Deerline Advances, a small-business funding broker in Prescott, Arizona, works in four steps: you describe the expense, we match it to a funding structure, a lending partner underwrites and decides, and you compare any offer before choosing. Underwriting time depends on the partner and the file. Partners set every rate and term; you can always decline.
Step 1: you describe the expense
Call (928) 239-7506 or send the short form (full name, email, phone, business name, three range picks and a consent box). On the call we ask what the money pays for, when the cost falls due, and how revenue reaches your account: card sales, invoices, progress draws or insurance payments. That last question decides more than any other.
Step 2: we match the structure
Of the six options, usually one or two fit. A recurring gap points to a line of credit; one fixed project to a term loan; a machine to equipment financing; card-heavy receipts may bring a merchant cash advance, which is not a loan, into the comparison.
- Working capital
- Business term loans
- Business lines of credit
- Inventory financing
- Equipment financing
- Merchant cash advances, which are receivable purchases and not loans
Step 3: the partner's underwriting and decision
Underwriting means the partner studying the file and deciding whether to fund, and how. In general terms it covers the business's cash flow, its existing obligations, its time in operation, the owner's credit, and any collateral. The partner may ask for more documents, call to confirm details, or decline.
How long underwriting takes for a business loan depends on the partner, the product and how complete the file is. Bank loans with full financial statements generally take longer than a short-term product reviewed from bank statements. We do not promise a timeline, because the partner sets it.
Step 4: your comparison, your choice
| Measure | Where you see it | How to use the figure |
|---|---|---|
| APR | Term loans and credit lines | Compare loans of similar length |
| Factor rate | Merchant cash advances | Multiply by the advance for the total remitted |
| Total cost | Any offer | Add every payment and fee; compare this across all types |
Total cost is the only measure that works across every type. If an offer does not state it clearly, ask for it in writing.
Warning signs worth walking away from
- Pressure to sign before the call ends, before you have read the agreement.
- Promises of approval before anyone has seen your records.
- An agreement whose total cost nobody will put in writing.
Free, independent advice is available too; see Central Arizona small business resources. For merchant cash advances specifically, this checklist of questions helps.
After the decision
If you accept, the partner funds under its agreement and you deal with the partner from then on. If you decline, nothing more happens. Our broker disclosures explain the arrangement, and the FAQ answers shorter questions.
By Deerline Advances · Updated