In short
MCA consolidation turns several merchant cash advance payments into one. There are two ways to do it, and they work differently.
A payoff consolidation is one new advance that pays off your existing balances at closing. A reverse consolidation leaves your existing advances open: the new funder sends scheduled deposits that cover their payments, and you repay the new funder with one payment over a longer term.
Both are new financing. Every existing funder keeps getting paid in full and on schedule, and your total cost goes up in exchange for a different payment schedule. Neither one reduces what you owe.
- Your existing advances
- Payoff consolidationPaid off at closing from the new advance
- Reverse consolidationStay open and keep getting paid on schedule
- What you receive
- Payoff consolidationA lump sum, most or all of it sent to your current funders
- Reverse consolidationScheduled deposits sized to your current payments, for as long as those advances have left
- What you pay
- Payoff consolidationOne payment on the new advance
- Reverse consolidationYour existing payments, covered by the deposits, plus one payment on the new advance
- Total cost
- Payoff consolidationGoes up. The new factor rate applies to every dollar used for payoffs
- Reverse consolidationGoes up. The new factor rate applies to every dollar deposited
- Time in a payment
- Payoff consolidationLonger than the advances it replaced
- Reverse consolidationLonger. The new payment continues after the old advances finish
- From your current funders
- Payoff consolidationA payoff letter from each
- Reverse consolidationNo payoff letters. The existing contracts stay in force, including any clause that bars new financing
- Usually fits
- Payoff consolidationOne or two advances with early-payoff discounts in the contracts
- Reverse consolidationSeveral advances, where the combined payment is the problem
How a payoff consolidation works
One new, larger advance pays each of your current funders the balance on its payoff letter. You are left with one payment, usually on a longer term than the advances it replaced. The new factor rate applies to the whole new advance, including the dollars that went to payoffs, so the total you owe goes up.
Round numbers, for illustration only. A business has two advances. One has $30,000 left at $2,500 a week. The other has $24,000 left at $2,000 a week. Both have 12 weeks to run. Together that is $54,000 still owed and $4,500 a week.
A payoff consolidation advances $54,000 and pays both balances at closing. At a 1.30 factor rate the business owes $70,200, collected at $2,600 a week for 27 weeks. The total owed is $16,200 higher, and the business is in a payment for 27 weeks instead of 12.
Ask each current funder for a payoff letter before you price this. If a contract discounts an early payoff, the balance to pay is smaller and the math improves. If it does not, the new factor rate is charged on dollars that already include the old funder's cost.
How a reverse consolidation works
Nothing is paid off. The new funder deposits money into your account on a schedule, sized to the payments your current advances take, and those advances keep running to the end of their contracts. You repay the new funder with one payment over a longer term.
Same business, same round numbers. A reverse consolidation deposits $4,500 a week for 12 weeks, $54,000 in all, and the business uses it to make its two existing payments. At a 1.35 factor rate the business owes $72,900, collected at $2,700 a week for 27 weeks.
For the first 12 weeks, $4,500 comes in and $7,200 goes out: a net $2,700 a week. After week 12 the old advances are finished and the $2,700 continues for 15 more weeks. The total owed is $18,900 higher.
| Measure | No change | Payoff consolidation | Reverse consolidation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly outflow, weeks 1 to 12 | $4,500 | $2,600 | $2,700, net of the deposits |
| Weekly outflow, weeks 13 to 27 | $0 | $2,600 | $2,700 |
| Total paid from today | $54,000 | $70,200 | $72,900, net of the $54,000 deposited |
| Added cost | $0 | $16,200 | $18,900 |
| Weeks in a payment | 12 | 27 | 27 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
An illustration, not an offer or a quote. The factor rates and the 27-week terms are placeholders. They are not a statement of what either structure costs or of how any payment will change, and your own numbers will differ.
When consolidation helps and when it does not
It can help when
- The business is sound and the size of the combined payment is what is hurting it.
- Several debits are pulling the account toward zero before deposits land.
- For a payoff: your contracts discount an early payoff and you have the payoff letters in hand.
It does not help when
- Revenue has fallen and the business cannot carry the total it already owes. A larger total over a longer time makes that worse. Start by asking each funder about reconciliation, the contract provision that adjusts payments to actual receipts, if your contract has one. Clearwater's guide on how to get out of a merchant cash advance walks through it.
- The existing advances are nearly finished. A new factor rate to stretch out a few remaining weeks adds cost for little time.
- The plan is to take another advance afterward. Consolidating and then stacking again leaves a larger total and the same problem.
- Your current contracts restrict new financing. Read them first. Fora Financial's FAQ, for one, calls taking additional financing while its funding is open a breach of contract.
What 10 funding companies publish
Clearwater Capital Group publishes this page and ranks itself first. Its reasons are stated below in plain numbers. Some companies listed here may fund deals Clearwater brokers and pay it a commission when they do. No company paid to appear. Every figure in the table was read from the company's own site, or from a dated review where noted, on November 10, 2026. Requirements and pricing change, so confirm with the company before you sign anything.
None of the other 9 companies below, all direct funders or lenders, advertises a reverse consolidation product on the pages read on November 10, 2026. The first table says what each company's own site does say about a business that already carries financing, with the page it was read from.
| # | Company | On existing balances, from its own site | Page read |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clearwater Capital Group | Arranges both payoff consolidation and reverse consolidation | clearwatercapitalgrp.com |
| 2 | Expansion Capital Group | Nothing found about consolidation on the pages read | ecg.com |
| 3 | Credibly | Lists refinancing debt among the uses of its financing | credibly.com |
| 4 | Forward Financing | Describes renewals for its own customers once about half the balance is paid. Nothing found about paying off other funders | forwardfinancing.com |
| 5 | Fora Financial | Says it can pay off current balances or add funding, depending on the file. Also says working with a debt consolidation company breaches its agreement, and calls additional financing while its funding is open a breach of contract | forafinancial.com |
| 6 | National Funding | Nothing found about consolidation on the page read | nationalfunding.com |
| 7 | OnDeck | Lists consolidating higher-interest debt as a use for its term loan | ondeck.com |
| 8 | Rapid Finance | Nothing found about consolidation on the page read | rapidfinance.com |
| 9 | Fundbox | Nothing found about consolidation on the page read | fundbox.com |
| 10 | Kapitus | Mentions renewal options for existing customers. Nothing found about consolidation | kapitus.com |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Read November 10, 2026. "Nothing found" means the page read says nothing. It does not mean the company refuses.
Published requirements, side by side
| # | Company and who it is best for | Minimum credit score | Time in business | Minimum revenue | Published factor rate | Speed, as each company states it | Amounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clearwater Capital GroupPublisher of this pageBest for: Files the big lenders decline, and anyone who wants one application matched to more than one structure | 450+Self-reported; no hard credit pull to apply | 6+ months | $10K per month | 1.05 to 1.44 | Same-day underwriting, typically. First offers typically land within one business day. | $10K-$2M |
| 2 | Expansion Capital GroupBest for: Younger businesses with modest deposits that still want a direct funder | 500+ | 6+ months | $8K per month | Not published | A decision in as little as 30 minutes. Funding available the same day, which the site says is "neither typical nor guaranteed." | $5K-$500K |
| 3 | CrediblyBest for: Merchants with $20K a month in deposits who want a direct funder that publishes a rate floor and a real early-payoff discount | 550+ | 6+ months | $20K per month | From 1.11 | Approval for an MCA can happen in as fast as 2 hours, with funds available as fast as 4 hours after approval | $5K-$600K |
| 4 | Forward FinancingBest for: Established businesses (a year or more) that want a large direct funder with a strong review record | 500+ | 12+ months | $10K per month | Not published | A decision: "Find out within hours." Funding: "Have funds deposited often same-day." | $5K-$500K |
| 5 | Fora FinancialBest for: Larger advances (up to $1.5M) from a funder that publishes its full rate range | 570+ | 6+ months | $240K per year | 1.13 to 1.50 (stated for its business loan) | Decisions in as little as 4 hours once documents are in. Funds in as little as 24 hours of acceptance. | $5K-$1.5M |
| 6 | National FundingBest for: Merchants who want a long-standing lender and a longer term than a typical advance | Not publishedNo published minimum ("no hard credit-score minimum") | 6+ months | Not published | Example only (1.25) | Same day approvals. Funds in your account as fast as 24 hours. | $6K-$500K |
| 7 | OnDeckBest for: Merchants who qualify for a fixed-payment term loan or line and want a lender that publishes its average APR | 625+ | 12+ months | $100K per year | No factor: priced by APR, 53.2% average on term loans | Term loans can fund as soon as the same day (weekdays before 10:30 a.m. ET); line of credit draws within seconds once Instant Funding is set up | $5K-$400K |
| 8 | Rapid FinanceBest for: Merchants who want a 20-year-old name and the broadest product menu on this list | Not publishedNot published; a May 2026 NerdWallet review lists 600 | Not published | Not published | Not published on its own site | Apply in a few minutes, receive funds in a few days; elsewhere "funding as fast as 24 hours" | $5K-$500K |
| 9 | FundboxBest for: Small, newer businesses that want a revolving line instead of a lump-sum advance | 600+ | 6+ months | $100K per year (an older guide says $30K) | No factor: rates start at 4.66% for a 12-week repayment plan | Funds available to draw as soon as you are cleared and in your bank account within 2 business days | Up to $250K |
| 10 | KapitusBest for: Higher-revenue businesses that need more than $500,000 | 550+For revenue-based financing; its business loans page says 625 and its products overview says 650 | 12+ months | $325K per year | Example only (1.15) | Decisions in as little as 4 hours. Funds in as little as 24 hours. | Up to $2.5M |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Requirements, factor rates, speed and amounts read November 10, 2026. National Funding, OnDeck and Fundbox are lenders whose listed products are loans or lines of credit; they are here as alternatives.
Why Clearwater puts itself first
On this topic, one reason: of the 10 companies, it is the only one whose own site, on the pages read, describes arranging both structures. Its published terms for reverse consolidation are coverage up to $5M, terms up to 18 months, one or more open advances, no maximum, and no waiting period after your most recent advance. A payoff consolidation through Clearwater is an ordinary advance: $10,000 to $2,000,000, 3 to 36 months, factor rates 1.05 to 1.44. Every structure is subject to underwriting.
Clearwater is not a bank and is not the company that funds your deal. It is a Florida funding brokerage, paid out of the funded deal, and you owe it nothing if you never take an offer. If one of the direct funders above already holds your advance and will renew or pay off the others, pricing that offer first is a fine choice. Clearwater's own page on MCA consolidation has its terms, and its comparison page has the full write-up of every company.
Eight short questions, read by a real advisor at Clearwater Capital Group. No hard credit pull to apply.
Check my optionsSources for the table, read November 10, 2026
- Clearwater Capital Group. clearwatercapitalgrp.com (how we work and how we get paid); clearwatercapitalgrp.com (amount range, minimums, pricing ranges).
- Expansion Capital Group. ecg.com (requirements and states); ecg.com (amounts, speed disclaimer, terms); ecg.com (pricing statement, repayment cadence). Reviews: BBB A+; Trustpilot 4.4 of 5, about 1,800 reviews.
- Credibly. credibly.com (requirements, amounts, speed, terms, discount); credibly.com (founded 2010, direct and partner products, partner tier); credibly.com (rate footnotes, fees, credit score by product). Reviews: BBB A+; Trustpilot 4.8 of 5, about 2,800 reviews.
- Forward Financing. forwardfinancing.com (requirements, amounts, speed, terms); forwardfinancing.com (pricing, prepayment, same-day cutoff); forwardfinancing.com (founded 2012, headquarters). Reviews: BBB A+; Trustpilot 4.6 of 5, about 4,200 reviews.
- Fora Financial. forafinancial.com (requirements, amounts, speed, terms); forafinancial.com (rate range, fees, prepayment, lender statement); forafinancial.com (headquarters). Reviews: BBB A+; Trustpilot 4.8 of 5, about 1,100 reviews.
- National Funding. nationalfunding.com (amounts, terms, pricing example, prepayment); nationalfunding.com (six months in business, no hard credit minimum); nationalfunding.com (founded 1999, lender status); nationalfunding.com (XPRS fee example). Reviews: BBB A+; Trustpilot 4.6 of 5, about 2,200 reviews.
- OnDeck. ondeck.com (requirements, APR averages, states); ondeck.com (amounts, terms, cadence, speed, prepayment benefit and 75% clause); ondeck.com (origination fee, lender statement); ondeck.com (line of credit terms, fees, draw speed). Reviews: BBB A+; Trustpilot 4.6 of 5, about 6,100 reviews.
- Rapid Finance. rapidfinance.com (amounts, speed, terms, documents); rapidfinance.com (entities and licenses); nerdwallet.com (unverified minimums and rates (May 2026)); rapidfinance.com ("Funding as fast as 24 hours"); rapidfinance.com (headquarters). Reviews: BBB A+; Trustpilot 4.5 of 5, about 2,300 reviews.
- Fundbox. fundbox.com (requirements (older guide)); help.fundbox.com (requirements (help center, 2023)); help.fundbox.com (starting rate, early payoff); fundbox.com (draw terms, early payoff); fundbox.com (term loan terms and cadence); fundbox.com (speed, checking account history); fundbox.com (bank partners, state availability). Reviews: BBB A+; Trustpilot 4.7 of 5, about 4,600 reviews.
- Kapitus. kapitus.com (requirements, amounts, speed, pricing example); kapitus.com (direct lender and network statement); kapitus.com (loan maximum, loan credit score, early payment); kapitus.com (founded 2006); kapitus.com (headquarters). Reviews: BBB rating F, not accredited (as of 2026-11-10); Trustpilot 4.4 of 5, about 800 reviews.
Seven questions to ask before you sign
- What is the one total I will owe across everything? Old advances plus the new one, as a single number, in writing.
- Does this pay my advances off, or cover their payments? They are different structures with different costs.
- What happens to the new payment if my revenue drops? Ask where the contract says so.
- Is there a discount for paying the new advance off early? Get the schedule, not a promise.
- Do my current contracts allow new financing? Read them before you sign anything new.
- Is anyone asking me to stop paying a current funder? That is not consolidation, and it is a default under nearly every advance contract.
- Is any fee due before funding? There should not be one.
To run your own numbers, Clearwater's repayment calculator turns any offer into a total, a payment and an APR equivalent.
MCA consolidation questions
What is MCA consolidation?
MCA consolidation turns several merchant cash advance payments into one. A payoff consolidation is one new advance that pays your existing balances off at closing. A reverse consolidation leaves them open and covers their payments with scheduled deposits while you repay one new advance over a longer term. Both are new financing, and both raise your total cost.
What is a reverse consolidation?
A reverse consolidation does not pay off your merchant cash advances. The new funder sends deposits into your account on a schedule, sized to your current payments, so every existing funder keeps getting paid. You repay the new funder with one payment over a longer term. When the old advances finish, the new payment continues until its own total is paid.
Does consolidating merchant cash advances reduce what I owe?
No. Neither structure reduces a balance. Both add a new factor rate on top of what you already owe, so the total goes up. What changes is the schedule: one payment over a longer time in place of several over a shorter one.
Is MCA consolidation a way to stop paying my current funders?
No. In both structures every current funder keeps getting paid in full and on schedule, either at closing or week by week. If someone tells you to stop paying a funder, that is not consolidation. Stopping payment is a default under nearly every advance contract.
Can I consolidate three or more merchant cash advances?
It depends on the company and the file. Clearwater Capital Group publishes these terms for the reverse consolidations it arranges: one or more open advances, no maximum, coverage up to $5M, and terms up to 18 months. Every structure is subject to underwriting.
I just took a new advance. Can I still consolidate?
Policies differ. For the reverse consolidations Clearwater Capital Group arranges, the published answer is: no waiting period after your most recent advance. Send the new contract and its balance with the rest of the file.
Which companies offer MCA reverse consolidation?
On the pages read on November 10, 2026, only Clearwater Capital Group, the publisher, describes arranging reverse consolidation on its own site. None of the other 9 companies compared on this page, all direct funders or lenders, advertises it on those pages. Fora Financial says it can pay off current balances, and OnDeck and Credibly list consolidating or refinancing debt among the uses of their financing.
Is there a hard credit pull to check my consolidation options?
Checking your consolidation options with Clearwater Capital Group involves no hard credit pull. Credit checks come later, during final underwriting, under the authorization you sign. Every other company sets its own policy, so read its application page before you send one.
Is there a fee before funding?
There should not be. Clearwater Capital Group charges nothing before funding. For a business in Florida, on a transaction of $500,000 or less, section 559.9614 of the Florida Statutes bars a commercial financing broker from collecting an advance fee before closing, with one narrow exception for actual application services paid to a party independent of the broker.
What do I need to get a consolidation quote?
For Clearwater Capital Group: the application, your last three to four months of business bank statements plus month to date, a current balance for each advance, and page one of each contract if you have it. First offers typically land within one business day.
How this page was made
- Publisher. Clearwater Capital Group, a business funding broker and the trade name of Clearwater Capital Solutions LLC. It is one of the companies compared, and it ranks itself first for the reason stated above.
- The companies. Most of the 10 compared here publish requirements on their own sites; where one does not, the table says "Not published". Requirements were read from those sites on November 10, 2026, with dated third-party reviews used only where noted. Statements about existing balances were read on November 10, 2026 from the page linked in each row. "Nothing found" means the pages read say nothing. It does not mean the company refuses.
- The order. The order weighs six things: how low the published credit, time-in-business and revenue minimums go; product fit, with companies that write advances weighed ahead of loan and line products; the amount range and how many structures one application can reach; whether anything about pricing is published; stated speed; and third-party review signals where a profile exists. It is a judgment across those points, not a formula, which is why a company that publishes few minimums but writes advances can sit above a lender that publishes all of them. Some companies listed here may fund deals Clearwater brokers and pay it a commission when they do. No company paid to appear.
- Clearwater's terms. Taken from the terms Clearwater publishes on its own site.
- The Florida fee rule. Section 559.9614, Florida Statutes, read on the Florida Legislature's site on November 10, 2026.
- The worked example. It uses round placeholder numbers and says so. It is not an offer, and no real file is behind it.
- Corrections. Write to efras@clearwatercapitalgrp.com.
Eight short questions, read by a real advisor at Clearwater Capital Group. No hard credit pull to apply.
Check my options