At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About In Advance
If you run a landscaping company in New England, you know what January looks like: maybe $15K in revenue. July? $120K. A fixed-payment MCA does not care about that difference. In Advance does. Founded in 2018 in Boston, the company has funded over $350 million specifically to seasonal businesses -- tourism, landscaping, agriculture, holiday retail, outdoor recreation, event services. The concept is straightforward. In Advance maps your revenue cycle and builds a payment schedule around it. Peak months mean higher payments. Slow months mean lower payments -- sometimes as much as 50% less. A ski town gift shop doing 60% of its annual revenue in December through February gets a different payment calendar than a beach rental company that peaks June through August. Seasonal business owners who have been burned by flat-rate MCAs that drained their cash reserves in the off-season tend to find In Advance after learning that lesson the hard way.
Key Features
Seasonal Payment Profiles
In Advance builds a custom payment calendar based on your actual revenue pattern. Your peak months carry heavier payments. Your dead months carry lighter ones. The schedule matches reality.
Off-Season Payment Reduction
When your documented slow season hits, daily ACH payments drop by up to 50%. If February is your worst month, your February payment reflects that instead of pretending it is July.
Peak Season Acceleration
Higher payments during your busy months retire the advance faster. Many seasonal borrowers finish repayment before the next peak season starts, freeing them to renew for the next cycle.
Seasonal Industry Expertise
The underwriters actually understand seasonal businesses. They evaluate your application against the full annual cycle, not just the last 3 months. Applying in your slow season does not kill your chances.
How It Works
Seasonal Application
Apply online and upload 12 months of bank statements. They need the full year to see your high months, your low months, and the transitions between them.
Seasonal Analysis
Underwriters map your peak months, dead months, and the shoulder periods in between. They also look at year-over-year trends to see if your seasons are shifting.
Adaptive Offer
Your offer shows two payment amounts: what you pay during peak season and what you pay during the slow months. No surprises about which months get which rate.
Fund & Flex
Accept the offer and get funded in 48-72 hours. Payments shift automatically when your business transitions between seasons. Nothing to adjust manually.
What They Do
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Seasonal Business Funding
- Adaptive Working Capital
- Pre-Season Inventory Financing
Debt Types They Take On
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Revenue-Based Financing
- Seasonal Working Capital
- Short-Term Advance
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Landscaping Pre-Season Preparation
New England landscaping company bringing in $15K/month in winter needed $120K in February for mowers, equipment maintenance, and crew hiring before the April rush. A fixed-payment MCA at $750/day would have wiped out winter cash flow entirely.
Beach Town Retailer Inventory
Coastal souvenir shop making $8K/month in winter needed $60K for pre-summer inventory in March. The owner's previous MCA had fixed payments that nearly bankrupted the store during the off-season.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Custom seasonal repayment profiles unique in the MCA industry
- Off-season payment reductions up to 50% protect cash flow
- Peak-season acceleration shortens total repayment duration
- Underwriters with deep seasonal industry knowledge
- Prevents the cash flow crises that fixed-payment MCAs cause for seasonal businesses
Cons
- Requires 12 months of bank statements to build seasonal profile
- Maximum advance of $300K is lower than many competitors
- Not available in Nevada, North Dakota, and South Dakota
User Reviews (13)
good for repeat customers
Second advance with In Advance. First was $20K at 1.30, second was $30K at 1.24. The rate improved with clean repayment history. The renewal process was one phone call and one updated bank statement. Quick and easy. For my landscaping business, having a reliable funder I can go back to without starting the process from scratch has real value. In Advance builds on the relationship.
decent rates for a smaller funder
In Advance isn't one of the big names but their rates were competitive with bigger companies. Got $20K at 1.26 for my salon. The advisor was knowledgeable and the process was quick. Sometimes smaller funders try harder to earn your business. In Advance had that energy — responsive, attentive, and eager to close the deal without being pushy. Good experience overall.
adequate funder but nothing memorable
In Advance gave me $25K at 1.28. Standard daily ACH. Standard terms. Standard everything. The process was fine, the rate was okay, the communication was professional. In 6 months I probably won't remember anything distinctive about the experience. They're perfectly adequate. But in a market with dozens of MCA companies, adequate doesn't inspire loyalty. I'll shop my next deal instead of automatically going back.
okay rates but I found better elsewhere
In Advance quoted me 1.32 on $45K. I shopped the deal through DAC and got 1.22 from a funder in their network. That's a real difference on the same advance amount. In Advance is fine if you don't comparison shop, but if you take 20 minutes to check other options you'll probably find a better rate. For my auto shop, shopping saved almost $5K. Always compare.
the factor rate they quoted changed at contract
Was told 1.24 on the phone. Contract came through at 1.32. When I called to ask why, they said the verbal quote was "preliminary" and the final rate was determined during underwriting. That feels deceptive. If you're going to quote a rate, quote the real rate. I took the deal because I needed the money but the bait-and-switch left a bad taste. $35K at 1.32 for my catering company. Read every line before signing AVOID.
quick decisions for small advances
Needed $15K fast for materials on a rush job. In Advance approved and funded me in 24 hours. 1.28 factor rate. Daily debits of $107. Not the cheapest rate but the speed was what I needed. For small advances under $30K where time matters more than rate, In Advance delivers. The application was minimal — bank statements and ID, done. No committee reviews, no multi-day waits.
the simplicity of the process was perfect for my needs
I wanted $15K for a coffee shop renovation. Didn't want to deal with a complex marketplace or a broker calling me 10 times. In Advance: simple application, 3 months of statements, offer in 4 hours, funded next day. 1.26 factor rate. $18,900 total. $105 daily. Clean, simple, fast. For small advances where you just want to get funded without drama, In Advance is solid.
standard MCA with standard limitations
In Advance does basic MCAs. Daily ACH, UCC lien, personal guarantee. No innovative features, no flexible payment options, no multi-product alternatives. $25K at 1.30 for my bakery. The rate was middle-of-the-road. The process was fine. If you're comparing across 5-6 funders, In Advance is unlikely to win on rate or features. They're an option but not the standout option.
customer service completely vanished after funding
Pre-funding: calls answered on the first ring, emails returned within an hour, advisor was my best friend. Post-funding: ghosted. Called about a billing question and got voicemail for 5 straight days. Sent 4 emails, got one generic response a week later. The transformation from attentive sales to absent service was jarring. $20K at 1.32. The advance was fine. The post-funding support was nonexistent.
limited advance amounts compared to competitors
In Advance seems to max out around $75-$100K. I needed $120K for a commercial project and they couldn't go that high. Ended up going to a larger funder. For my smaller $30K needs In Advance works fine — 1.28 factor rate, clean process. But if you anticipate growing into larger advances, start with a funder that can scale with you rather than having to switch later.
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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.