First American Merchant business loans review

Through the ACH business funding program, you can typically get an advance based on around four months of gross deposits into your business’s checking account. With the cash advance program, your advance is usually based on a three- to six-month average of your business’s credit card sales.

It doesn’t check your credit score when you apply, so that won’t affect your rates and terms.

What do I need to qualify?

First American Merchant doesn’t disclose specific requirements for its cash advance program. But to qualify for an ACH advance, you must meet the following requirements:

• Personal credit score of 500 or higher
• At least six months in business
• At least $10,000 in gross monthly deposits
• Less than three nonsufficient funds per month listed on your bank statement

You may be able to qualify for a cash advance even if you don’t meet these requirements, depending on your credit card sales.

What information do I need to apply?

You’ll need to have the following information when you apply for an advance through First American Merchant:

• Copy of your driver’s license
• Voided check or bank letter
• Copy of your business’s lease
• Three months of bank statements
• Three months of credit card processing statements

What industries does First American Merchant work with?

First American Merchant works with a wider range of industries than your average provider. It can find funding for businesses in high-risk industries like construction and alcohol sales. And it even has a special program for cannabis businesses.

What other types of financing does First American Merchant offer?

First American Merchant also has a point-of-sale financing solution for your customers and a special cash advance program specifically for the cannabis industry.

Medical marijuana merchant cash advances

Some of First American Merchant’s partners offer merchant cash advances to medical marijuana companies. You can apply as you would through the cash advance or ACH advance program, but loans are limited to between $2,500 and $100,000.

Pros and cons

Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of working with this service before you sign up.

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Lendio business loans			$500 – $5,000,000	Starting at 6%	Operate business in US or Canada, have a business bank account, 560+ personal credit score	Submit one simple application to potentially get offers from a network of over 300 legit business lenders.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Seek Business Capital loans			$5,000 – $500,000	Varies by lender	Personal credit of 680+, no bankruptcies in the last 4 years.	Startups and newer businesses could qualify for loans and credit cards with a custom financing package.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data...
National Funding business loans			$5,000 – $500,000	4% to 8%	Be in business at least one year and make at least $100,000 in annual sales. Other loan types have additional requirements.	Working capital loans and equipment financing, some high-risk industries may be eligible.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Diamond business loans			$25,000 – $150,000	5.9% to 19.99%	680+ personal credit score, no late payments or bankruptcies	Grow your startup or cannabis business with a line of credit or fixed-term business loan.	More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Green Leaf Money cannabis business loans			$1,000 – $100,000	6.98% to 30%	Documented income, records of your business spending and accounts	Connects cannabis businesses with lenders willing to work with them across the country.	More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Fundanna cannabis business crowdfunding services			$10,000 – $1,070,000		Must own a startup in the cannabis space. You're not eligible if your company is outside of the US or already reports to the SEC.	Raise funds for your cannabis business while using a streamlined platform to communicate with investors and develop a loyal brand following.	More Info		loading Fetching your data...

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Is First American Merchant legit?

Yes, First American Merchant is a legitimate connection service. It’s licensed by the California Department of Business Oversight and it’s also a member of the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), which sets industry standards for companies that process online payments.

You can read about how it uses your information inn its privacy policy. But because it’s a connection service, rather than a lender, you won’t be able to know how its partners use your information until after you sign up.

Does First American Merchant get good customer reviews?

There are no online reviews of First American Merchant on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or Trustpilot. However, it gets an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which it’s been accredited with since 2016.

Previously, it had one customer review on its BBB page, which was a complaint about giving First American Merchant their bank login credentials before being rejected. First American Merchant responded, explaining the application process and why that borrower was rejected.

How do I sign up?

You can either get started on your application through its website or over the phone. To apply over the phone, call 800-210-5649. Follow these steps to apply online:

1. Go to the First American Merchant website.
2. Click Get started.
3. Enter basic information about your business and its website and the type of funding you’d like to apply for and click Continue.
4. Enter your contact information and create a password. Read the disclosures before hitting Continue.
5. Follow the directions to fill out more details about your business and upload documents before signing and submitting your application.

What happens after I sign up?

After you send in your application, wait for First American Merchant to submit applications on your behalf to a handful of its partner lenders that it thinks might best meet your business’s needs. It should get back to you with offers within a day or two.

Once you receive your offers, you can submit any additional documentation if you decide to go through with a lender. Review the terms and conditions before you sign the contract.

You can get your funds as soon as the same business day in some cases. But merchant cash advances typically take around three days to get your funds, while ACH loans can take at least five days.

How do repayments work?

Most businesses start to make daily repayments through a percentage of your daily sales — whether that be credit card transactions or deposits into your business bank account. But some might qualify for repayments once or twice a week, or even once a month.

Regularly check in on your bank account and loan balance to make sure everything is running smoothly. If you have any questions or notice an error, reach out to customer service as soon as possible by calling 800-210-5649.

Read our guide to business loans to see how First American Merchant stacks up to other lenders.

Frequently asked questions

• Do I need a bank account to qualify for a cannabis business loan?

  Probably. The lenders First American Merchant works with tend to place a strong emphasis on your business’s cash flow when you apply for a loan. It also disburses its funds by depositing it into your bank account.

• When's the best time to apply over the phone?

  While First American Merchant doesn’t publish business hours, you might have better luck getting in touch during Pacific Time business hours — as the company is based in Los Angeles. You can also reach out by using the website’s live chat feature or by emailing sales@firstamericanmerchant.com.