While Cedar Advance provides merchant cash advances to businesses in need of working capital, modern B2B companies are discovering superior alternatives that eliminate credit risk, reduce costs by up to 90%, and automate accounts receivable workflows. From Resolve's non-recourse net terms financing to traditional lending options, these alternatives deliver the capital businesses need without the debt trap risks of merchant cash advances.
Resolve emerges as the premier Cedar Advance alternative by completely eliminating merchant credit risk through its 100% non-recourse financing model. Spun out from Affirm in 2019 by fintech veterans with experience from Amazon and PayPal, Resolve brings consumer BNPL innovation to B2B commerce with a focus on simplicity and embedded payments.
The B2B financing landscape has evolved dramatically, with the merchant cash advance industry valued at $19.73 billion globally in 2023. However, businesses are increasingly seeking sustainable alternatives that don't create long-term financial strain through high costs and unpredictable repayment structures.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, cash flow management remains one of the top challenges for small and medium-sized businesses, with payment delays creating significant operational constraints. Modern alternatives like Resolve address this gap by providing immediate cash flow while enabling businesses to offer competitive net terms to their customers.
Resolve's platform transforms the entire B2B payment experience by combining financing with complete accounts receivable automation. The AI-powered system handles invoicing, payment reminders, collections, and reconciliation, reducing manual AR workload by an estimated 80-90%. This comprehensive approach means businesses receive immediate cash flow while maintaining customer relationships and eliminating credit risk.
Unlike Cedar Advance's merchant cash advance model that requires weekly ACH withdrawals regardless of customer payments, Resolve's invoice-based financing ensures repayment aligns with natural B2B payment cycles. This eliminates the cash flow strain that makes MCAs problematic for businesses with seasonal or unpredictable revenue.
The platform currently serves over 15,000 B2B businesses with backing from Initialized Capital and Commerce Ventures. Recent case studies demonstrate significant impact: businesses report average increases of 40%+ in average order value and reductions of 15-20 days in days sales outstanding (DSO).
The Federal Reserve reports that payment flexibility significantly impacts B2B purchasing decisions, with buyers increasingly expecting the same convenient payment options in business transactions that they experience as consumers. Resolve addresses this expectation while protecting sellers from credit risk.
Credibly represents a traditional merchant cash advance provider offering same-day funding for businesses that can't qualify elsewhere. While faster than bank loans, Credibly shares the same fundamental limitations as Cedar Advance regarding cost and risk structure.
While Credibly offers faster approval than traditional banks, it maintains the same problematic characteristics as Cedar Advance: high costs creating potential debt traps, full merchant liability, and cash flow strain from automatic daily debits. The platform may be suitable for emergency funding when no other options exist, but businesses should view it as a last resort rather than a sustainable financing solution.
Lendio operates as a loan marketplace rather than a direct lender, connecting businesses with multiple financing providers including MCA companies. This approach offers access to various products but introduces complexity and variable experiences.
Lendio's marketplace model can be useful for comparing options, but businesses ultimately face the same MCA limitations regarding cost, risk, and repayment structure. The platform doesn't solve the fundamental problems of merchant cash advances; it merely provides access to multiple providers with similar characteristics.
OnDeck offers traditional term loans and lines of credit rather than merchant cash advances, representing a different financing approach altogether. While not directly comparable to Cedar Advance's MCA model, OnDeck serves businesses seeking more traditional financing structures.
OnDeck represents a middle ground between expensive MCAs and traditional bank financing. While costs are significantly lower than Cedar Advance or Credibly, approval requirements are stricter, and the financing isn't invoice-specific like Resolve's platform. This makes OnDeck suitable for general working capital needs rather than B2B net terms financing.
Expansion Capital Group targets businesses with poor credit or urgent funding needs, offering merchant cash advances with minimal requirements. The company focuses on serving startups and businesses that traditional lenders typically decline.
Expansion Capital Group serves a specific niche of businesses that can't qualify for traditional financing, but shares all the fundamental limitations of the MCA model. The company's focus on high-risk borrowers reflects demand for emergency funding, but doesn't address the sustainability concerns that drive businesses to seek alternatives like Resolve.
Fora Financial represents another established merchant cash advance provider with significant market presence. The company serves retail, hospitality, and service businesses with MCA products designed for businesses with consistent card sales.
Fora Financial demonstrates the continued demand for MCA products, particularly among businesses with consistent card sales. However, like all MCA providers, it doesn't address the fundamental issues of high costs, full merchant risk, and cash flow strain that make these products problematic for long-term business health.
The shift toward modern B2B payment solutions reflects broader changes in business operations and financing needs. The U.S. Department of Treasury has emphasized the importance of efficient payment systems for economic growth, noting that delayed payments create ripple effects throughout supply chains.
Research shows that B2B buyers increasingly expect flexible payment terms similar to consumer experiences. Companies offering net terms report higher conversion rates, larger average order values, and stronger customer retention. However, traditional approaches to extending credit create cash flow challenges that can constrain growth—which is where the appeal of merchant cash advances emerges.
The fundamental difference between Resolve and merchant cash advance providers like Cedar Advance lies in their approach to risk, cost, and business relationships. MCAs create what industry experts call a debt trap through high costs and inflexible repayment structures that can strain cash flow regardless of business performance.
Resolve's model addresses these issues through three key innovations:
Risk Elimination: As the only 100% non-recourse financing option, Resolve assumes all credit risk, allowing merchants to offer net terms without fear of bad debt losses. This transforms credit from a liability into a growth tool.
Cost Transparency: Resolve's flat fees around 3.15-3.5% for Net 30 terms provide predictable costs that businesses can budget for, compared to the obscured true costs of MCA factor rates that can exceed 275% APR.
Business Integration: Unlike MCAs that operate as standalone financing products, Resolve integrates with existing business systems and provides complete AR automation, supporting operational workflows alongside financial benefits.
For B2B companies evaluating Cedar Advance alternatives, the choice depends on your specific needs, risk tolerance, and business model:
For businesses seeking to eliminate the risks and costs associated with merchant cash advances while gaining operational efficiency through AR automation, Resolve's net terms platform represents the most comprehensive alternative to Cedar Advance and similar MCA providers.
Resolve offers 100% non-recourse financing where merchants keep advances regardless of customer payment, while Cedar Advance's merchant cash advance model creates full merchant liability. Resolve's transparent fees around 3.15-3.5% for Net 30 terms are estimated to be 12.7x lower than average MCA costs of 40-275% APR. Additionally, Resolve provides complete AR automation including invoicing, collections, and reconciliation, while MCAs offer financing-only with no operational support.
Yes, Resolve offers deep integrations with major platforms including QuickBooks, NetSuite, Oracle, Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce. The platform provides two-way data sync that automatically creates invoices, processes payments, and reconciles transactions, reducing manual work by an estimated 80-90%. This seamless integration eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures accurate financial reporting across systems.
Resolve charges transparent, risk-based fees ranging from approximately 3.15-3.5% for Net 30 terms, with pricing varying based on advance percentage, term length, and customer risk. Unlike merchant cash advances that use obscured factor rates equivalent to 40-275% APR, Resolve's flat fee structure allows businesses to accurately budget and forecast costs. There are no hidden charges, monthly minimums, or setup fees.
Resolve assumes all credit risk through its 100% non-recourse model, meaning merchants keep advances regardless of customer payment. The platform uses AI-powered underwriting to evaluate thousands of data points in real-time, delivering credit decisions in 10-30 seconds. For collections, Resolve's automated AR system handles payment reminders, follow-ups, and collections management while maintaining the merchant's white-label brand relationship with customers.
Resolve is ideal for B2B businesses that invoice customers and want to offer net terms while eliminating credit risk and improving cash flow. This includes manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and service providers with B2B sales models. The platform is particularly valuable for businesses experiencing average increases of 40%+ in order value from offering net terms, those struggling with accounts receivable management, or companies looking to escape the high costs and risks associated with merchant cash advances.
This post is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post. Resolve assumes no liability for actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.