If you’re running an online store on Shopify, chances are you’ve thought about securing extra capital to help grow your business — whether that’s buying more inventory, investing in marketing campaigns, or covering supplier costs. The good news is there are multiple ways to get a business loan (or similar funding) specifically designed for Shopify merchants.
Shopify Capital: Built-in funding for Shopify merchants
One of the most direct options is Shopify Capital, a financing program offered by Shopify itself. It provides either merchant cash advances or short-term business loans. Here’s how it typically works:
- Automatic eligibility checks: You don’t apply the usual way. Instead, Shopify monitors your store’s performance and invites eligible merchants to apply directly via their dashboard.
- Fast funding: If you accept the offer, funds are usually deposited in a matter of days.
- Easy repayment: For cash advances, repayments come out automatically as a fixed percentage of your daily sales, which means you pay more when sales are high and less when they slow down. Loans have fixed daily payments.
This setup is popular because it’s hands-off, tied to your actual sales, and doesn’t require separate underwriting or paperwork beyond what Shopify already knows about your store.
Exploring alternatives: Revenue-based financing with Onramp Funds
But Shopify Capital isn’t the only option — and sometimes it’s not even the best. Many fast-growing eCommerce businesses look for more flexible funding that grows with their entire sales ecosystem (including off-Shopify channels). That’s where platforms like Onramp Funds come in.
Onramp specializes in revenue-based financing tailored to eCommerce businesses. Unlike traditional loans with rigid monthly payments, Onramp structures repayment around your store’s real-time performance. Here’s why that matters:
- Repayments that move with your cash flow: During busy seasons, you pay more. If sales slow, your payments drop — so you’re never stuck with a big bill when cash is tight.
- Use it how you want: Whether you’re buying bulk inventory, funding ads to increase traffic, or simply building a buffer for supplier invoices, you have the freedom to use the funds as you see fit.
- Beyond just Shopify: If you also sell on Amazon, Walmart, or your own site, platforms like Onramp can evaluate your total sales footprint — not just your Shopify data — to potentially offer higher funding.
How to get started
If you’ve received an invitation from Shopify Capital, you’ll see it on your Shopify dashboard and can walk through a quick online acceptance process. If you’re exploring outside options, you can typically apply directly on providers’ websites by connecting your sales platforms and sharing basic financial data. For example, Onramp’s application takes just minutes and provides offers calibrated to your actual store performance.
The bottom line
Getting a Shopify business loan or advance is easier today than ever before. But it pays to compare. By looking at both Shopify Capital and broader revenue-based financing options like Onramp Funds, you can secure funding that not only helps grow your store but also flexes with your sales, protecting your cash flow when you need it most.
