Last updated: 20 Jul 2026
Merchant cash advance calculator
Our merchant cash advance calculator gives you an instant estimate of the total cost and daily repayments on a merchant cash advance, based on the amount you want to borrow and your factor rate. Just enter your numbers below to see what a merchant cash advance would actually cost your business before you apply.
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Merchant cash advance calculator
Enter the loan terms below to see your estimated repayments.
How much do you want to borrow?
How long do you want to pay your loan back for?
What is the annual interest rate?
Please note that some lenders may charge additional arrangement fees, which are not included in this calculation and should be considered when comparing total borrowing costs.
£2,424 monthly repayment
Why get a merchant cash advance with Capitalise?
200,000+ UK businesses trust us
Business credit data powered by Experian
£2bn in funding approved
FCA regulated since 2016
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What is a merchant cash advance calculator?
A merchant cash advance calculator is a free tool that estimates the total cost and repayments of a merchant cash advance, letting you test different advance amounts, terms and interest rates before you commit to anything. It's built for the numbers side of the decision, so if you want the full picture on how a merchant cash advance works and whether it's right for your business, our merchant cash advance guide covers eligibility, the application process and the pros and cons in more depth.
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How does a merchant cash advance calculator work?
The calculator works by entering the amount you want to borrow, how long you'd like to repay over, and an annual interest rate to test, rather than a factor rate directly, since most business owners have a better feel for interest rates than factor rates. The calculator then shows you the factor rate that corresponds to those numbers, along with your monthly, daily and total repayment. This means you can play around with different interest rates and terms and see straight away how much they change your factor rate and total cost, which is a handy way to sanity check a factor rate you've already been quoted by a lender. Because a merchant cash advance is usually repaid as a share of your daily card sales rather than a fixed monthly amount, the monthly figure the calculator shows you is there to help with budgeting and comparison, rather than exactly how your repayments will be taken day to day.
What determines the cost of a merchant cash advance?
Advance amount
The more you borrow, the higher your total repayment and monthly cost, all else being equal. Advance amounts on the Capitalise panel typically go up to around 1.5 times your average monthly card sales. Borrowing less keeps your monthly repayment and total cost down, even at the same rate and term.
Term
A shorter term produces a lower factor rate for the same interest rate, since less interest accrues overall. It also means a higher monthly repayment, since the same total cost is repaid over less time. Merchant cash advances are typically repaid over a few months up to around 18 months.
Factor rate
The factor rate is how merchant cash advance lenders actually price the cost of an advance, typically ranging from around 1.10 to 1.35. A higher factor rate increases your total repayment, since it's applied as a multiplier to the full advance amount. The calculator asks you to test an interest rate rather than a factor rate directly, then shows you the equivalent factor rate for those numbers, so you can sanity check any factor rate you've already been quoted by a lender.
Merchant cash advance factor rates at a glance
The factor rate you're offered has the single biggest impact on what a merchant cash advance costs, since it's applied once to the full advance amount rather than accruing daily like interest.
Factor rate | Cost on a £10,000 advance | Total repayment | Who it typically suits |
|---|---|---|---|
1.10 | £1,000 | £11,000 | Established businesses with strong, steady card sales and a healthy credit profile |
1.20 | £2,000 | £12,000 | The most common range for trading businesses with a reasonable history |
1.35 | £3,500 | £13,500 | Newer businesses, lower card sales volume, or a weaker credit profile |
These figures are illustrative and based on typical UK market ranges, not a quote. The exact factor rate your business is offered depends on your card sales, trading history and credit profile, so run your own numbers through the calculator above, then apply to see what your business could actually be offered.
Example merchant cash advance repayments
Here's what the numbers could look like across a few common advance sizes, each tested at a realistic interest rate for that term.
Advance amount | Term | Interest rate tested | Factor rate shown | Monthly repayment | Total repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
£10,000 | 6 months | 30% | 1.09 | £1,816 | £10,896 |
£30,000 | 9 months | 35% | 1.15 | £3,839 | £34,551 |
£75,000 | 12 months | 25% | 1.14 | £7,128 | £85,536 |
These are illustrative examples only, not a quote. Your actual factor rate and repayments depend on the amount, term and interest rate a lender offers you, and real merchant cash advance repayments are usually taken as a percentage of your daily card sales rather than a fixed monthly amount. Some lenders may also charge additional arrangement fees, which aren't included in this calculation and are worth checking when you compare offers. Enter your own figures into the calculator above for a result specific to your circumstances.
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Am I eligible for a merchant cash advance?
Most lenders on the Capitalise panel have the following requirements:
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What documents do you need to apply?
Having these ready will speed up your merchant cash advance application:
Take your calculation, then apply for funding
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Use the calculator
Enter the amount you want to borrow, your term and an interest rate to test, and see the factor rate, monthly repayment and total cost that result. Try a few different rates and terms until the numbers feel right for your business.
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Apply and check your eligibility
Sign up for free and tell us about your business and card sales. This uses a soft search, so it won't affect your credit score.
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Get funded
We'll match you with the most suitable lenders from our panel and a dedicated funding specialist will support your application through to completion, with funds available in as little as 48 hours.
Looking for something else? Try our other loan calculators
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