path model builds a funding track record: start small, repay cleanly, graduate to larger amounts at improved factor rates — borrowers report 5-10 basis point improvements on second and third advances
- Trajectory-based underwriting rewards businesses with upward-trending deposits rather than requiring years of high-volume history
- Fast decisions (typically same-day) and funding within 1-2 business days, critical for new businesses where opportunities are time-sensitive
Cons
- Factor rates of 1.25-1.50 are the highest in this review series — a \$50K advance at 1.45 costs \$22,500 in capital charges, versus \$7,500-\$10,000 for the same amount at OnDeck or Fora Financial
- Maximum advance of \$150,000 and the practical ceiling for 3-6 month businesses is much lower (\$10K-\$40K) based on limited deposit history
- Newer company (founded 2018) with \$150M+ funded and only 380+ reviews provides less track record and customer feedback than established competitors with decades of operating history
- B+ BBB rating is the lowest among providers in this review series, and holdback percentages of 12-25% of daily deposits are among the highest, creating significant cash-flow burden on small businesses
User Reviews (36)
solid option
Pretty smooth process but the daily debit gets old. $12K for my jewelry store. Would still recommend.
glad I went with them
My bank turned me down twice. Lendini approved me same day for $25K. Not cheap but it saved my roofing company.
solid but not perfect
quick and painless
mixed feelings
not great not terrible
saved my business
fine
meh
Middle of the road. $18K for my pest control company. Daily payments were rough during slow weeks and they offered zero flexibility.
solid
legit
nothing special
$15,000 for my gym. MCA money costs what it costs. Lendini was neither better nor worse than others.
avoid
RUN. Don't walk, RUN from Lendini. Took $250K and I owe way more than expected. Daily debits are brutal and they won't work with you AT ALL. Been in business 15 years, never dealt with worse.
not great
Lendini makes it sound easy but paying back $75K at 1.13 is not painless. My barbershop can barely keep up.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Related Companies
Important Merchant Cash Advance Disclaimers
- Merchant cash advances are not loans. They are purchases of future receivables at a discount. Factor rates, not APRs, determine the total cost of capital. Effective APRs on merchant cash advances can range from 40% to over 350% depending on the factor rate and repayment speed.
- Repayment is typically made through daily or weekly automatic ACH debits from your business bank account. Missing or reversing these payments may trigger default provisions including accelerated repayment, increased factor rates, or legal action.
- Many MCA agreements include a personal guarantee and/or a confession of judgment (COJ). A confession of judgment allows the funder to obtain a court judgment against you without prior notice or a hearing. Some states have restricted or banned confessions of judgment.
- MCA funding may require a UCC-1 filing (blanket lien) on your business assets. This lien can affect your ability to obtain other financing and may remain on file even after the advance is repaid. Confirm lien release procedures before signing.
- There is no federal regulation specifically governing merchant cash advances. MCAs are not subject to Truth in Lending Act (TILA) disclosure requirements. Some states have enacted disclosure laws, but protections vary significantly by jurisdiction.
- Stacking multiple merchant cash advances simultaneously increases your risk of default and can create a debt cycle that is difficult to escape. Carefully evaluate your business cash flow before taking on additional advances.
- Zogby does not provide merchant cash advances or business funding. We are an independent comparison service. We do not broker, originate, or service any financial products. All offers are subject to the funder's terms and conditions.
This page is informational, not financial or legal advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making any big money decisions.
Editorial Independence
We make money from some companies on this page. That doesn't change our rankings -- the editorial team scores every product independently, and the business side has no say in what we recommend.