Revenue based financing for Georgia businesses
Merchant cash advance in Georgia
Since 2024, Georgia requires most merchant cash advance providers to disclose what you receive, what you repay, and the total dollar cost before you sign, and it bans advance fees from funding brokers.
How merchant cash advances work in Georgia
A merchant cash advance works the same way in Georgia as anywhere else: a funder buys a share of your future sales for a lump sum today. What changes by state is what the funder must tell you before you sign.
You receive funding up front and repay a fixed total amount through daily or weekly debits, or a percentage of card sales. Because an MCA is usually structured as a purchase of receivables rather than a loan, it is priced with a factor rate instead of an interest rate. See how factor rates and total cost work.
Georgia is one of a growing number of states with its own commercial financing law. Knowing what that law requires helps you read an offer, spot missing information, and compare funders on equal terms.
Georgia rules for merchant cash advances
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Law | Official Code of Georgia section 10-1-393.18 (Senate Bill 90, 2023), part of Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act |
| Who it covers | Providers of commercial loans, commercial open-end credit, and accounts receivable purchase transactions such as merchant cash advances, plus brokers |
| Amount covered | Transactions of $500,000 or less |
| Common exemptions | Banks and their affiliates, licensed money transmitters, transactions secured by real property, leases, and providers with five or fewer Georgia transactions in 12 months |
| Effective | Transactions consummated on or after January 1, 2024 |
| Enforcement | Georgia Attorney General; civil penalties of $500 per violation (up to $20,000), rising to $1,000 (up to $50,000) after a prior notice; no private right of action |
Summary for general information; see the bill text in the sources below for exact requirements.
What your offer must show you
Before you sign, the provider must disclose:
- The total amount of funds provided
- The total amount disbursed, if less, which shows fees withheld and prior balances paid off
- The total amount to be paid to the provider
- The total dollar cost: the amount paid minus the funds provided
- The manner, frequency, and amount of each payment, or the estimated initial payment if payments vary
- Whether there are costs or discounts for paying early
Georgia does not require an APR. As in Florida, a fee withheld at funding does not show up in the total dollar cost line, so compare the amount actually disbursed.
How to use the disclosure to compare offers
Compare Georgia offers on the amount disbursed, the total you will repay, and how long repayment takes. Then convert each offer to an estimated APR so a short advance and a longer one can be compared fairly.
| Disclosure line | Hypothetical offer |
|---|---|
| Funding amount (total financing) | $50,000 |
| Fee withheld at funding | $1,500 |
| Amount actually deposited (disbursement) | $48,500 |
| Total repayment (1.30 factor) | $65,000 |
| Payments | About $344 per business day for about 9 months |
| Total dollar cost (Georgia definition) | $15,000 |
| Your real cost | $16,500, including the $1,500 withheld |
| Estimated APR (not required in Georgia) | About 82% at this pace |
Hypothetical example for illustration only, not an offer.
Run your numbers in the MCA calculator.
Rules for funding brokers in Georgia
Georgia's law also protects businesses from common broker abuses.
- No advance fees: a broker may not charge or collect a fee before your financing closes. Paying an independent party directly for something like a credit check or appraisal is allowed.
- No misleading claims: brokers may not make false or misleading representations or leave out material facts.
- Identity in advertising: broker advertising must show the broker's name, actual business address, and telephone number.
If anyone asks you to pay before you are funded, or won't tell you their real business address, walk away. That applies in every state, not just Georgia.
Typical MCA requirements for Georgia businesses
State law sets disclosure rules, not approval rules. Funders weigh the same factors everywhere.
- Time in business: often 6+ months; some programs review from 3 to 4 months
- Monthly deposits: often $10,000+ in true business revenue
- Bank activity: regular deposits and few or no negative days or returned items
- Existing advances: disclosed, and not already taking a large share of deposits
- Credit: mid-600 profiles commonly considered; some files below 600 reviewed
Typical ranges, not promises; each funder sets its own minimums. See the full MCA requirements checklist and the document checklist.
Related guides and tools
Frequently asked questions
Q01Does Georgia regulate merchant cash advances?
Georgia requires disclosures for commercial financing of $500,000 or less, including accounts receivable purchase transactions such as merchant cash advances, consummated on or after January 1, 2024. It does not set a maximum rate.
Q02Do Georgia MCA disclosures include an APR?
No. Georgia requires the total funds provided, the amount disbursed, the total to be paid, the total dollar cost, payment details, and prepayment terms, but not an APR.
Q03Can a funding broker charge an upfront fee in Georgia?
No. Georgia prohibits brokers from assessing, collecting, or soliciting an advance fee, although a business may pay an independent party directly for services such as a credit check or appraisal.
Q04Who enforces Georgia's commercial financing disclosure law?
The Georgia Attorney General. The law does not create a private right of action, and a violation does not by itself affect the enforceability of the agreement.
Q05What do I need to get a merchant cash advance in Georgia?
Usually several months in business, steady monthly deposits, recent business bank statements, a photo ID, and a voided business check. Requirements vary by funder.
Q06Is SmallByzLoans a lender?
No. SmallByzLoans is a funding marketplace. We match you with funding providers, and the provider makes the decision and provides the required disclosures.
Sources and further reading
- Senate Bill 90 (2023), commercial financing disclosures, Georgia General Assembly
- Georgia Enacts Commercial Finance Disclosure Law, Mayer Brown
- Business guidance for small businesses, Federal Trade Commission
Financial disclaimer: This page is general information about Georgia law as of October 2026, not legal, financial, or tax advice. Laws and regulations change; confirm current requirements with the regulator or an attorney. SmallByzLoans is a funding marketplace, not a lender. Approval, amounts, and terms are set by each funding provider.
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