Ravenrock Funding Group, a small-business funding broker in Sarasota, Florida, lays six options side by side here: working capital, term loans, lines of credit, inventory financing, equipment financing and merchant cash advances. Each one is paid back differently. Lending partners decide on every request and set any rate and terms; Ravenrock arranges and does not lend.
Sarasota-Manatee, FL funding options on one grid
| Option | What it is | How it goes back | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working capital | Short-term money for operating costs | Level payments, commonly weekly or monthly | Payroll, rent, supplier bills |
| Term loan | One advance with a fixed calendar | Amortized installments until the balance is zero | Build-outs, expansions, refinancing |
| Line of credit | A revolving limit you draw against | Interest only on the drawn amount; repaid room can be drawn again | Recurring, uneven gaps |
| Inventory financing | Funding for stock bought ahead of sales | Installments or paydowns as goods sell | Retail and wholesale stock |
| Equipment financing | Who owns the walk-in, the chair or the skid steer for an asset | Fixed payments; the asset is usually the collateral | Chairs, coolers, trailers, tools |
| Merchant cash advance | A sale of receipts to come, not borrowing | A share of card or bank receipts is remitted | Card-heavy businesses weighing total cost |
Reading the grid
Start from the expense, not the product. Find the row whose 'fits' column matches what the money is for, then read that option's page for how it is repaid and what partners review. If two rows could fit, the deciding question is usually timing: will the need recur, or is it a one-time cost? A recurring need leans toward a revolving line; a single project leans toward a term loan or equipment financing.
Secured or unsecured, short or long
A secured structure ties the funding to collateral: the equipment being bought, the inventory on the shelf, or a general lien on business assets recorded through a UCC filing. An unsecured structure relies more heavily on cash flow and credit history, so partners usually look harder at bank statements. Neither is automatically cheaper or easier; it depends on the partner and the file.
Term matters as much as security. Money borrowed for a one-off project that pays off over years belongs on a longer schedule. Money that bridges a gap of a few weeks belongs on a short one, or on a revolving line so you only carry the balance while the gap is open.
Four families most owners ask about
Owners often ask what the four types of business loans are. There is no official list, but most offers fall into four families: term loans, revolving lines of credit, asset-based financing (equipment and inventory), and short-term working capital. The merchant cash advance sits outside all four because it is a purchase of receivables rather than a loan.
Where SBA programs fit
People in Florida often search for SBA loans. SBA programs are outside what Ravenrock Funding Group arranges; it neither lends under them nor places them. Owners who want to explore those programs can start with the free advisers listed in our Sarasota-Manatee small business directory. If a conventional option suits you better, we can compare it here.
What a partner reads before deciding
- Business bank statements, so the partner can see deposits and the account's low points
- Entity status and the registered name, and whether a trade name matches the bank account
- Time in business, which our post on time in business explains option by option
- Existing debts and liens, including any open merchant cash advance
- For asset-based options, a quote or invoice for the equipment or stock
Allowed uses depend on the contract
Most structures can pay for ordinary business costs: payroll, rent, stock, equipment, repairs, a move or a refinance. The limits come from the contract, not from the product name. Each partner's agreement spells out what the money may be used for, so read that clause before you sign and ask us about anything unclear.
By Ravenrock Funding Group · Updated