Already have an MCA?See which funders fit.
Afterfirst MCA is a marketplace, not a lender. You apply once, and we shop your file only to third-party funders whose programs fit. Each funder sets its own terms, and you decide.
For owners who already carry a merchant cash advance
Funder A
- Amount
- $50,000
- Total payback
- $67,500
- Term
- 9 months
- Daily payment
- $357
Funder B
- Amount
- $50,000
- Total payback
- $66,000
- Term
- 12 months
- Daily payment
- $262
Funder C
- Amount
- $40,000
- Total payback
- $52,800
- Term
- 8 months
- Daily payment
- $314
Not a lender.
We work the file, not a single product.
Shopped for fit.
Sent only where it matches, and nowhere else.
You make the call.
Funders' terms in writing. Nothing moves until you choose.
- Cost to apply
- Nothing. Applying asks for no payment.
- Credit
- Ask how any credit review works before you sign.
- Speed
- We make no timing promise. Each funder sets its own review time.
- Offers
- Each one shows total payback and terms from the funder.
What happens after you apply?
One application, one file.
Send one application with your recent business bank statements. That gives us one file, instead of the same paperwork at every funder.
A person reads the file.
Revenue, existing positions, industry and time in business. If something is missing, we ask before anything goes out.
Sent only where it fits.
The file goes to funders whose stated criteria match it. It does not go to every name on a list, so your file is not sprayed around.
You compare and choose.
Offers come back with each funder's terms, side by side: amount, cost, term and payment structure. Accepting is your decision.
What the desk does
We are not a lender. We sit between your file and the funders. A person reads it, we send it only where its profile matches, and every offer comes back with the funder's own terms in writing. Nothing moves until you choose.
What does "after first" mean?
"After first" means the business already has at least one merchant cash advance pulling from its account, and any new money would sit behind it.
A first-position funder sees a clean statement. We usually see a statement with named ACH debits on it already, and that is the work we chose.
Most shops are built for the clean file. Our desk is built for the second read.
Every offer is subject to the funder's own underwriting. Afterfirst MCA is not a lender and does not set terms.
Who we work with
For merchants. See real options without applying everywhere.
- One application, sent only where it fits
- Offers side by side, with each funder's terms
- Plain answers on structure and cost before you sign
For brokers and ISOs. Send the file. Keep the relationship.
Brokers get a desk that reads positions for a living and keeps the broker of record on the deal. You send the file with the stack disclosed, we work it, and the relationship with the merchant stays yours. That includes files beyond first position.
Which files does the desk shop?
The desk shops four kinds of files, and we say which one yours is before we send it anywhere:
| File on the table | Where we start | Page |
|---|---|---|
| No current advance | A standard merchant cash advance | How an MCA works |
| One advance, deposits still comfortable | A second position offer | Second position |
| Two advances already | A narrow 3rd position search, or consolidation | Third position |
| Several advances straining the account | One payment in place of several | Consolidation |
The full decision table lives on the services hub.
What should a business owner check before taking another advance?
Before signing a second or third merchant cash advance, add every daily and weekly pull together and hold that total against what actually lands in the account.
A new offer can look fine on its own and still break the week once it stacks on the first one.
We would rather tell you a file should wait than place a position that sinks it. When the numbers say wait, we say so and show the math. Our offer comparison worksheet shows the columns we put next to each other. Owners weighing their first advance can start with the overview for business owners.
What does a desk read on a file that already has an advance?
A desk reads the existing pulls before it reads the ask.
The order matters, because the pulls already on the statement decide which funders will even look at a new position.
The read also changes with the trade. A restaurant's distributor debits, a contractor's draws and a carrier's factoring statements each look different, and the industries we read files for are listed with what funders question in each. What the money is for matters as much, so the uses of funds page covers payroll, inventory, repairs and the rest. The guides explain every term we use, and the about page says who does the reading.
Existing positions on the statement
Each current merchant cash advance shows up as a named ACH debit, usually the same amount on every business day or every week. We list each one with its funder, amount and frequency before we do anything else.
A file with one clean first position
A single first position that has been paying on time for several months is the most common file we see. The question becomes how much room is left after that debit clears, measured against true deposits.
Reading the balance after the pull
We look at the ending balance on the days the first funder collects. A balance that stays comfortably positive tells a second-position funder more than any deposit total does.
A balance note we add
A typical note on our submission reads: first funder debits daily, balance never below zero on pull days in the last three statements, MTD consistent. That one line saves a funder a round of questions.
Stacked pulls already on the account
When two advances already debit the account, we add both pulls together and read the balance on the days they overlap. That combined figure decides whether a third position or a consolidation is the file to send.
What funders typically look at.
These are things funders commonly weigh on a merchant cash advance file. They are not our approval criteria, and the list is not complete. Every funder sets its own criteria.
- Time in business
How long the business has been operating. Each funder sets its own minimum.
- Monthly deposits
Revenue, and how consistent deposits are month to month.
- Existing positions
How many advances or loans are open, and what they cost each day or week.
- NSFs and negative days
Returned items, and days the account ran below zero.
- Industry
Some funders limit or exclude certain industries.
- Amount and use
What you need and why, so the file goes where it fits.
What to have ready.
A complete file is easier to match. Most of what funders ask for is standard, so having it together up front saves a round of back and forth.
- Business bank statements
Your most recent months, complete and unedited. The period funders look at varies.
- Business details
Legal business name, EIN, address, industry and the date the business started.
- Owner details
Name, contact information and ownership share for each owner.
- Existing advances or loans
Open positions, with current balances and payment amounts. Being upfront helps us route the file correctly.
- What the funding is for
The amount you have in mind and how you plan to use it.
Exact requirements vary by funder. If one asks for something else, such as a voided business check or a copy of an ID, we will tell you what and why.
Straight answers.
Is Afterfirst MCA a lender?
No. Afterfirst MCA is a multi-funder desk. We take your application, prepare the file and shop it to third-party funders. However, funding decisions, terms and contracts come from the funder whose offer you choose.
What is a merchant cash advance?
A merchant cash advance is generally the purchase of a portion of a business's future receivables. It is typically paid back through a set remittance or a percentage of revenue. Its cost is usually expressed as a factor rate rather than an interest rate.
In other words, it is structured differently from a loan. Each offer states its own terms. See how a merchant cash advance works.
Before you sign anything, read the FTC's tips for businesses looking for financing.
I already have an advance. Can I still apply?
Yes, you can apply. List any open advances or loans on the application. Some funders consider files with existing positions and some do not. Because of that, being upfront helps us send the file only where it fits.
I am a broker. Can I send a file?
Yes. Brokers and ISOs can submit files to the desk, and the merchant relationship stays yours. To set up submissions, email [email protected] or see the brokers page.
Source: FTC business blog, Small business financing: Staff Perspective outlines issues (fetched September 24, 2026).
Send one file.
See what fits.
Start a merchant cash advance application, or write to the desk. Afterfirst MCA is not a lender.
Or write to the desk at [email protected]