At a Glance
Rating Breakdown
Performance Overview
Scores out of 5, based on our editorial analysis
About Reliant Funding
Reliant Funding has been in operation since 2008, making it one of the longer-tenured MCA providers in the industry. Their cumulative $2B+ funded figure sounds impressive, but context matters: spread over 16+ years, that is roughly $125 million per year on average, which places them in the mid-tier of MCA providers by volume. Larger players like OnDeck fund $1-2 billion annually, and Rapid Finance has deployed $4B+ in less time. Reliant is a solid regional player, not a market leader — and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Smaller funders often provide more personalized service and more flexible terms than the largest players. Reliant was involved in a 2018 settlement with the California Department of Business Oversight (now DFPI) over disclosure practices related to how they communicated the total cost of their advances to borrowers. They have since improved their documentation and contract transparency, but it is worth reading their current contract language carefully — specifically the holdback percentage (the daily or weekly amount deducted from your account), reconciliation rights (your ability to request an adjustment if revenue declines), and default triggers (what specifically constitutes a default and what remedies Reliant can pursue). Post-settlement, Reliant added a one-page cost summary to every offer that clearly states the factor rate, total repayment amount, estimated APR equivalent, and payment schedule. One genuine advantage Reliant offers over many competitors is the choice between daily and weekly repayment. This sounds minor but has meaningful practical impact. Daily ACH debits mean 20-22 withdrawals per month hitting your bank account, each generating an ACH transaction record, and each potentially triggering your bank's low-balance alerts on slow days. Weekly ACH reduces this to 4-5 withdrawals and gives you slightly more control over intra-week cash flow. For businesses with concentrated revenue days (e.g., restaurants that make 60% of their revenue Friday-Sunday), aligning weekly ACH to debit on Monday or Tuesday — after the revenue-heavy days — can meaningfully improve cash flow predictability.
Key Features
Daily and Weekly Repayment Options
Reliant offers both daily and weekly ACH repayment — a genuine advantage over daily-only providers. Weekly repayment reduces the number of ACH transactions from 20-22/month to 4-5/month, reduces bank fees on accounts that charge per-transaction, and gives businesses with concentrated revenue days (restaurants, retail) the ability to align deductions with their high-revenue days.
Post-Settlement Disclosure Transparency
Following the 2018 California DFPI settlement, Reliant revamped their disclosure practices. Every offer now includes a standardized one-page cost summary showing the factor rate, total repayment amount, estimated APR equivalent, payment schedule, and all fees. While this should be standard across the industry, Reliant's regulatory history actually makes their current disclosures more thorough than many competitors who have never been required to improve.
Reconciliation Rights
Reliant's contracts include explicit reconciliation provisions — if your business revenue drops by 25% or more compared to the period used for underwriting, you can request a reduction in your daily or weekly payment amount. This is not automatic; you must request it and provide updated bank statements proving the decline. But it is a contractual right, not a discretionary favor, which gives you legal standing.
Long Operating History
Since 2008, Reliant has operated through the 2008 financial crisis, multiple economic cycles, COVID-19, and the 2022-2023 rate environment. This longevity matters because MCA companies fail at a high rate — many providers that existed 5 years ago are now defunct. Reliant's 16+ year track record suggests operational stability and sustainable business practices, which reduces counterparty risk during your advance term.
How It Works
Online or Phone Application
Reliant accepts applications online and by phone. The phone application is handled by a funding specialist who can pre-screen your eligibility before you formally submit, which saves time if your profile has obvious disqualifying factors (under $10K/month revenue, less than 6 months in business, or active bankruptcy). The online application takes approximately 10 minutes.
Bank Statement Analysis
Submit 3-4 months of business bank statements. Reliant's underwriting team focuses on: average monthly deposits (minimum $10K), average daily balance (prefer $1,500+), number and pattern of deposits (consistent daily deposits score higher than lumpy weekly deposits), and existing MCA obligations visible as recurring ACH debits. If you have existing MCAs, be upfront about them — Reliant can see them in your statements.
Receive Written Offer
Offers include the standardized disclosure summary mandated by their post-2018 compliance program. Review the factor rate, total repayment, daily or weekly payment amount, term length, and — critically — the reconciliation provision and default triggers. If the factor rate is above 1.30, get competing offers before accepting; there may be cheaper options available to you.
Choose Daily or Weekly Repayment
Select your preferred ACH schedule. Weekly repayment typically costs the same total amount as daily — the factor rate does not change based on frequency. The choice is purely about cash flow management. If your revenue is concentrated on specific days (e.g., weekends for restaurants), choose weekly with a deduction day that follows your high-revenue period.
Funding in 1-2 Business Days
After accepting the offer and signing electronically, funds are deposited within 1-2 business days. Reliant uses ACH deposit, not wire transfer, so expect funds to appear in your account by end of business day rather than intraday. First repayment deduction begins 5-7 business days after funding.
What They Do
- Merchant Cash Advance
- Working Capital
- Business Revenue Financing
- Short-Term Business Financing
Debt Types They Take On
- Future Business Revenue
- Credit Card Receivables
- ACH Receivables
Fee & Cost Structure
Regulatory & Trust
Review Summary
Notable Case Studies
Dental Practice Managing Equipment Financing
Solo dental practice in San Diego doing $38K/month needed $100K for a new digital X-ray system and waiting room renovation. The dentist had a 680 credit score but only 14 months in practice, disqualifying him from conventional equipment financing that required 2+ years.
Restaurant Using Reconciliation Rights During Slow Season
Beach restaurant in Oceanside, CA with $55K/month summer revenue took a $150K advance in June. Winter revenue dropped to $22K/month — a 60% decline. Daily ACH of $625 was consuming 85% of daily winter deposits.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Daily and weekly repayment options — one of the few providers offering this flexibility
- Post-2018 settlement disclosures are more thorough than many competitors who have never been forced to improve
- Contractual reconciliation rights allow payment reduction when revenue declines significantly
- 16+ year operating history provides confidence in counterparty stability during your advance term
- verified client reputation maintained despite the 2018 settlement, indicating effective compliance program implementation
Cons
- 2018 California DFPI settlement over disclosure practices is a documented regulatory issue — review current contracts carefully
- Mid-tier funding volume ($125M/year average) means fewer reviews and less independent data to evaluate them
- $400K maximum advance is lower than competitors like Credibly ($600K) or Rapid Finance ($10M)
- No SBA loan or term loan options — MCA and revenue-based financing only, so you cannot access cheaper products through them
User Reviews (13)
no SBA or term loan options means you're stuck with MCA pricing
Credibly offers MCA AND SBA loans through one application. Reliant only does MCA and revenue-based financing. If you qualify for cheaper SBA rates, Reliant can't help you access them. You'd have to apply separately to an SBA lender. $20K at 1.24 for my coffee shop when I might have gotten 9% APR through an SBA lender. Having only one product type limits their value.
16 years in operation matters in an industry where companies vanish
MCA companies fail constantly. A funder I used in 2019 doesn't exist anymore. Reliant has been operating since 2008 through multiple economic cycles including COVID. When I commit to 12 months of daily ACH, I want to know my funder will still exist in month 12. Reliant's longevity provides that confidence. $60K at 1.20 for my auto shop.
the one-page cost summary is the clearest disclosure I've received
Every other MCA offer I've gotten buries the true cost in pages of legal language. Reliant gives you a standalone one-page sheet: advance amount, total repayment, factor rate, estimated APR, daily or weekly payment amount. Five numbers on one page. You can compare it against competing offers in 30 seconds. $40K at 1.20. All funders should do this.
the 2018 california settlement is a real thing you should know about
Google "Reliant Funding California DFPI settlement 2018" before you apply. They settled with regulators over how they communicated costs to borrowers. They've improved since then and their disclosures are now excellent, but the history matters. $25K at 1.24 for my bakery. Disclosure is much better now but informed consent means knowing the full picture.
weekly ACH aligned with my patient revenue pattern was a game changer
Used them twice now. Both times great.
the per-ACH transaction fees from my bank add up with daily debits
My bank charges $0.25 per incoming ACH. With daily debits that's $0.25 x 22 business days = $5.50/month in bank fees JUST from MCA repayment. Reliant offers weekly to reduce this but I didn't know to ask initially. Over 12 months: $66 in unnecessary bank fees. Switch to weekly ACH if your bank charges per-transaction. $15K at 1.26. Small issue but it adds up im writing this from the parking lot of my closed store so yeah.
mid-tier funder means fewer reviews to validate their claims
Reliant funds roughly $125M/year. Compare that to OnDeck at $1-2B/year. Less volume means fewer customers means fewer online reviews to research. Only 800+ total reviews across platforms. My food truck got $12K at 1.26. Everything went fine but I had to take more on faith than I'd like because there just aren't as many independent reviews available.
the post-2018 disclosure improvements are impressively thorough
Reliant had a 2018 settlement with California regulators over disclosure practices. Since then, every offer includes a one-page cost summary: factor rate, total repayment, estimated APR equivalent, and payment schedule. This is MORE transparent than most competitors who've never been forced to improve. $75K at 1.18. The settlement actually made them a better company.
daily AND weekly ACH is a meaningful choice most funders skip
Most MCA providers: daily ACH, take it or leave it. Reliant: daily or weekly, your choice, same total cost. I picked weekly for my salon. Four debits per month instead of 22. Cleaner bank statements, fewer low-balance alerts, better cash flow visibility. $35K at 1.22. This should be standard across the industry but Reliant is one of few offering it.
reconciliation provision gave me peace of mind during slow season
Even though I didn't need to invoke the reconciliation right, knowing it's in my contract -- and that it's a CONTRACTUAL right, not a discretionary favor -- gave me peace of mind. If my revenue drops 25%+, I can request reduced payments with legal backing. $55K at 1.20 for my landscaping business. Most MCA contracts have no such protection.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Related Companies
Important MCA & Business Financing 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.