A merchant cash advance (MCA) is a type of short-term business loan that provides a business with a lump sum of money in exchange for a percentage of the business's future credit or debit card sales. Merchant cash advances (MCAs) are commonly used by small businesses that have difficulty securing financing from traditional banks. They can serve as a useful alternative to small business loans because they do not require collateral, such as assets or property. However, MCAs tend to be more expensive than traditional bank loans.