How much working capital can I borrow as a restaurant owner in 2026?

Most restaurants can borrow between $5,000 and $500,000 in working capital through a merchant cash advance (MCA), with the exact amount tied to monthly card sales rather than a credit score. If you qualify for a bank or SBA-backed loan instead, the ceiling is far higher — the SBA 7(a) program allows loans up to $5 million. The trade-off is speed and cost versus size and price.

For a fast, revenue-based advance, most providers offer between 50% and 150% of your average monthly revenue. So a restaurant doing $50,000 a month in card revenue might see offers anywhere from about $25,000 to $75,000, while a higher-volume operation can push toward the upper $500,000 band. Per industry guidance, MCAs typically range from $2,500 to $500,000 or more, with most restaurant deals landing in the $5,000–$500,000 window.

What determines your advance amount

Three factors drive how much a funder will offer:

• Monthly card sales volume. Because you repay through a slice of daily sales, the underwriter sizes the advance to what your revenue can comfortably absorb. Most funders advance between 50% and 150% of your average monthly revenue.
• Time in business. Many providers want at least six months of operating history and consistent deposits before extending an offer.
• Minimum revenue. Most funders look for $5,000 to $10,000 in minimum monthly sales just to qualify, and stronger volume unlocks larger advances.

The cost of the larger number

Borrowing more isn't free. MCAs price with a factor rate — not an interest rate — that typically ranges from about 1.09 to 1.5 or higher. A $50,000 advance at a 1.4 factor rate means you repay $70,000 total. Repayment comes out as a holdback of roughly 5% to 20% of daily card sales until the obligation is met, which can translate to a steep effective APR. Borrowing the maximum your sales support can strain cash flow during slow months, so size the advance to a repayment you can sustain. Our guide on MCA vs. traditional loans breaks down when the speed is worth the premium.

When you need more than an MCA can offer

If you're funding a full build-out or buying real estate, a bank term loan or an SBA 7(a) loan reaches up to $5 million — far above any cash advance — but underwriting takes weeks and demands tax returns, collateral, and stronger credit. Many restaurant owners use an MCA for fast, smaller needs and reserve SBA financing for major expansion. To benchmark pricing first, see our current restaurant loan rates.

Bottom line: expect a few thousand up to about $500,000 from a merchant cash advance sized to your card sales, and up to $5 million if you qualify for an SBA 7(a) loan and can wait for bank-grade underwriting.

Lenders to consider

Lendflow powers a business-financing marketplace spanning term loans, business lines of credit, equipment and vehicle financing, working capital, and merchant cash advances. A single application matches an established business to multiple lenders in the network, avoiding one-by-one applications. For businesses, not consumers. Apply now → Based on our lender data, these lenders serve this space (terms are as each lender states and can change):

• Bluevine — loan amounts of $1,000 to $250,000, terms up to 12 months; minimum FICO around 625 and 12 months in business.
• OnDeck — loan amounts of $6,000 to $200,000, terms of 12 to 24 months; minimum FICO around 625 and 12 months in business.
• Idea Financial — loan amounts up to $350,000; minimum FICO around 650 and 3 years in business.
• American Express Business Line of Credit — lines of $2,000 to $250,000, terms of 6 to 24 months; minimum FICO around 660 and 12 months in business.

Sources

• Nav — Merchant Cash Advance Guide
• Crestmont Capital — Merchant Cash Advances: A Complete Guide
• Lightspeed — Understanding Merchant Cash Advance Funding
• U.S. Small Business Administration — 7(a) loans