Business funding for marketing and creative agencies
Agencies often front media spend on behalf of a client, staff a team against a signed scope of work, and then invoice on net-30 or net-60 terms. When a client is slow to pay, payroll and ad platforms still need to be paid on time, which is where most agency funding needs start.
- One application, several lenders
- No credit pull to see your options
- No fee to you, ever
Common funding needs
- Fronting ad spend for a client campaign before the retainer invoice is paid
- Making payroll while a large client account is 30 to 60 days out
- Bridging cash flow while onboarding a new retainer client
- Buying production or studio equipment for in-house content work
What usually fits
Products that usually fit
- Invoice factoring for outstanding retainer or project invoices.
- Line of credit for recurring payroll and ad spend between billing cycles.
- Working capital for a short-term gap onboarding a new client.
- Equipment financing for production or studio equipment.
Compare term loans, lines of credit, cash advances and equipment financing side by side →
Illustrative example
A worked example
An agency has $35,000 billed to a client for a completed campaign on 30-day terms. With factoring at an illustrative 90% advance, it receives about $31,500 within days. At an illustrative 2% fee for the month outstanding, the fee is roughly $700, with the balance paid once the client settles.
Illustrative only: real terms depend on the client's payment history and the agency's invoice volume.
Illustrative example only, not an offer or a quote. Rates, fees and terms are set by each lender and depend on your business. Fees are not included unless stated.
Underwriting
What lenders look at
- Client concentration: how much of revenue sits with one or two accounts
- Typical client payment terms and history of late payment
- How much of costs are payroll versus pass-through ad spend
- Monthly deposits and existing debt
- Owner credit and time in business
Honestly
Who this is not for
- An agency billing mostly upfront or on delivery: factoring adds cost without solving a real timing gap
- Fronting ad spend for a client that has not signed a scope of work
- An agency with one client representing most of its revenue: that concentration is a real risk lenders will flag
If borrowing does not make sense, we will say so.
Are you a match?
Lender network minimums
Close but not quite there? Apply anyway and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
*Best available terms from lenders in our network. Every lender sets its own criteria; approval, amount and funding time are decided by the lender and not guaranteed.
| Time in business | 1 year+ |
|---|---|
| Monthly bank deposits | $20,000+ |
| Credit score | 500+ |
| Bank account | Business |
| Fee to you | $0 |
| Credit pull to start | None |
FAQ
Marketing & creative agencies funding questions
Can factoring cover ad spend we front for clients?
The cash from factoring can be used for any business purpose, including ad spend, once the underlying client invoice qualifies.
Does client concentration hurt our chances?
It can. Lenders look at how much revenue sits with one client, since losing that client is a bigger risk. It is not automatically disqualifying.
Can a new agency use factoring?
Once you have an invoiced, delivered engagement with a real client, often yes. A track record of on-time client payment helps.
What about project-based work instead of retainers?
Factoring works on individual invoices, so project-based billing qualifies the same way retainer invoices do.
Guides
Guides for marketing & creative agencies
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