In a fast-moving small-business finance market, trusted partnerships are everything. Upwise’s MCA Partner Program is designed for brokers, advisors, accountants, ISO shops, brands, publishers, creators, and other referral partners who want to deliver fast capital to their clients—while earning competitive commissions and protecting relationships. Dedication is essential for partners who want to maximize their success in the program, as it takes commitment and perseverance to achieve the best results. This guide explains how the program works, who it’s for, and what to expect step by step, with examples you can relate to.
What is an MCA Partner Program?
- An MCA provides upfront working capital to a business in exchange for a percentage of future receivables. Repayment adjusts with the business’s sales.
- A partner program lets you introduce qualified merchants to a capital provider (Upwise). Upwise handles underwriting, funding, and servicing; you focus on client relationships and origination, supported by flexible small business financing options.
- You earn commissions on funded deals and gain a scalable way of adding new value or features to your client offerings—without building a lender back office.
Who is the Upwise Partner Program for?
- Independent brokers and ISO teams
- Accountants/CPAs and bookkeepers
- Payment processors, POS providers, and SaaS platforms with SMB customers
- Consultants, franchisor networks, and industry associations
- Brands, publishers, and creators
Typical merchants funded: retail, e‑commerce, online stores, restaurants, trades, healthcare, cannabis/hemp where compliant, and other cashflow-heavy industries.
The program is also suitable for those who participate in other affiliate programs. Partners can earn commissions for each sale generated through their referrals.
Find the best fit for your business or clients within the Upwise MCA Partner Program.
How the Upwise MCA Partner Program Works
Available in select countries, syndication fees and program details may vary.
Effectively managing your deals and client relationships is crucial to maximizing your success in the program. The partner portal includes a dedicated area for tracking eligibility notifications and accessing program updates.
Simple Enrollment
- Apply as a referral partner or ISO. Provide basic business info, W‑9, and compliance docs. Company-specific information such as Tax ID and ownership details may be required during the application process to ensure compliance.
- Receive your partner agreement, commission schedule, and portal access.
- Onboarding call: meet your Partner Manager, review packaging standards, and discuss ideal merchant profiles.
- A unique referral link is provided to track partner performance and deal origination.
Submit Deals with Ease
- Deal intake: business name, contact info, time in business, monthly revenue, industry, existing advances/loans.
- Basic docs: last 3–6 months of bank statements, voided check, driver’s license, and sometimes POS/batch reports. For larger requests, additional docs may be requested (financials, A/R aging), mirroring the streamlined business loan application checklist used across Upwise solutions.
- You can co-brand your outreach; Upwise remains lender/servicer unless white-label terms are arranged.
- Manage your pipeline and deals efficiently.
Fast Underwriting and Offers
- Typical turnaround: initial response in 2–6 business hours once complete docs are received.
- Evaluation factors: average monthly revenue, consistency of deposits, NSFs/overdrafts, seasonality, existing obligations, and industry risk.
- All applications are systematically reviewed for compliance and eligibility.
- Offer terms may include:
- Advance amount (e.g., 25k–25k–25k–500k+)
- Factor rate and estimated cost
- Holdback/ ACH remittance
- Term range (often 6–12 months)
- Special structures: split-processing, daily/weekly ACH, or consolidation if multiple positions exist
Close with Confidence
- You and your Partner Manager present options to the merchant.
- E-sign contracts, verify statements and ownership, and complete a brief funding call.
- As part of the closing process, verify that the merchant is paying down existing obligations.
- Funds typically wired same day or next business day after stipulations clear.
Get Paid—Reliably
- Commission payments are processed efficiently and reliably to partners on every funded deal per your agreement, with flexible payment options available.
- Transparent reporting in the portal: funded amount, commissions, renewals, and pipeline analytics.
- Renewals: as the merchant pays down and revenue supports it, Upwise proactively reviews for top-up or renewal—earning you additional commissions with minimal lift.
Ongoing Support and Compliance
- Apply as a referral partner or ISO. Provide basic business info, W‑9, and compliance docs. Company-specific information such as Tax ID and ownership details may be required during the application process to ensure compliance.
- Receive your partner agreement, commission schedule, and portal access. Partners must agree to the terms outlined in the contract.
- After reviewing the agreement, partners are required to sign and return the contract to complete enrollment.
- Onboarding call: meet your Partner Manager, review packaging standards, and discuss ideal merchant profiles.
- A unique referral link is provided to track partner performance and deal origination.
What Makes Upwise Different
- Speed with substance: same-day decisions when files are clean, without cutting corners on compliance.
- Flexible structures: daily or weekly remittances, step-downs, partial payoffs, and consolidation options.
- Clear communication: single point of contact, status updates, and honest feedback on declines.
- Merchant-first approach: fit before funding—so your relationships are protected long-term.
- The program helps partners succeed even in a highly competitive market, offering expanded program features and analytics to give partners a competitive edge.
Merchant Fit: Quick Snapshot
- Time in business: typically 6+ months, aligning with Upwise funding application qualification criteria
- Monthly revenue: 15k–15k–15k–2M
- Industry: wide range, with specialty experience in cash-heavy verticals
- Credit profile: FICO is considered but strong cash flow can offset lower scores
- Use of funds: inventory, payroll, marketing, equipment, expansions, vendor discounts
- Eligible merchants must meet criteria such as minimum time in business, revenue, and industry fit.
- Different product categories may affect commission rates or eligibility.
- Merchants who hit the required milestones are more likely to qualify for funding.
Three Real-World Examples
Example 1: Restaurant Stabilization and Expansion
- Partner: Independent ISO
- Merchant: Fast-casual restaurant, 3 locations
- Need: $150,000 for patio build-out and staffing before summer
- File: 320k average monthly deposits,4 NSFs in 90days,one existing advance with 34k balance
- Upwise Solution: $175,000 advance at competitive factor, weekly remittance to match weekly sales, partial payoff of the existing position, and 10-month term
- Outcome: Expansion launched pre-season; partner earned a strong commission. Merchant renewed 6 months later for marketing spend. Increased profits can be reinvested in the business or a portion can be donated to charitable causes, enhancing brand reputation.
Example 2: E‑Commerce Inventory Turn
- Partner: Payment processor with a referral agreement
- Merchant: Online retailer with seasonal spikes
- Need: $90,000 to buy inventory at a 20% vendor discount
- File: $180k average monthly deposits, highly seasonal, clean statements
- Upwise Solution: $100,000 advance, lower holdback with sales-based split processing to protect cashflow during off-peak weeks. The advance was structured based on projected sales to ensure alignment with revenue cycles.
- Outcome: Merchant captured vendor discount, improved margins, repaid faster than projected. Partner received commission and a renewal within 4 months.
Example 3: Cannabis Dispensary Cash-Flow Management
- Partner: Regional consultant
- Merchant: Single-location dispensary, cash-heavy operations
- Need: $60,000 for inventory and compliance upgrades
- File: $250k average monthly deposits, limited traditional banking access
- Upwise Solution: $75,000 advance with weekly ACH, structure aligned to compliant state guidelines; portal reporting to track performance, complemented by specialized cannabis business loan solutions for this industry
- Outcome: Smooth inventory cycles and higher revenue; partner earned commission and positioned for a second location financing conversation. The merchant’s strong business performance over the years influenced the funding decision and future growth planning.
The Partner Experience: What You Can Expect
- Turnaround you can promise: realistic timelines and clear doc lists to set expectations.
- Competitive, defendable pricing: you won’t lose deals to bait-and-switch tactics.
- Protection of your book: documented partner-of-record and renewal attribution, so you can have peace of mind knowing your commissions and renewals are always tracked and protected.
YouTube Partners are also rewarded with perks and benefits as they hit various milestones throughout their partnership journey.
Recent Comments