At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About Highland Hill Capital
Highland Hill Capital is a Fort Lauderdale-based merchant cash advance company founded in 2018 with a mission to make working capital accessible to startup and early-stage businesses that cannot qualify with traditional MCA providers. The company was started by two former restaurant owners who were repeatedly declined for business financing during their first year of operations despite generating strong and growing revenue. They designed Highland Hill's underwriting model to evaluate what they call "velocity and direction" rather than time-in-business alone. A business with 4 months of operating history showing weekly deposit growth of 5-10% can score higher in Highland Hill's system than a 2-year-old business with flat or declining revenue. Factor rates for first-time startup borrowers range from 1.28 to 1.48, with the lower end reserved for businesses showing at least 60 days of consistent upward deposit trends above $10,000 per month. With over $150 million funded to date, Highland Hill Capital has established itself as a go-to funder for businesses with as little as 3 months of operating history, one of the lowest thresholds in the industry. They accept businesses generating as low as $6,000 per month in deposits and do not impose any minimum personal credit score requirement, relying entirely on bank statement analysis. Daily holdback amounts typically range from 12% to 20% of average daily deposits, with repayment terms of 4 to 14 months. Highland Hill files a UCC-1 blanket lien on all business assets and requires a personal guarantee. Their graduated renewal program is a key differentiator: merchants who complete their first advance with zero returned payments unlock factor rates 8-15 basis points lower and advance amounts 20-35% higher on the second round. By the third renewal, some merchants report factor rates in the 1.15-1.22 range. The company also offers an optional mentorship program connecting funded startups with experienced business advisors in their industry, though participation has no bearing on funding decisions or renewal terms.
Key Features
Ultra-Low Time-in-Business Requirement
Highland Hill considers businesses with just 3 months of operating history, which is half the 6-month minimum most startup-friendly funders require and a fraction of the 12-month standard at established MCA companies. Their underwriting algorithm was specifically built to evaluate very short financial histories by analyzing deposit frequency, daily balance stability, and week-over-week growth trajectories. This means a 4-month-old business with 16 weeks of deposit data can receive a meaningful evaluation rather than an automatic decline.
Trend-Based Underwriting
Highland Hill's scoring model weights what they call velocity and direction more heavily than absolute revenue numbers. A business depositing $8,000 per month but showing 8% weekly growth scores higher than a business depositing $15,000 per month with flat or declining trends. The algorithm analyzes the slope of the deposit trend line, the consistency of deposits across days of the week, and the ratio of deposit count to total deposit volume to differentiate between many small transactions (healthier) versus a few large irregular deposits (riskier).
Startup Mentorship Program
Highland Hill offers an optional mentorship program that connects funded startup owners with experienced business advisors in their specific industry. The program includes quarterly strategy calls, cash flow management guidance, and introductions to preferred vendors who offer startup-friendly terms. Participation is completely voluntary and has no impact on funding decisions, factor rates, or renewal eligibility. Approximately 35% of funded startups opt into the program, and Highland Hill reports that mentored businesses have a 20% lower default rate.
Graduated Renewal Terms
Startups that complete their first advance with zero returned ACH payments unlock renewal offers with factor rates 8-15 basis points lower and advance amounts 20-35% higher. By the third renewal cycle, merchants with perfect repayment histories report factor rates as low as 1.15-1.22, which is competitive with first-position funders that require much longer operating histories. This graduated improvement creates a financial growth path where the cost of capital decreases as the business matures, which is the opposite of the penalty structure many startups face elsewhere.
No Minimum Credit Score
Highland Hill does not impose any minimum personal credit score requirement and does not perform a hard credit pull that would impact your score. They do a soft inquiry to verify identity and check for active bankruptcies or tax liens, but the funding decision is driven entirely by business bank account activity. This is particularly valuable for entrepreneurs who maxed out personal credit cards during the startup phase and now carry high utilization ratios that tank their FICO scores despite running a viable business.
How It Works
Quick Application
Complete the 5-minute application online and upload 3 months of business bank statements. No tax returns or financial statements required.
Revenue Trend Analysis
Highland Hill's team analyzes your deposit patterns, consistency, and growth trajectory to determine funding eligibility and advance amount.
Startup-Specific Offer
Receive an offer designed for your business stage, with clear factor rate, repayment schedule, and total cost of capital explained.
Fund & Grow
Accept the offer and receive funds within 1-2 business days. Use the capital to invest in growth and build toward better renewal terms.
What They Do
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Startup Funding
- Revenue-Based Financing
- Working Capital
Debt Types They Take On
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Startup Advance
- Revenue-Based Financing
- Short-Term Working Capital
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
New Barbershop Equipment Purchase
A barbershop owner in Fort Lauderdale who opened 4 months prior needed $12,000 for two additional barber stations, chairs, and a point-of-sale system upgrade to accommodate growing demand. Monthly deposits had grown from $5,800 in month one to $9,200 in month four, showing strong upward trajectory. Three other MCA funders declined the application because their minimum time-in-business requirement was 6-12 months.
Food Truck Launch Inventory
A food truck operator in Miami with exactly 3 months of sales history and average monthly deposits of $7,400 needed $8,000 upfront for inventory, disposable supplies, and temporary staff for a large corporate catering event. The operator had a personal credit score of 540 due to medical debt, which disqualified them from every other funding source they approached including SBA microloans.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Accepts businesses with as little as 3 months of operating history, which is the lowest time-in-business threshold in the MCA industry and gives brand-new businesses a capital source that simply does not exist elsewhere.
- No minimum personal credit score requirement and no hard credit pull means entrepreneurs who damaged their personal credit during the startup phase are not penalized for taking the financial risk of launching a business.
- Trend-based underwriting that weights velocity and direction means a small but growing business can receive better pricing than a larger but stagnant one, rewarding entrepreneurial momentum rather than just size.
- The optional mentorship program connects funded startups with experienced advisors in their industry, providing strategic guidance that can improve survival rates and reduce the likelihood of needing emergency funding later.
- Graduated renewal terms with factor rate reductions of 8-15 basis points and advance increases of 20-35% per cycle create a clear improvement path where the cost of capital decreases as the business matures and builds repayment history.
Cons
- First-time borrowers with less than 6 months of operating history typically receive factor rates in the 1.35-1.48 range, which translates to effective APRs of 80-150% depending on term length, making this significantly more expensive than traditional financing.
- Initial advance amounts for businesses under 6 months old are typically capped at $5,000-$15,000 regardless of the requested amount, because Highland Hill limits exposure on unproven businesses by starting small and scaling through renewals.
- Highland Hill is only available in 45 states and does not serve businesses in Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Vermont, which limits access for entrepreneurs in those regions.
- The UCC-1 blanket lien and personal guarantee are standard for all advances, meaning the business owner's personal assets including home equity and savings accounts are at risk if the business defaults on the advance.
User Reviews (27)
very happy
I run a pizza shop and we needed marketing money fast. Highland Hill Capital delivered. $75,000 at 1.38.
expected more
Factor rate 1.22 could've been lower for my revenue but whatever. Got the money I needed.
4 out of 5
would recommend
middle of the road
Three stars because it was exactly what I expected. Fast expensive money. $200K at 1.29.
pleasantly surprised
Honestly my best MCA experience. $5K at 1.13. Paula handled everything and I had money in 2 days.
DO NOT USE
RUN. Don't walk, RUN from Highland Hill Capital. Took $75K 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.
criminal
Worst decision I ever made. $60K at 1.14. DO THE MATH. When I fell behind by 2 days they started calling nonstop. Never again.
thank you
Needed $18,000 for inventory and they got it done.
did what they said
Good experience. Would use again.
stay away
I wish I could give ZERO stars. Highland Hill Capital promised fast easy funding and delivered fast expensive MISERY. $120K for my daycare. When I asked about adjusting payments they said too bad.
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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.