Honest answer: it depends on the program and on you. Here are the realistic ranges we see — and the preparation that puts your file on the fast end of every one of them. (No timing is ever guaranteed; underwriting decides.)
Timelines by program
- Merchant cash advance: decisions in 24–72 hours on clean files; funds often within days. The speed king.
- Working capital programs: typically 2–5 business days from complete documents to funds.
- Alternative term loans: usually 3 days–2 weeks; extra documents (tax return, P&L) add steps.
- Bank / SBA loans: 30–90+ days. Worth it when you qualify and can wait; brutal when payroll is Friday.
What actually controls your speed
- Document completeness — the #1 factor by far. Full-PDF statements, clear ID, voided check, all matching the legal business name. Use the checklist.
- Response time — underwriters ask questions; same-hour answers keep your file on top of the stack.
- Banking cleanliness — negative days trigger manual review. (Here's what they compute.)
- Realistic ask — requests within 80–150% of monthly revenue sail; oversized asks stall.
- Disclosure — surprises found in statements restart the clock; disclosed balances don't.
💡 The same-week formula: short form today + complete documents within the hour + same-day responses = the fastest file a funder can physically process.
Don't let speed pick your program
Fast is good; fit is better. A 24-hour MCA at a 1.35 factor for a need a 5-day working capital program would cover cheaper is an expensive day saved — run the numbers with our factor rate guide, or let one short form put all three programs side by side.
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