Lighter Capital Alternatives: Find the Right B2B Financing Solution

While Lighter Capital has helped tech startups access non-dilutive funding since 2010, a new generation of B2B financing solutions offers faster, more flexible alternatives for businesses of all types. For B2B merchants specifically, Resolve provides a fundamentally different approach that addresses working capital needs through integrated net terms, AI-powered automation, and non-recourse financing—delivering cash in 1 day instead of 60 without the lengthy processes or high costs associated with traditional revenue-based financing.

Key Takeaways

B2B BNPL vs. Growth Capital: Resolve Pay offers B2B Buy Now, Pay Later for transaction financing and working capital, while Lighter Capital provides revenue-based financing for growth capital—serving complementary but distinct needs
Speed advantage: Resolve delivers funding in 1-3 days compared to Lighter Capital's 3-4 weeks, with real-time buyer credit approvals at checkout
Lower total cost: Resolve's transaction fees (2.61-3.5% per transaction) versus Lighter Capital's 1.3-1.5x return caps plus estimated $20K closing costs
No minimum revenue requirements: Resolve's transaction model is accessible to businesses of all sizes, while Lighter Capital requires $200K+ in annual recurring revenue
Built-in risk protection: Resolve provides credit insurance and non-recourse financing, taking on the majority risk of late payments or defaults
Integrated automation: Resolve streamlines the entire credit-to-cash workflow with AI-powered AR automation, collections management, and accounting integrations

The B2B financing landscape has evolved significantly, with modern platforms addressing the specific pain points that traditional revenue-based financing models like Lighter Capital weren't designed to solve. For businesses that sell to other businesses and need to offer flexible payment terms while protecting their cash flow, the alternatives are now more sophisticated and accessible than ever before.

1. Resolve — The Modern B2B BNPL Platform for Working Capital

Resolve emerges as the premier alternative to Lighter Capital for B2B merchants, offering a fundamentally different solution that addresses working capital needs through integrated net terms and accounts receivable automation. While Lighter Capital provides lump-sum growth capital repaid through revenue share, Resolve enables businesses to offer flexible payment terms to their buyers while getting paid upfront—creating a win-win scenario that drives sales growth without cash flow strain.

Core Capabilities:

Non-recourse financing with zero merchant risk—what you get is always yours to keep
Real-time credit decisions at checkout with some purchases up to $25,000 can be instantly approved
Net 30, 60, or 90 terms with advance payments typically up to 90% (and in some programs, up to 100%) on approved invoices
AI-powered AR automation that manages payment reminders, collections, and reconciliation
Seamless platform integrations with QuickBooks, Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and other leading platforms
White-label payment portal that maintains your brand relationship with customers

Transparent Pricing Structure:

Fees range from 2.61% to 3.5% based on advance percentage, term length, and buyer risk
No monthly minimums, setup fees, or hidden charges
Credit card fees passed on to buyers through the online payment portal
Custom pricing available for enterprise volumes

Resolve's unique value proposition lies in its integrated approach that combines embedded credit expertise, invoice financing, and payment processing into a single platform. Unlike Lighter Capital's revenue-based financing model that requires 2-8% of monthly revenue over 2-3 years, Resolve operates on a transaction basis with no ongoing revenue obligations. This makes it particularly attractive for businesses that want to offer net terms to increase sales without long-term financial commitments.

The platform's AI-powered automation reduces manual AR work by automating payment reminders, collections, and reconciliation across all invoice types—net terms, COD, or due upon receipt. Recent case studies demonstrate significant impact: companies have achieved 5x revenue growth, tripled their revenue through net terms, and unlocked working capital while increasing profit margins.

Resolve's credit underwriting leverages proprietary AI models and expertise from former Amazon and PayPal executives to deliver deeper insights than traditional bureaus. The platform is trusted by 12,000+ B2B businesses and provides free business credit checks with results delivered within 24 business hours.

2. Efficient Capital Labs — Global Revenue-Based Financing

Efficient Capital Labs offers a compelling alternative for SaaS companies with global operations, providing revenue-based financing with faster funding speeds than Lighter Capital. Founded around 2020, ECL has established a $100M debt facility and operates in 15+ countries, making it particularly attractive for businesses with international revenue streams.

Key Features:

72-hour funding timeline compared to Lighter Capital's 3-4 weeks
Global reach across 15+ countries with cross-border funding capabilities
Lower ARR threshold of $100K-$250K versus Lighter Capital's $200K minimum
Transparent flat fee structure of 10-15% with 1.10-1.15x return caps
Streamlined application process with minimal documentation requirements

Pricing Model:

Flat fees of 10-15% with 12-month fixed repayment terms
Return caps of 1.10-1.15x, significantly lower than Lighter Capital's 1.3-1.5x
No closing costs or hidden fees
Funding amounts up to $1.5M

ECL's global focus and faster funding timeline address two of Lighter Capital's main limitations, making it particularly suitable for SaaS companies with international operations or those needing capital more quickly. However, like Lighter Capital, ECL focuses on growth capital rather than transaction financing, so it doesn't provide the B2B BNPL capabilities that Resolve offers for merchants wanting to offer net terms to their customers.

3. Capchase — Low-Cost Revenue-Based Financing

Capchase stands out as the lowest-cost revenue-based financing alternative to Lighter Capital, offering the most competitive return caps in the market. Founded in 2020, the platform has quickly established itself as a leader in B2B SaaS financing with the ability to provide up to $10M in funding.

Platform Strengths:

Lowest return caps in the industry at 1.05-1.11x
Highest funding limits up to $10M
Fast approval process with funding delivered in days rather than weeks
Specialized focus on B2B SaaS and enterprise software companies
Data-driven underwriting with minimal documentation requirements

Cost Structure:

Discount rates of 5-11% with return caps of 1.05-1.11x
No closing costs or hidden fees
Monthly repayment until the return cap is reached
Custom pricing for larger funding amounts

Capchase's low-cost structure makes it particularly attractive for established SaaS companies that need significant growth capital but want to minimize their total cost of financing. However, like other revenue-based financing providers, Capchase doesn't offer the B2B BNPL capabilities that Resolve provides for merchants wanting to offer flexible payment terms to their customers while getting paid upfront.

4. Founderpath — Fast Revenue-Based Financing

Founderpath offers one of the fastest revenue-based financing alternatives to Lighter Capital, with approval and funding possible in under 24 hours. The platform caters to SaaS businesses with funding amounts up to $4M and flexible pricing options.

Key Advantages:

Under 24-hour approval and funding timeline
Flexible pricing with either 7%+ discount or 16%+ interest options
Funding amounts up to $4M for qualified businesses
Streamlined application process with minimal documentation
Focus on SaaS and technology companies

Pricing Options:

Discount model: 7%+ with 12-30 month repayment terms
Interest model: 16%+ with flexible repayment structures
No closing costs or hidden fees
Custom pricing for larger funding amounts

Founderpath's speed advantage addresses one of Lighter Capital's main criticisms—the lengthy 3-4 week funding timeline. However, the platform still operates within the revenue-based financing model, providing growth capital rather than the transaction financing and B2B BNPL capabilities that Resolve offers for merchants wanting to offer net terms to their customers.

5. Arc — Large-Scale Revenue-Based Financing

Arc provides revenue-based financing with the highest funding limits in the market, offering up to $50M for qualified software startups. Founded in 2021, the platform has quickly established itself as a leader for companies needing significant growth capital.

Platform Features:

Up to $50M funding for qualified businesses
Global operations with international reach
48-hour funding timeline for qualified applicants
Eligibility varies by product; Arc’s revenue financing lists minimum revenue thresholds
Specialized focus on software and technology startups

Financing Structure:

Custom pricing based on business metrics and funding amount
Flexible repayment terms based on revenue performance
No equity dilution or personal guarantees required
Comprehensive underwriting process with data integration

Arc's massive funding capacity makes it particularly suitable for later-stage software companies that have outgrown the limits of other revenue-based financing providers. However, like other RBF platforms, Arc focuses on growth capital rather than the transaction financing and B2B BNPL capabilities that Resolve provides for merchants wanting to offer flexible payment terms to their customers.

Understanding the Fundamental Difference

The critical distinction between Resolve and Lighter Capital alternatives lies in their fundamental business models and target use cases:

Lighter Capital and RBF Alternatives (ECL, Capchase, Founderpath, Arc):

Provide lump-sum growth capital for business expansion
Repayment tied to monthly revenue (typically 2-8%)
Funding amounts from $100K to $50M
Best for established businesses with predictable recurring revenue
Require minimum ARR thresholds ($100K-$1M+)
Funding timelines of 24 hours to 4 weeks

Resolve Pay:

Provides transaction financing through B2B BNPL and net terms
Repayment comes from customer invoice payments, not business revenue
Funding tied to individual transactions with no minimum requirements
Best for B2B merchants wanting to offer flexible payment terms
No minimum revenue requirements
Real-time approvals at checkout with 1-3 day funding

According to industry research from Arthur D. Little, B2B BNPL solutions like Resolve are experiencing significant growth as merchants recognize the sales conversion benefits of offering flexible payment terms. B2B BNPL providers often report meaningful lifts in conversion and order size; Resolve cites up to a 40% increase in average order value. While maintaining healthy cash flow through upfront payments to merchants. Additional research from the Federal Reserve shows that flexible payment options have become increasingly important in B2B transactions.

For businesses that need growth capital for expansion, the RBF alternatives to Lighter Capital provide viable options with varying cost structures, speed, and accessibility. However, for B2B merchants specifically looking to offer net terms to their customers while protecting their cash flow, Resolve provides a unique solution that none of the RBF providers can match.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Choosing between Lighter Capital alternatives depends entirely on your specific business needs and financing requirements:

Choose Resolve Pay if you:

Are a B2B merchant wanting to offer net terms to customers
Need to improve sales conversion through flexible payment options
Want to get paid upfront while customers pay on terms
Need AR automation and collections management
Have no minimum revenue requirements or want transaction-based pricing
Want non-recourse financing with built-in credit protection

Choose RBF alternatives (ECL, Capchase, Founderpath, Arc) if you:

Need lump-sum growth capital for business expansion
Have established recurring revenue ($100K+ ARR)
Want non-dilutive financing without giving up equity
Can commit to revenue-based repayment over 1-3 years
Need larger funding amounts ($100K to $50M)

Cost Comparison for $100K Capital Need:

Resolve Pay: $2,610-$3,500 in transaction fees with 30-90 day repayment cycles
Lighter Capital: Estimated $130K-$150K total cost (1.3-1.5x return caps plus around $20K closing costs) over 2-3 years
Efficient Capital Labs: $110K-$115K total cost (10-15% flat fee) over 12 months
Capchase: $105K-$111K total cost (5-11% discount) over 12 months
Founderpath: $107K+ total cost (7%+ discount or 16%+ interest) over 12-30 months

For B2B merchants specifically, Resolve's transaction-based model eliminates the long-term revenue obligations associated with RBF while providing immediate working capital benefits through upfront payments on customer invoices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is revenue-based financing and how does it compare to Resolve's B2B BNPL model?

Revenue-based financing (RBF) provides lump-sum capital that is repaid as a percentage of monthly revenue over time, typically 2-8% of monthly revenue until a predetermined return cap (usually 1.3-1.5x) is reached. Resolve's B2B BNPL model, on the other hand, provides transaction financing where merchants get paid upfront on customer invoices while customers pay on net terms (30-90 days). With Resolve, there are no ongoing revenue obligations—costs are tied directly to individual transactions rather than a percentage of all business revenue.

How does Resolve Pay's "better than factoring" solution work?

Resolve's non-recourse financing advances up to 100% of approved invoice values within 24 hours, while customers pay on net 30, 60, or 90-day terms. Unlike traditional factoring, Resolve maintains the merchant's customer relationship through a white-label payment portal and handles credit assessment, collections, and the majority of default risk. All cash advances are non-recourse, meaning what you receive is always yours to keep regardless of customer payment outcomes.

What are the benefits of offering B2B net terms to my customers?

Offering B2B net terms can increase sales volume and customer retention by enhancing buyer purchasing power and loyalty. Customers can place larger orders and purchase more frequently when they have flexible payment options. According to industry research, B2B BNPL can improve conversion rates by 40%+ while Resolve's platform ensures merchants get paid upfront without cash flow strain.

How quickly can I get paid on invoices using Resolve?

Resolve advances payment on approved invoices within 24 hours, with some purchases up to $25,000 qualifying for instant approvals. This means you can get paid in 1 day instead of waiting 30, 60, or 90 days for customer payments. The platform's real-time credit decisioning at checkout ensures minimal delays in the approval process.

Is Resolve's financing non-recourse?

Yes, all cash advances from Resolve are non-recourse, meaning the funding you receive is always yours to keep regardless of whether your customers ultimately pay their invoices. Resolve takes on the credit assessment, credit decision, and the majority risk of late payments or defaults, making it a secure solution for merchants wanting to offer net terms to their customers.

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.