A Look at CAN Capital
CAN Capital (CC) is one of many online lending companies. They offer working capital and small business loans. We look at the specifics and drill down into the details about CAN Capital. CAN Capital had every chance to communicate with us about our eye-opening review.
Note: this information was updated on May 8, 2020.
Background
CAN Capital (CC) is online here: https://www.cancapital.com. Their physical addresses are in Kennesaw, Georgia; and also San José, Costa Rica. You can call them at: (877) 550-4731.
Their contact page is here: https://www.cancapital.com/ContactUs/. They have been in business since 1998. So this is far longer than a lot of the other players in the online lending space.
There doesn’t seem to be a listed APR.
Business Loans (Short Terms)
Funds are sent in days. CAN Capital wants daily fixed payments with automatic withdrawals. The funding is $2,500 – 250,000 per location. Their terms are 6 – 18 months. There is no personal collateral required.
Minimum annual revenue is $150,000. You cannot have a personal or business bankruptcy that has not been discharged for at least one year. So there is a six month minimal time in business requirement as well. And you cannot have more than $175,000 in outstanding tax liens or judgments. Your personal credit score does not seem to matter.
You will have to provide a personal guarantee.
Fees
A CAN Capital term loan comes with a 3% origination fee. APR is not listed.
Merchant Capital Advances
Funds are sent to you in days. Also, funding works out $2,500 – 250,000 per location. There are variable daily payments. 6 to 18 month estimated turn.
You must provide a personal guarantee.
Fees
A CAN Capital merchant capital advance comes with a $595 administrative fee.
Advantages
Advantages include no prepayment penalty. The funding is provided quickly and with no personal collateral requirement. Plus this online lender’s experience provides an assurance that the company, or some form thereof, will be around tomorrow.
Disadvantages
Disadvantages include administrative and origination fees. Variable daily payments for merchant capital advances mean that budgeting becomes that much more difficult.
APR is not listed for term loans. Having to provide a personal guarantee is another negative.
CAN Capital, on Balance
Companies will do best with CAN Capital if they can pay their debts off early. Therefore not only will they not get a prepayment penalty, they will also, potentially, avoid the worst APR.
CAN Capital’s time in business may also be a factor. This is particularly at issue if you have business partners or a Board of Directors who are skeptical of online lending. With its two decades in the business, CAN Capital’s experience should help to alleviate those sorts of objections.
But for companies expecting payments later, there are issues.
CAN Capital’s fees and exorbitant maximum APR – and the fact that they make it very hard to calculate the latter – should give borrowers pause. Business owners would do better with unsecured business loans or building business credit.
Or they might do better with crowdfunding or angel investing, versus using this particular online lender.
Do Your Homework
And finally, as with every other lending program, read the fine print and do the math. So go over the details carefully, and decide if this option will be good for you and your business. Also consider alternative financing options that go beyond lending, including building business credit, to best decide how to get the money you need to help your business grow. Check out how this will help your company decide how best to get financing.
