Six ways to fund your business. One that fits.
Every funding path has a right moment and a real cost. This educational side-by-side explains the trade-offs before you decide what to pursue.
This page is for education and comparison. Trovo's current service is credit card stacking using business cards, personal cards, or both. The non-card paths are not Trovo products or placement services. Issuer approval required. Trovo Capital provides independent strategy and coordination. We're not a lender and don't make credit decisions.
Review the funding FAQ
The six paths, side by side
Scan the trade-offs at a glance, then read the full breakdown of each path below.
| 0% Intro-APR Creditwhere we focus | Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) | SBA Loan (7(a) / 504) | Bank Term Loan / Line of Credit | Equity / Investors | Do It Yourself | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical range | $20K–$150K | Typically $5K – $500K, sized to sales volume | Up to $5M – $10M | Varies by revenue & credit | No hard ceiling | Whatever you can access |
| Cost of capital | 0% during the intro period, then standard APR | A factor rate, not an APR — commonly equivalent to a high double- to triple-digit effective annual cost | Lower rates, longer terms | Interest-bearing from day one | No repayment; you trade ownership | Free in dollars, costly in mistakes |
| Time to funding | Days to a few weeks | As fast as 24–72 hours | Weeks to months | Weeks | Months | As fast as your research |
| Effect on ownership | No equity given up | No equity given up | No equity given up | No equity given up | You give up equity and some control | Depends on the path you pick |
| Talk it through | See if you qualify | Educational only | Educational only | Educational only | Educational only | Educational only |
Figures are general market ranges for orientation, not quotes. Full detail on each path below. Last reviewed July 2026.
Each path, in depth
0% Intro-APR Credit
Sequenced business cards, personal cards, or both, with a promotional intro window.
- Typical range
- $20K–$150K
- Cost of capital
- 0% during the intro period, then standard APR
- Time to funding
- Days to a few weeks
- Effect on ownership
- No equity given up
Best when: You have a fundable profile and a clear plan to deploy and repay inside the intro window.
The catch: The intro period ends. Miss the payoff runway and the standard APR turns a cheap tool into an expensive one.
Trovo context: Current Trovo service. We assess fundability, determine the business and personal card mix, sequence issuers, and build the payoff plan.
Merchant Cash Advance (MCA)
A lump sum in exchange for a slice of future card sales or receivables — not technically a loan.
- Typical range
- Typically $5K – $500K, sized to sales volume
- Cost of capital
- A factor rate, not an APR — commonly equivalent to a high double- to triple-digit effective annual cost
- Time to funding
- As fast as 24–72 hours
- Effect on ownership
- No equity given up
Best when: You need cash in a day or two and the near-term revenue to absorb daily or weekly automatic remittances.
The catch: Repayment is pulled daily or weekly regardless of that day's revenue, and the factor-rate structure makes the true annualized cost easy to underestimate until you convert it yourself. This is the path most often searched as "what's a cheaper alternative to an MCA" — for a fundable profile, sequenced 0% intro-APR credit is frequently that alternative.
Trovo context: Educational context only. Trovo does not offer, arrange, or place merchant cash advances.
SBA Loan (7(a) / 504)
Government-backed loans through approved lenders.
- Typical range
- Up to $5M – $10M
- Cost of capital
- Lower rates, longer terms
- Time to funding
- Weeks to months
- Effect on ownership
- No equity given up
Best when: You need larger, patient capital and can carry the documentation and timeline.
The catch: Paperwork-heavy, slower, and underwriting is strict. Not built for speed.
Trovo context: Educational context only. Trovo does not offer, arrange, or submit applications for SBA loans.
Bank Term Loan / Line of Credit
Conventional financing from a bank or credit union.
- Typical range
- Varies by revenue & credit
- Cost of capital
- Interest-bearing from day one
- Time to funding
- Weeks
- Effect on ownership
- No equity given up
Best when: You have established revenue and want predictable, structured repayment.
The catch: Often needs collateral or a personal guarantee, and approval leans on time-in-business.
Trovo context: Educational context only. Trovo does not offer, arrange, or submit applications for bank term loans or lines of credit.
Equity / Investors
Raising capital in exchange for ownership.
- Typical range
- No hard ceiling
- Cost of capital
- No repayment; you trade ownership
- Time to funding
- Months
- Effect on ownership
- You give up equity and some control
Best when: You're building something venture-scale and want partners, not just money.
The catch: It's the most expensive capital long-term. Ownership sold early rarely comes back cheap.
Trovo context: Educational context only. Trovo does not raise equity or place clients with investors.
Do It Yourself
Navigating all of the above on your own.
- Typical range
- Whatever you can access
- Cost of capital
- Free in dollars, costly in mistakes
- Time to funding
- As fast as your research
- Effect on ownership
- Depends on the path you pick
Best when: You have the time, the credit knowledge, and the appetite to learn on live stakes.
The catch: A misordered application or a hard-inquiry misstep can close doors for months.
Trovo context: Educational comparison only. Trovo's current service is the managed card-stacking path shown first.
Understand every path. Use Trovo for the one we run.
This comparison is educational. Trovo's current program is credit card stacking using business cards, personal cards, or a combination selected for the client's profile and goals.
Explore our card strategyWe work for you,
not a loan book.
The non-card paths on this page are shown for education. Trovo does not provide or arrange them. Our current service is credit card stacking, and issuers make every approval and pricing decision.
no loan book
We don't issue credit. Trovo provides independent strategy and coordination, and every credit decision belongs to the issuer.
no placement commissions
We're paid for the strategy, never a placement commission on whatever you were sold.
soft-pull first
Pre-qualification starts with a soft pull you authorize. It never touches your score.
clear strategy
We coordinate a sequenced plan, timing, preparation, and next steps. First decisions can begin in 24–48 hours, with funds typically accessible in 2–3 weeks.
- SBA loan limits and terms: U.S. Small Business Administration, sba.gov/funding-programs/loans. The cumulative 7(a)/504 cap rose to $10M in 2026.
- 0% intro-APR credit: intro length, limits, and standard APR vary by issuer and by applicant profile. Ranges shown are typical, not guaranteed.
- Merchant cash advance cost structure: MCAs are priced as a factor rate rather than an APR, and are regulated as commercial financing (not a loan) in most states. A growing number of states — including California — require lenders to disclose an APR-equivalent figure for exactly this reason. Effective cost varies by provider and risk profile; the range shown is directional, not a quote.
- All figures: general market ranges for orientation only, current as of the last-reviewed date above. Not an offer, quote, or guarantee.
Go deeper on cost and sequencing
A comparison is the starting point. These guides show how order and total borrowing cost change the decision.
No single path is “best.” The fit is.
A term loan can be smarter than credit. Equity can be a mistake you can't undo. The right move is the one matched to where you actually are. If that move is credit card stacking, Trovo can assess and run the program. Other paths require a provider that offers them.
Considering credit card
stacking?
Bring us your profile and funding goal. We'll assess whether Trovo's current program may fit, with no obligation.