At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About HOP Capital
HOP Capital -- Helping Our Partners -- launched in Austin in 2019 to serve a market that everybody else ignores: the really small businesses. Over $120 million funded with an average deal size of just $8,500. That's not a typo. Most MCA providers won't look at you below $5K-$10K and want to see $15K+ in monthly revenue. HOP goes after sole proprietors, gig workers, food truck operators, market vendors, and home-based businesses pulling in as little as $3,000 a month. The application is streamlined enough and the underwriting automated enough that they can make money on a $2,000 advance. For the Etsy seller who needs materials for a big order or the food truck driver whose generator just died, HOP is one of the only doors that'll open.
Key Features
Micro Advance Minimums
$1,000. That's a real advance amount here. Most MCA providers laugh at anything under $5K because the paperwork costs more than the profit. HOP automated enough of the process to make tiny deals work.
Low Revenue Requirements
$3,000 in monthly revenue. That's the floor. If you're a weekend flea market vendor, an Etsy seller working from your kitchen, or driving a food truck four days a week, that number is reachable.
Mobile-First Application
Apply from your phone while sitting in your truck between gigs. Take a photo of your bank statement, upload it, and you're done. No laptop required, no printing anything out, no faxing.
Rapid Micro-Funding
Under $10K, most deals fund within hours. The underwriting is automated enough that a $3,000 advance doesn't sit on someone's desk for two days waiting for a human review.
Graduated Growth Program
Pay back your first $2,000 advance on time and your next one bumps to $4,000. Then $8,000. Each successful repayment builds your internal credit with HOP and opens up larger amounts.
How It Works
Mobile Application
Five minutes on your phone. Name, business info, how much you need. Snap a photo of your last three bank statements and upload them right from your camera roll.
Instant Assessment
For anything under $10K, the system spits out a decision in minutes. No waiting for a callback. No "we'll get back to you in 24-48 hours."
Simple Offer Review
The offer shows three numbers that matter: what you get, what you pay back total, and what comes out of your account each day. That's it. No legal gymnastics.
Same-Day Micro-Funding
Tap accept on your phone and the money moves. For micro advances under $5K, same-day funding is common. Larger amounts typically hit your account next business day.
What They Do
- Micro Merchant Cash Advance
- Small-Dollar Working Capital
- Gig Economy Financing
- Micro-Business Bridge Funding
Debt Types They Take On
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Micro Advance
- Revenue-Based Financing
- Working Capital
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Food Truck Emergency Repair
Food truck guy in Austin. Generator died on a Thursday, weekend festival lineup starting Saturday. Needed $3,500 immediately. Monthly revenue: $6,000. Two other MCA providers said the deal was too small to bother with.
Etsy Seller Inventory Purchase
Jewelry maker working from her dining table, selling on Etsy. Got a $8,500 holiday order but needed $2,000 for materials to fill it. Her bank wouldn't even take the meeting. Three MCA companies said the revenue was too low.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Industry-lowest advance minimum of just $1,000
- Serves micro-businesses with monthly revenue as low as $3,000
- Mobile-first application process completable in under 5 minutes
- Same-day funding for small advances under $10K
- Graduated growth program builds to larger advance amounts over time
Cons
- Higher factor rates than providers serving larger businesses
- Maximum advance of $50K limits use for larger capital needs
- Not available in all 50 states
User Reviews (13)
not all 50 states which hurt my second location plans
HOP covers 42 states. My coffee shop in Texas got funded fine -- $10K at 1.24. But when I was looking into a second location in a state they don't serve, I couldn't use them. For a micro-funder targeting small businesses that are often mobile or multi-state, the limited coverage is a real drawback.
instant assessment for small advances is actually instant
Applied for $7K for new deli equipment at 11am. Had a yes-or-no by 11:04am. Not exaggerating -- four minutes. The automated underwriting for sub-$10K deals is legitimately fast. Money hit my account by 3pm. $7K at 1.26. The speed is the product, and the speed is real.
the graduated growth program actually works
Started with $2,000 at 1.35. Paid it off in 3 months. Next advance: $4,500 at 1.28. Then $8,000 at 1.22. Each successful repayment unlocks higher amounts and better rates. My rideshare/delivery side business has used HOP 3 times now and the progression is real. The first advance rate is steep but it improves fast.
good for emergencies but not a sustainable funding source
I've used HOP 3 times for small emergency needs -- equipment repairs mostly. The speed is great but the factor rates on sub-$5K advances range from 1.30 to 1.40. Using HOP repeatedly gets expensive fast. Better as a one-time emergency solution than an ongoing funding partner. My landscaping business has outgrown their sweet spot.
they funded my $3,500 generator repair when nobody else would
Generator died Thursday night. Festival Saturday. Needed $3,500 by Friday morning. Called 4 MCA providers -- all said the deal was too small. HOP had money in my account by noon Friday. 1.25 factor rate. $4,375 total. The festival alone generated $6,200 in revenue. No other funder would touch a deal this small. HOP literally saved my weekend.
hop is one of the only funders that takes gig workers seriously
I run a dog walking/pet sitting business. Revenue is $3,800/month from Rover and direct clients. Needed $1,500 for liability insurance renewal and business supplies. HOP funded it at 1.30. Daily payments were reasonable. No other MCA provider would even talk to me at my revenue level. HOP treats micro businesses as legitimate customers, not afterthoughts.
mobile application from my phone was incredibly easy
I sell at farmers markets 3 days a week. Don't have a laptop, don't have an office. Applied to HOP entirely on my phone while sitting in my van between markets. Took photos of my bank statements with my camera and uploaded them. $5,000 approved in 20 minutes. Funded by end of day. The mobile-first approach is perfect for vendors like me.
love the concept but $50K max is limiting
My nail salon needed $60K for a renovation. HOP caps at $50K. Had to take $50K from them and scramble for the other $10K elsewhere. Their micro-focus is great for small needs but once you grow beyond $50K they can't help. Got 1.24 on the $50K which was fair. Just wish the ceiling was higher for businesses that started small and grew.
perfect for micro businesses that every other funder ignores
Good company.
funded my $1,500 advance in under 2 hours
I needed $1,500 for new display fixtures before a big antique show weekend. Applied on my phone at 9am. Approved by 9:15am. Money in my account by 10:45am. Under 2 hours from application to funded. $1,500 at 1.30, $1,950 total. The antique show generated $4,200 in sales. HOP's speed on micro deals is unmatched.
Write a Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Embed This Badge on Your Website
HOP Capital has earned a Best for Micro Advances designation from Zogby. Display this badge on your website to showcase your rating.
Paste this code anywhere in your website's HTML. The badge links back to your full Zogby review.
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.
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.