How to qualify for a Merchant Cash Advance as a liquor store?

Picture this: Your distributor just called with an incredible deal on premium bourbon that normally flies off your shelves. Catch? You need $20,000 by Friday. Your bank? They'll get back to you in 4-6 weeks. Maybe.

Or maybe your walk-in cooler just died on a Thursday afternoon, and you're watching thousands of dollars in inventory slowly warm up while you frantically Google "emergency business financing."

Welcome to the world of Merchant Cash Advances, where liquor store owners are discovering they can get approved for funding in 48 hours, often without the credit score drama that banks love so much.

But here's the million-dollar question: Will YOU qualify?

Good news: If you're selling liquor and customers are swiping cards, you're probably already 80% of the way there.

The Beautiful Truth About MCAs: It's About What You're Doing NOW

Here's why liquor store owners love MCAs:

Traditional Bank Loan Interview:

• "What was your revenue in 2021?"
• "Can I see three years of tax returns?"
• "What's your personal credit score?"
• "Do you have collateral worth $100,000?"
• "Can you wait 6-8 weeks while we think about it?"

MCA Provider Interview:

• "How much are you making in card sales this month?"
• "Can I see your last few merchant statements?"
• "Great! Let's get you funded by Wednesday."

That's it. That's basically the difference.

The Magic Number: Your Daily Card Sales

Want to know the secret formula for Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) approval? Here it is:

Daily card sales = Your golden ticket

Most liquor stores process somewhere between $500 and $5,000 in credit and debit card sales EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

That steady stream of card transactions? That's what MCA providers care about most. Because that's exactly how they get repaid, by automatically taking a small percentage of those daily card sales.

Think about it: Who pays cash for liquor anymore? Maybe that one guy is buying a six-pack, but everyone else is swiping cards. And that's EXACTLY what makes liquor stores perfect for MCAs.

The "Am I Even Close?" Quick Self-Test

Before we dive deep, take this 60-second qualification quiz:

Question 1: Have you been in business for at least 6 months?

• Yes = ✅ Keep going
• No = ⏸️ Wait a few more months

Question 2: Do you process at least $5,000 per month in credit/debit card sales?

• Yes = ✅ You're golden
• No = 😬 Might be tough

Question 3: Is your business bank account generally in the black (not constantly overdrafted)?

• Yes = ✅ Looking good
• No = 🚫 Fix this first

Question 4: Are you already juggling 3+ other MCAs?

• No = ✅ Perfect
• Yes = 🛑 Red flag

If you got mostly checkmarks, congratulations—you'll probably qualify!

What MCA Providers REALLY Want to See

Let's break down the actual requirements without the financial jargon:

1. You're Making Money (Like, Right Now)

What they want: $5,000-$10,000+ monthly in card sales

Your reality check: Pull out last month's merchant statement. Look at the total credit card volume.

• Over $10,000? You're in great shape.
• $5,000-$10,000? You're in good shape.
• Under $5,000? Might be challenging.

Liquor store advantage: Most liquor stores blow past these minimums. Even a small neighborhood store typically processes $15,000-$30,000 monthly. You're probably already way above the threshold.

2. You've Been Around the Block

What they want: 6-12 months in business minimum (some want 2+ years)

Why it matters: They want to see you survived the scary startup phase and have a track record.

The sweet spot:

• Under 6 months = Too new (they'll say "call us back later")
• 6-12 months = You'll qualify but maybe smaller amounts
• 1-2 years = Now we're talking
• 3+ years = You're in the power position

3. You Have Actual Paperwork (You're Legit)

What they want: Business licenses, liquor licenses, tax ID

Your reaction: "Duh, I literally can't sell alcohol without these"

Exactly. This requirement is automatic for liquor stores. You've already jumped through way more regulatory hoops than most businesses. This box is checked before you even apply.

4. You Have a Business Bank Account

What they want: A real business checking account where card sales get deposited

Why it matters: This is where they'll automatically take their daily payment from your card sales.

Simple stuff: Just need your bank account info ready. That's it.

What You'll Need to Apply (Get This Ready Now)

The Must-Haves:

1. Last 3-6 months of merchant statements (from your card processor like Square, Clover, etc.)
   • This is THE most important document
   • Shows exactly what you're processing in card sales
2. Last 3-4 months of business bank statements
   • Shows your overall financial health
   • Proves money is actually flowing
3. Your business licenses and liquor license
   • Copies are fine
   • Proves you're legit
4. Photo ID (driver's license)
   • Identity verification
5. Voided business check or bank letter
   • Sets up how they'll collect payment

The Sometimes-Requested:

1. Tax returns (1-2 years)
   
   
   • Some providers want these; many don't
   • Way less critical than traditional loans
2. Proof of ownership
   • Business registration, articles of incorporation, DBA

Pro tip: Scan everything ahead of time. Having digital copies ready can speed up approval by DAYS.

Bottom Line: You Probably Qualify

You're VERY likely to qualify if: ✅ You've been open 12+ months
✅ You process $10,000+ monthly in cards
✅ Revenue is stable or growing
✅ Bank account is healthy
✅ No major bankruptcies or legal issues

You'll probably qualify with limitations if: ⚠️ You're 6-12 months old
⚠️ You process $5,000-$10,000 monthly
⚠️ Credit is below 600
⚠️ You have one existing MCA

You'll face serious challenges if: 🚫 Under 6 months old
🚫 Under $5,000 monthly in cards
🚫 Multiple existing MCAs
🚫 Sales declining significantly
🚫 Recent bankruptcy

Your Next Move

Ready to explore your options?

• Pull your last 3 months of merchant statements 
• Calculate your average daily card sales 
• Check your business bank balance 
• Google your business credit score
• Compare 3-5 MCA providers 

Most liquor store owners who've been operating for a year with decent card sales WILL qualify for something. The question isn't usually IF it's HOW MUCH and at WHAT RATE.

The secret? Be strategic. Borrow what you need (not what you CAN get). Have a clear plan for how you'll use it. Make sure the numbers make sense.

And remember: Just because you CAN get approved doesn't mean you SHOULD take the money. Make sure it genuinely helps your business grow.