At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About CFG Merchant Solutions
CFG Merchant Solutions is a New York-based direct funder founded in 2009 that has carved out a strong niche in the short-term business financing space. Unlike funders that try to be everything to everyone, CFG focuses specifically on merchant cash advances and revenue-based financing with shorter repayment terms of 3 to 12 months. The company has deployed over $800 million to small businesses nationwide, with a deliberate emphasis on rapid deployment of smaller to mid-sized advances for immediate operational needs. CFG's underwriting process is engineered specifically for speed on shorter-duration deals. Their in-house team can process and approve applications in as little as 2 to 4 hours, with funding available within 24 hours of contract execution. Because they focus on shorter terms, their underwriting criteria are somewhat different from funders offering 18 to 24 month products. CFG cares less about long-term business trajectory and more about whether your recent 3 months of bank statements show sufficient daily deposits to support the advance repayment during the shorter term. This makes them particularly effective for businesses facing time-sensitive capital needs like emergency equipment repairs, critical inventory purchases, or short-term payroll bridges. The main limitations are term length and product breadth. CFG's maximum repayment term of 12 months means higher daily or weekly payment amounts relative to the advance size compared to funders offering 18 or 24 month terms. If you need $100K and want to spread payments over 18 months, CFG is not the right fit. Their product menu is narrow: MCAs and revenue-based advances only, with no term loans, lines of credit, SBA products, or equipment financing. However, for businesses that know they need a specific amount of capital for a defined short-term purpose and want the fastest possible deployment from a direct funder rather than a broker, CFG Merchant Solutions delivers consistently.
Key Features
Rapid Processing Engine
CFG has built its entire operation around speed-to-funding. Their underwriting team works in parallel rather than sequentially: while one analyst reviews bank statements, another verifies business registration and UCC filings, and a third prepares contract documents. This parallel processing model means that a complete application submitted before noon can receive an approval decision, contract, and funding wire all within the same business day. For businesses facing genuine emergencies like equipment failures or payroll shortfalls, CFG's 2-to-4-hour approval window can prevent revenue losses that would dwarf the cost of the advance.
Short-Term Specialization
CFG deliberately caps repayment terms at 12 months, with most deals structured in the 3 to 8 month range. This focus on shorter durations is a genuine strategic choice, not a limitation. Shorter terms mean the total cost of capital is lower in absolute dollar terms, even if the effective APR looks higher. A \$50K advance at a 1.20 factor rate over 4 months costs \$10,000 total, compared to \$15,000 for the same advance at 1.30 over 12 months from a longer-term funder. CFG's underwriters match advance amounts and terms to the borrower's actual payback timeline rather than maximizing deal size.
Direct Funder Advantage
CFG underwrites and funds every deal in-house, meaning no broker commissions, no syndication delays, and no third-party approval gates. When you apply, the person reviewing your bank statements works for CFG and has direct authority to approve your deal. This eliminates the common frustration with MCA brokers who collect your documents, shop them to multiple funders, and introduce 2-3 days of delay. As a direct funder, CFG can also modify deal terms in real time during the underwriting conversation, adjusting advance amounts or payment schedules without needing external approval.
Flexible Revenue-Based Underwriting
CFG evaluates businesses primarily on cash flow consistency and recent deposit patterns rather than rigid credit score thresholds. Their underwriters focus on the last 3 months of bank statements, looking for average daily balances above \$2,000, consistent deposit activity on at least 20 of 22 business days per month, and the absence of excessive NSF or overdraft activity. A business owner with a 520 FICO score but strong consistent daily deposits can qualify for competitive rates, while someone with a 700 FICO but erratic low-balance banking activity may not.
How It Works
Quick Application
Submit your application online or by phone with basic business information and 3 months of bank statements.
Rapid Underwriting
CFG's in-house team reviews your application and bank statements, often delivering a decision within hours.
Transparent Offer
Receive a clear offer detailing the advance amount, factor rate, total repayment, and daily or weekly payment schedule.
Fast Funding
Accept and sign electronically. Funds are typically deposited into your business account within 24 hours.
What They Do
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Revenue-Based Financing
- Short-Term Business Advance
- Working Capital
Debt Types They Take On
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Revenue-Based Financing
- Short-Term Business Funding
- Working Capital
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Manhattan Retail Store Emergency HVAC Replacement
A retail store in Midtown Manhattan generating \$68K/month had its HVAC system fail completely in mid-July during a heat wave. Without air conditioning, the store could not legally remain open, costing an estimated \$3,200 per day in lost revenue.
Catering Company Payroll Bridge
A catering company in Brooklyn with 18 employees doing \$52K/month had a major corporate client delay payment by 3 weeks. Payroll of \$24K was due in 4 days, and the company's operating account had only \$8,600.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely fast processing with same-day approvals common and funding within 24 hours from a direct funder
- Direct funder controls the entire process from application to funding, eliminating broker fees and middleman delays
- Short-term focus with 3 to 12 month terms is ideal for businesses with defined temporary capital needs
- Revenue-based underwriting evaluates cash flow consistency rather than strict credit score cutoffs, broadening eligibility
- In-house underwriting team provides human evaluation rather than purely algorithmic decisions for nuanced situations
Cons
- Maximum repayment term of 12 months means higher daily payment amounts than funders offering 18 or 24 month terms
- Maximum advance amounts of \$400K are lower than larger competitors like Kapitus (\$5M) or Rapid Finance (\$10M)
- Limited product diversity: MCAs and revenue-based advances only, with no term loans, lines of credit, or SBA products
- Factor rates of 1.14 to 1.45 have a wide range, and the upper end is expensive for short-term money
User Reviews (23)
would consider again
Worked out fine. $250K at 1.35. Nothing special but nothing bad either.
recommended
They were straight with me from day 1. No bait and switch, no hidden fees. $120K at 1.42.
expected more
Used CFG Merchant Solutions for buildout. $75K funded in a few days. Not the cheapest not the worst. Just kinda fine?
not great
Took $25K from CFG Merchant Solutions for expansion and I regret it. Factor rate 1.22 and the daily payments are destroying me.
average
$8,000 for my pressure washing company. MCA money costs what it costs. CFG Merchant Solutions was neither better nor worse than others.
4 out of 5
legit
quick and easy
Applied Monday got funded Wednesday. $5K for tax bill. Ahmed answered all my questions. Factor rate 1.22 isn't cheap but it's fair for the speed.
mediocre
CFG Merchant Solutions is just another MCA company. $60K at 1.13. They're all the same honestly. Fast money expensive money.
no bs
I run a tattoo shop and we needed supplies money fast. CFG Merchant Solutions delivered. $45,000 at 1.28.
my go-to now
Third advance with CFG Merchant Solutions. They keep dropping my rate. $12K this time.
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Related Companies
Important Merchant Cash Advance Disclaimers
- A merchant cash advance is not a loan. It is a purchase of future receivables at a discount. Factor rates, not APRs, are used to express the cost of capital. Effective APRs on merchant cash advances can range from 40% to over 350% depending on the term and factor rate.
- Repayment is typically collected daily or weekly via automatic ACH debits or a percentage of credit card sales. This means your repayment amount fluctuates with revenue but withdrawals occur every business day, which can strain cash flow during slow periods.
- Most MCA agreements require a personal guarantee from the business owner. In the event of default, the MCA provider may pursue the owner's personal assets, including bank accounts and property.
- MCA providers commonly file UCC-1 liens against your business assets. This lien may prevent you from obtaining additional financing until the advance is fully repaid and the lien is released.
- Merchant cash advances are not regulated by federal lending laws such as the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). State regulations vary widely, and some states have limited consumer protections for MCA products.
- Stacking multiple merchant cash advances (taking a second advance before the first is repaid) significantly increases the risk of default and can lead to aggressive collection actions including confessions of judgment in some jurisdictions.
- Zogby does not provide merchant cash advances or business financing. We are an independent comparison service. We do not fund advances, process applications, or guarantee approval on your behalf.
This page is informational, not financial or legal advice. Talk to a qualified professional before making any big money decisions.
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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.