Looking to grow your Walmart Marketplace business in 2025? Here’s what you need to know about funding options. Walmart now offers tailored funding solutions like merchant cash advances, seller grants, and ad credits to help sellers scale. With over 700 million items on the platform and 40% quarterly sales growth, staying competitive requires smart financial planning. Key challenges include inventory costs, ad spend, and meeting delivery expectations.
Quick Overview of Walmart Seller Funding:
- New-Seller Savings Program: Discounts on referral fees, fulfillment credits, and ad credits.
- Marketplace Capital: Flexible repayment options tied to sales performance.
- Spark Good Local Grants: Funding from $250–$5,000 for local sellers.
- Onramp Funds: Revenue-based financing with fast approvals and flexible payments.
Pro Tip: Use Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) to boost sales by up to 50% and improve customer satisfaction. Keep reading for details on how to qualify and maximize these funding options.
How To Manage Walmart Seller Customer Service (Step by Step Guide)
Funding Options on Walmart Marketplace
In 2025, Walmart Marketplace offers a range of funding opportunities, including direct incentives, merchant cash advances, and local grants, designed to help sellers grow their businesses. Here's a breakdown of the key funding programs available.
Walmart Direct Funding Programs
To address challenges like inventory cash flow and marketing costs, Walmart has introduced the New-Seller Savings program. This program is available to sellers who launch on the platform between February 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026:
| Benefit Type | Savings Offered | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Referral Fees | 30% off first $50K in GMV | Automatic upon store launch |
| Additional Fees | 75% off between $50K–$750K in GMV | Continued marketplace activity |
| Fulfillment Service Credits | Up to $2,000 | Use of Walmart Fulfillment Services |
| Ad Credits | $1,000 | New Walmart Connect advertisers |
"When we started to see that Walmart could fulfill at 99% or better rate, we started to see our volume start to increase by 10, 20, sometimes 30%. When you start to see those numbers I mean really it's a no-brainer."
Partner Lending Programs
Walmart Marketplace Capital offers merchant cash advances through two distinct options:
- Capital by Walmart: Provides flat-fee repayment plans tied to future sales. Available via invitation or upon request.
- Capital by Parafin: Features fixed-percentage repayments with no interest or late fees. Terms are flexible, up to nine months.
To qualify for these programs, sellers must meet the following criteria:
- At least six months of Marketplace sales
- A valid U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number
- A solid business risk profile
- Compliance with Seller Performance Standards
- U.S.-based business operations
Walmart Seller Grants
Beyond cash advances, Walmart supports local sellers through the Spark Good Local Grants program, which offers funding ranging from $250 to $5,000.
"WFS is not only efficient, but it's more cost-effective than the biggest online competitor that Walmart has. We spend less on our order fulfillment through WFS than elsewhere."
"I'm happy to report, in the first 2–3 months we've seen well over a million dollars in GMV."
Emerging brands on Walmart Marketplace have seen impressive growth, with top-performing sellers achieving an average 151% year-over-year GMV increase in FY24. Additionally, U.S. Marketplace revenue grew by 45% during the same period.
Onramp Funds Features for Walmart Sellers
Onramp Funds provides financing tailored for Walmart sellers, using data from your store to align funding with your sales performance. This approach helps sellers address challenges related to inventory, cash flow, and scaling their business on Walmart Marketplace.
Sales-Based Repayment Structure
Onramp Funds uses a revenue-based financing model that adjusts repayments based on your sales, removing the stress of fixed monthly payments.
| Feature | Benefit | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible Payments | Adjusts with sales volume | Pay a percentage of daily sales |
| No Fixed Terms | No rigid monthly payment schedule | No minimum payments required |
| Automated Process | Simplifies repayment management | Direct integration with sales data |
| Fee Structure | Transparent and straightforward | 0.5% to 4% of sales |
"Onramp has simplified cash flow by automating everything: easy to request, set it and forget it payments - quick and fast!"
– Torrie V., Founder and Owner of Torrie's Natural
In addition to flexible repayment terms, Onramp Funds offers fast access to capital through a seamless application process.
24-Hour Funding Process
Connect your Walmart Marketplace account to get a customized funding offer - with clear terms and fees - within 24 hours.
- Quick Application: Link your Walmart Marketplace store and bank account for an instant funding evaluation.
"Applied, got our offer, and had cash in our bank account within 24 hours. Their Austin, TX based team was very professional and helped me deploy the cash to effectively grow our business."
– Nick James, CEO Rockless Table
This fast funding process is supported by tools and services designed to improve your overall business operations.
Core Services and Tools
Onramp Funds offers comprehensive assistance for Walmart sellers:
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Minimum Monthly Sales | $3,000 |
| Business Location | United States-based |
| Platform Integration | Walmart Marketplace |
| Business Structure | Must be a legal business entity |
Their Austin-based team helps sellers with inventory management, marketing strategies, shipping logistics, and business expansion.
"Onramp offered the perfect solution with revenue-based financing to secure the capital we needed to invest in inventory and pay it back at a reasonable time frame once we made sales. The process was quick, easy, and the support was great."
– Jeremy, Founder and Owner of Kindfolk Yoga
With over 3,000 eCommerce loans processed, Onramp Funds has a proven track record of helping Walmart sellers grow through strategic financial solutions.
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Managing Your Seller Funding
When to Apply for Funding
Plan your funding around your business cycle and Walmart's payment hold rules. For U.S. sellers, Walmart holds payments for up to 14 days per shipped order until you hit $7,500 in sales and 90 days from your first shipment. Use this time to expand your inventory, ramp up marketing for peak seasons, or improve operations. A 2019 survey found that small businesses spend an average of 17 workdays each year dealing with cash flow problems. Additionally, think about how Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) could maximize the benefits of your funding.
Using Walmart Fulfillment Services
Adding Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) can significantly boost your results. Sellers leveraging WFS often experience an average 50% increase in gross merchandise volume (GMV) for products marked with "Fulfilled by Walmart" and "2-day shipping". Here’s how it can help:
- Inventory Management: Cate & Chloe send their entire Q4 catalog to WFS warehouses before the busy holiday season, removing the hassle of managing shipments during the peak period.
- Scaling Operations: SJM Marketplace Ventures saw a 9.43x year-over-year increase in their WFS product assortment between February 2022 and January 2023 by strategically investing in inventory growth.
Smart Fund Investment
Allocating funds wisely can lead to noticeable growth. For example, Miko saw a 133.9% rise in GMV during the holiday season (November 1–December 17) by focusing on WFS inventory. With 76% of shoppers now preferring eco-friendly products, investing in sustainable packaging is another smart move.
"WFS was easy to integrate and use allowing us to scale up quickly and efficiently during the peak holiday shopping season."
– Brian Snapp, BCP Director of Marketplace
Put your funding into areas like competitive pricing, optimized product listings, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, reliable inventory systems, and eco-friendly packaging. Plus, WFS rates are about 15% lower than average.
Conclusion: Building Financial Stability
Achieving financial stability on Walmart Marketplace is possible by following the strategies and funding solutions mentioned earlier. With eCommerce capturing 22.3% of the market share by 2023, sellers need financing options that align with their business cycles. Cash flow challenges remain a leading cause of business failures, affecting 82% of them.
The foundation for steady growth lies in using funding solutions that align with sales trends while supporting expansion efforts. Walmart's U.S. eCommerce sales saw a 20% increase in Q4, showing that sellers with strong financial planning are better positioned for long-term success.
Here are some focused financial practices to help sustain growth:
- Track profit margins and key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure your business remains profitable.
- Explore financing options proactively to be prepared when additional funds are needed.
- Manage inventory strategically to avoid overstocking or running out of popular items.
Businesses with a detailed financial plan are 16% more likely to succeed than those without one. The Full Spectrum Company's experience underscores the importance of this approach:
"Onramp's process is very straightforward and easy to navigate. I had funds in my account within a day of final approval."
FAQs
What is Walmart's New-Seller Savings Program, and how can I qualify?
Walmart's New-Seller Savings Program is designed to help first-time sellers on Walmart.com save money as they start their journey. To qualify, you must begin selling on Walmart.com after February 1, 2025, complete all onboarding steps, and maintain good performance metrics while complying with Walmart's Retailer Policies.
The program offers up to $75,000 in savings, including:
- Up to 75% off base referral fees
- Advertising and fulfillment credits
This initiative is a great way to reduce costs and invest in growing your business on the Walmart Marketplace.
What are the main differences between Walmart Marketplace Capital and Parafin's funding options for repayment and eligibility?
Walmart Marketplace Capital, powered by Parafin, offers funding solutions specifically designed for Walmart sellers. The program features a fixed capital fee, repayments based on a percentage of your sales, and repayment terms of up to nine months, providing flexibility based on your business performance.
While details about differences between Walmart Marketplace Capital and Parafin's other funding options are limited, Walmart Marketplace Capital is tailored to meet the needs of Walmart sellers, making it a seamless choice for those operating within the Walmart ecosystem. Eligibility and repayment terms may vary depending on your sales history and business profile, so it’s best to review the specific program details when applying.
How does Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) benefit my sales and streamline my operations on the Walmart Marketplace?
Using Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) can significantly boost your sales and simplify your operations on the Walmart Marketplace. WFS takes care of inventory storage, order picking, packing, shipping, customer support, and even returns, allowing you to focus on growing your business.
Products fulfilled through WFS are marked with 2-day shipping and Fulfilled by Walmart tags, which can increase visibility and attract more buyers. These tags often lead to higher conversion rates, with sellers reporting an average of 50% growth in gross merchandise value (GMV) for items utilizing WFS. By leveraging WFS, you can enhance customer satisfaction while reducing the logistical burden of fulfillment.
