# Garden Funding LLC vs Merchant Fund Express

URL: https://merchantfundexpress.com/compare/mfe-vs-garden-funding/
Published by Merchant Fund Express. Garden Funding facts from gardenfunding.com, checked October 15, 2026.

Garden Funding publishes firm screening guidelines: more than $20,000 a month in revenue, a year in business, no more than 6 negative days and a 14-item restricted-industry list. Merchant Fund Express publishes lower starting guidelines for advances and a wider product menu. Neither one approves every business, so the useful comparison is which guidelines your business actually meets.

- When Garden Funding makes sense: Garden may suit an established business that clears its guidelines comfortably and wants to look at SBA-backed loans alongside faster options.
- When MFE makes sense: MFE may be worth a look if your business is younger than a year or below $20,000 a month (MFE's MCA guidelines start around 3+ months and about $7,500 a month), if you need equipment financing, invoice factoring or a refinance of an existing advance, or if you want to talk it through by phone in English or Spanish. MFE confirms industry eligibility on your actual file; it does not promise to fund every industry Garden restricts.

## Side by side
| | Garden Funding LLC | Merchant Fund Express |
|---|---|---|
| Products | MCA up to $500K, line of credit $5K to $250K, SBA-backed loans $50K to $5M | Merchant cash advance, revenue-based funding, working capital loans, business lines of credit, equipment financing, invoice factoring and MCA refinance/buyout |
| Monthly revenue | More than $20,000 | MCA: commonly from about $7,500 a month. Working capital and lines of credit: commonly from about $17,500 a month |
| Time in business | At least 1 year | MCA: often 3+ months. Working capital: often 6+ months. Line of credit: usually 1+ year |
| Bank activity | No more than 6 negative days | Steady deposits, limited NSFs and a manageable existing payment load |
| Restricted industries | 14 listed, including roofing, gas stations, auto sales, cannabis and non-profits | Reviewed per program on the actual file |
| Documents | 3 months of statements (4 in CA), month-to-date statement, signed application | 3 to 4 months of business bank statements, ID, voided check and a short application |
| Repayment | MCA: based on receivables. LOC: weekly, up to 18 months. SBA: 10 to 25 years | Depends on the product: a share of sales or fixed daily/weekly debits (MCA), fixed schedule (working capital), interest on what you draw (line of credit) |
| Speed | Same- or next-day funding advertised for MCA | Same-day decisions are common on complete files; funding often follows the next business day |
| Who decides | Its terms say third-party providers make all funding decisions | Decision and offer explained by the MFE team before you sign |

## Established merchant vs. younger or restricted business
An 18-month-old restaurant with $45,000 a month in deposits and clean statements clears Garden's guidelines. It can also apply with MFE. The decision comes down to the offers: total payback, payment size and frequency, and how fast the money arrives.A 7-month-old cleaning company with $12,000 a month falls below Garden's 1-year and $20,000 guidelines. MFE's MCA guidelines start lower (often 3+ months and about $7,500 a month), so an application can at least be reviewed. Approval still depends on the statements. A roofing contractor is on Garden's restricted list. Ask MFE whether a program covers your trade before you count on it.

Apply with MFE: https://merchantfundexpress.com/current-application.html