Content Types: Funding Solutions

Kickfurther vs Clearco: How these two funding options stack up

Posted on by Amanda Levine

Quick answer

Kickfurther and Clearco are both non-dilutive e-commerce financing providers, but they serve different needs. Kickfurther funds inventory on consignment, meaning payment is tied to how quickly your inventory sells. Clearco provides cash advances and invoice funding with fixed weekly repayments over a set term. While Kickfurther is the stronger fit for inventory-heavy consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands with wholesale or seasonal cash cycles, Clearco tends to suit DTC e-commerce and SaaS brands with consistent revenue from connected sales channels.

Key takeaways

  • Different models, different fit: Kickfurther uses a consignment-based inventory funding model, whereas Clearco uses a fixed weekly repayment schedule. The best choice depends on how your business earns—and when.
  • Payment timing is the core difference: Kickfurther payment is tied to actual inventory sell-through. Clearco’s repayment follows a fixed schedule regardless of how fast inventory moves.
  • Kickfurther is built for inventory-heavy CPG brands: If your cash needs are tied to a specific production run, a wholesale purchase order, or a seasonal restock, Kickfurther’s model is structured around that cycle.
  • Clearco suits steady DTC and SaaS revenue: Clearco works well for e-commerce brands with predictable revenue from connected sales channels that need fast, flexible working capital for marketing spend or recurring supplier costs.
  • Both are non-dilutive: Neither platform requires giving up equity. The distinction is in how and when you pay it back.
  • The gray area: For brands with fast, predictable DTC sell-through and an inventory-specific need, both options could work. Review the comparison table below to help you decide.

If you’re searching “Kickfurther vs Clearco,” you’re a founder trying to figure out which funding option works best for your direct-to-consumer (DTC) business. In a nutshell, both platforms offer non-dilutive capital to e-commerce brands without giving up equity, but the way they work is meaningfully different.

Clearco is built around flexible working capital for DTC and SaaS brands with steady revenue, while Kickfurther provides inventory-specific, consignment-based funding for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands that need to pay for inventory before the product sells. This article breaks down how each platform works, who qualifies, and—most importantly—which one fits your specific situation.

What is Clearco?

Clearco is a fintech lender and e-commerce funding provider. While originally known for revenue-based financing, Clearco’s current positioning centers on “flexible, non-dilutive funding” for DTC e-commerce brands and SaaS businesses that want fast access to working capital without giving up equity.

How does Clearco work?

Clearco connects to a brand’s e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, Amazon, and Stripe, and uses that data to underwrite a funding capacity offer in as little as 24 hours. Founders can then choose how their capital is structured and deployed across four product options:

  • Fixed Funding Capacity: A one-time upfront amount with a clear, estimated payment schedule. Best for planned initiatives such as seasonal inventory purchases or large vendor commitments.
  • Rolling Funding Capacity: Capital that replenishes as you repay, designed for brands with continuous ad spend, recurring supplier payments, or reinvestment loops.
  • Cash Advance: Working capital deposited directly into your account for use however you choose.
  • Invoice Funding: Clearco pays your vendor or supplier directly, preserving your cash flow. You repay Clearco on the agreed weekly schedule.

The key distinction: Repayment across all products follows a fixed weekly schedule for up to six months—regardless of how quickly inventory sells. Clearco also lets you repay early to become eligible for new funding sooner.

Who is eligible for Clearco?

Clearco is built for e-commerce and SaaS brands with revenue tied to connected sales channels. Eligibility is largely determined by data access, so you’ll need to connect your sales platforms to enable Clearco to assess your revenue history. Clearco serves both DTC e-commerce brands and SaaS businesses, making it a broader platform by industry than Kickfurther.

Benefits of using Clearco

Here’s what founders gain by choosing Clearco:

  • Funding decisions in as little as 24 hours
  • No blanket liens on business assets
  • No equity dilution required
  • Flexible product options (i.e., choose cash advance or direct invoice payment)
  • Rolling capacity option replenishes without reapplying
  • Serves both e-commerce and SaaS brands
  • Early repayment allowed without penalty

How to apply for Clearco

Brands apply through Clearco’s website by connecting their e-commerce platform accounts. Clearco uses that data to generate a funding capacity offer. From there, founders choose their funding structure, deployment method, and repayment term. The process is designed to be fast—with decisions available in as little as 24 hours after account connection.

What is Kickfurther?

Kickfurther is a consignment inventory funding marketplace built specifically for small and medium CPG brands that need to fund inventory production before selling it. Since 2014, Kickfurther has helped hundreds of product brands access capital tied directly to their inventory cycle—with payment structured around how inventory actually moves, not a fixed calendar.

How does Kickfurther work?

Kickfurther operates as a marketplace where a community of Buyers funds a brand’s inventory on consignment. Here’s how a typical consignment opportunity (Co-Op) works:

  • A brand identifies an inventory order it needs to produce, such as a seasonal restock, a wholesale purchase order, or a volume production run.
  • Kickfurther reviews the brand’s financials, sales history, and the specific inventory need.
  • Once approved, Kickfurther’s marketplace Buyers fund the Co-Op, covering up to 100 percent of the inventory order, with payment made directly to the manufacturer or supplier.
  • The brand receives the finished inventory and sells it through its normal channels: DTC, wholesale, retail, or marketplace.
  • As inventory sells, the brand makes payments to the Co-Op based on actual sell-through rather than a fixed weekly schedule.

The key distinction: Payment is anchored to inventory movement, not to a calendar. For brands with long production cycles, wholesale payment terms (e.g., commonly net-60 or net-90), or seasonal cash flow patterns, this structure means cash flow pressure doesn’t start until product starts moving.

Who is eligible for Kickfurther?

Kickfurther is designed for physical product brands—primarily CPG brands selling through e-commerce, distributor, wholesale, or retail channels. General eligibility criteria include:

  • Trailing 12-month revenue of $200K or more
  • Demonstrated sell-through history and inventory performance data
  • A specific inventory order or production run to fund
  • A physical product business (Kickfurther does not serve SaaS or service-based businesses)

Benefits of using Kickfurther

Here’s what founders gain by funding inventory through Kickfurther:

  • Payments begin only as inventory sells (i.e., no payment schedule imposed before product moves)
  • Up to 100 percent of inventory order funded upfront
  • Non-dilutive (i.e., no equity required). Learn more about why non-dilutive funding matters for growing brands.
  • Consignment structure keeps inventory off your balance sheet
  • No blanket liens required
  • Funding tied directly to a specific production run where capital matches the cash need
  • Co-Op terms are structured around your actual inventory cycle and sell-through projections

How to apply for Kickfurther

Brands apply through the Kickfurther platform by submitting financials, sales data, and details on the inventory order they need to fund. Kickfurther reviews sell-through history and the specific Co-Op opportunity, then structures terms around the brand’s actual sell-through projections. Once approved, the Co-Op is listed on the marketplace and funded by Kickfurther’s community of Buyers.

Kickfurther vs Clearco: How do they compare?

Here’s a side-by-side look at how the two platforms stack up across the factors that matter most to inventory-heavy brands.

Kickfurther Clearco
Funding type Consignment inventory funding via marketplace Cash advance or invoice funding (fixed or rolling capacity)
Payment trigger Tied to actual inventory sell-through Fixed weekly schedule (up to 6 months)
Payment timing Begins only when inventory sells through Capped weekly payments regardless of sales volume
Funding amount range ~$150K per Co-Op Varies; based on connected platform revenue data
Eligibility requirements Proven sell-through; $200K+ trailing 12-month revenue; physical product brands Data-connected accounts (e.g., Shopify, Stripe, Amazon); e-commerce or SaaS brands
Best for CPG brands with inventory-heavy, seasonal, or wholesale-driven cash cycles DTC e-commerce and SaaS brands with steady, predictable revenue
Balance sheet impact Consignment structure; not recorded as a traditional liability Working capital advance; treated as a liability

Key differences in how payment works

The comparison table captures the structure, but the payment mechanics deserve more detail, as this is where the two platforms diverge most meaningfully for CPG brands.

  • Kickfurther’s consignment inventory model structures payment around sell-through. Payments to the Co-Op begin as inventory sells, and the timeline is built around the brand’s actual production and sales projections. For example, a brand with a 90-day inventory cycle isn’t making payments on day one. The payment structure accounts for how long it actually takes to produce, ship, and sell the goods.
  • Clearco’s Invoice Funding pays your vendor or supplier directly, which can look similar to Kickfurther’s model on the surface. The difference is what happens next. With Clearco, repayment starts immediately on a fixed weekly schedule over four, five, or six months, regardless of whether inventory has sold. For example, if a brand is waiting on a net-90 wholesale payment, those weekly payments create cash flow pressure before any revenue has come in from that inventory.

For brands with tight margins, that difference in payment timing can create the very cash flow problem it was meant to solve.

Which one is right for your business?

Neither platform is universally better than the other. The right choice depends on what the capital is for and how your business earns revenue.

Use Kickfurther if:

  • Your cash need is tied to a specific inventory production run or purchase order
  • Your revenue is seasonal, wholesale-heavy, or tied to long payment terms (e.g., net-60 or net-90)
  • You sell physical products through DTC, distributor, wholesale, or retail channels
  • You want payment to follow inventory movement rather than a fixed calendar
  • Keeping inventory funding off your balance sheet matters for your business structure or upcoming fundraise
  • Your margins are tighter and fixed weekly payments would create cash flow pressure before inventory moves

Use Clearco if:

  • You need working capital that isn’t tied to a specific inventory order, such as for marketing spend, operations, or general growth
  • Your revenue is consistent and connected to sales platforms (e.g., Shopify, Stripe, Amazon)
  • You’re a SaaS business or a DTC brand with predictable recurring revenue
  • You want fast access to capital
  • A rolling funding capacity that replenishes as you repay fits your reinvestment model
  • Your sell-through is fast enough that a fixed weekly repayment schedule doesn’t create margin pressure

The gray area: What if both work for e-commerce businesses?

Here’s a scenario where either platform could fit:

Imagine a DTC e-commerce brand with fast, predictable sell-through and an inventory-specific cash need. You’re moving product quickly, and revenue is steady. In this case, Clearco’s fixed weekly schedule may not create pressure—and its faster decision timeline is a real advantage. Kickfurther’s advantage in this scenario is that payment still reflects your actual cash position, so if a shipment is delayed or a wholesale order slips, you’re not locked into the same fixed payment.

The deciding factor often comes down to what the capital is actually for. If you’re funding a specific production run and want payment tied to that run’s sell-through, Kickfurther’s model is a cleaner structural match. If you need general working capital and want flexibility in how it’s deployed, Clearco’s cash advance or rolling capacity may serve you better.

It’s also worth noting that Kickfurther and Clearco serve different primary use cases for financing. Using both simultaneously may be possible, though you should confirm any restrictions with each platform directly before doing so.

How Kickfurther has helped brands like yours

For CPG brands that need inventory funding tied to how they actually sell, the consignment-based model means your payments trigger once inventory starts selling. Here’s how two brands have used Kickfurther to scale without diluting equity or taking on traditional bank debt.

Bala

Los Angeles-based movement brand Bala needed a way to fund inventory growth while continuing to invest in marketing and product innovation as demand surged. By funding inventory through Kickfurther, Bala was able to keep cash on hand for growth activities, such as marketing, new SKUs, and customer engagement, that would otherwise have been crowded out by inventory costs.

“

Kickfurther has allowed us to free up cash on hand so we can spend money on marketing, innovation and keeping our customers engaged in the BALA brand.

— Natalie Holloway, Founder, Bala

Spongellé

Family-owned bath and body brand Spongellé needed consistent inventory funding to support production of their signature Body Wash Infused Buffers—a product that requires high-quality materials and consistent manufacturing. Kickfurther provided the capital to scale production and meet growing demand, without requiring traditional bank debt or equity.

“

With the help of Kickfurther, we’ve been able to finance larger inventory purchases to account for the increase in orders. The partnership allows us the capital flexibility to develop new product launches and finance large order inventory for some of our top customers.

— Eric Binder, Founder, Spongellé

If you’re a CPG brand navigating the same inventory funding challenge, here’s how to get started.

Finding the right funding model for your brand

Kickfurther and Clearco both solve a real problem for e-commerce brands: Accessing capital without giving up equity or taking on traditional bank debt. But they’re built for different cash flow realities.

Clearco is a strong option for DTC and SaaS brands with steady, platform-connected revenue that need fast, flexible working capital. Kickfurther is built for CPG brands whose biggest funding challenge is the gap between paying for inventory and getting paid for selling it—the kind of gap that a fixed weekly payment schedule makes harder, not easier, to manage.

If your cash flow follows your inventory cycle rather than a predictable revenue calendar, Kickfurther’s consignment funding model is worth exploring. If you’re ready to see what a Co-Op could look like for your next production run, you can get started with Kickfurther here. You can also read more about financing options for CPG brands to see how Kickfurther stacks up against a broader set of alternatives.

FAQs

Does Clearco offer inventory-specific funding?

Clearco’s Invoice Funding product pays vendors or suppliers directly, which can be used for inventory purchases. However, repayment is still based on a fixed weekly schedule over four, five, or six months and not tied to inventory sell-through. For brands with long production cycles or slow-moving seasonal inventory, it’s worth looking for an inventory funding model in which payment is tied to actual sell-through rather than to a fixed calendar.

Does Kickfurther affect my credit score?

Unlike credit cards, personal loans, or SBA-backed bank products, Kickfurther’s Co-Op model does not report to consumer credit bureaus. Because the arrangement is structured as a consignment model rather than a traditional loan, it typically does not carry the same credit reporting obligations. As always, confirm current terms directly with Kickfurther and consult your accountant on how to record the arrangement for your specific situation.

How long does it take to get funded through Kickfurther?

Once a brand is approved and a Co-Op goes live on the Kickfurther marketplace, funding can come together quickly. The full process, from application through underwriting to a funded Co-Op, typically takes days rather than the six to 12 weeks a small business loan from a traditional bank can take. Once Kickfurther approves, deals can be funded in as little as 24 hours. The most important thing: Don’t start the process the week your manufacturer needs payment. Beginning early gives the Co-Op the best chance of funding on your production schedule.

Can I use Kickfurther and Clearco at the same time?

Because Kickfurther and Clearco serve different financing use cases (i.e., inventory-specific consignment funding versus working capital advances, respectively), using both simultaneously may be feasible for some brands. However, you should confirm any restrictions in your agreement directly with each platform before doing so, as terms can vary based on your specific agreement.

Is Kickfurther or Clearco better for inventory financing?

For inventory financing, Kickfurther’s model is structurally designed around that use case. Payment is tied to actual inventory sell-through, funding covers up to 100 percent of a production run, and the Co-Op structure is built around how CPG brands produce and sell goods. Clearco’s Invoice Funding can also cover supplier invoices, but repayment follows a fixed weekly schedule regardless of sell-through. For brands with seasonal, wholesale-driven, or longer inventory cycles, Kickfurther’s model tends to be the better fit. For brands with fast, predictable DTC sell-through, either could work.

Shopify Capital alternatives: 7 funding options for online stores

Posted on by Amanda Levine

Key takeaways

  • Shopify Capital now operates as two distinct products, Capital Flex (currently U.S.-only) and Merchant Cash Advance, each with different fees and repayment structures.
  • The share of small business financing applicants seeking funding from online lenders rose from 2020 to 2025, but high interest rates and unfavorable repayment terms are often cited as the most common challenges.
  • Eligibility and repayment structures vary widely across the seven Shopify Capital alternatives covered here, from invite-only platform financing to consignment-based, non-dilutive funding.
  • CPG and inventory-heavy brands often need funding that aligns with sell-through rather than daily revenue, such as Kickfurther’s consignment-based (Co-Op) model.
  • The right alternative for your business depends on what you’re funding, how quickly your inventory turns, and how much repayment flexibility you need.

Quick answer

Shopify Capital alternatives are financing options outside Shopify’s built-in funding program, including revenue-based advances, other platform financing tools, traditional bank loans, and consignment-based, non-dilutive funding. Each option repays differently: Some collect a fixed percentage of daily sales, while others align repayment with inventory sell-through or follow a fixed monthly schedule.

If you’re searching for Shopify Capital alternatives, you’re probably running into one of two walls: You haven’t been invited to apply for Shopify Capital, or you already have funding through it and the daily sales deductions are squeezing your cash flow at the worst possible time.

You’re not alone: 38 percent of small employer firms applied for a loan, line of credit, or merchant cash advance in the prior 12 months, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Small Business Credit Survey, and a growing share of those applicants are turning to online lenders rather than traditional banks.

This guide breaks down seven alternative funding options for online stores, including platform financing, revenue-based advances, traditional bank loans, and consignment-based inventory funding like Kickfurther, so you can find the option that best matches how quickly your inventory turns into revenue and how that timing lines up with repayment.

What is Shopify Capital?

Shopify Capital is Shopify’s built-in financing program, available by invitation to qualifying merchants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Funding is offered directly through the Shopify admin (i.e., the dashboard merchants use to manage their store), with no personal credit check, and repayment collected automatically as a fixed percentage of the store’s daily sales.

The difference between Shopify Capital Flex and Merchant Cash Advance

As of 2026, Shopify Capital includes two distinct products:

  1. Merchant Cash Advance is a lump-sum advance repaid through a fixed percentage of daily sales, with a flat fee applied to the total advance regardless of how quickly a merchant repays it.
  2. Capital Flex is a revolving line of credit, with fees charged only on the outstanding balance and the ability to draw and repay repeatedly.

It’s important to note that Capital Flex is currently available only to select U.S. merchants. Sellers in Canada, the U.K., and Australia will see only the Merchant Cash Advance product in their Shopify admin account.

Shopify Capital requirements and eligibility

Shopify Capital isn’t something merchants can apply for directly. Shopify Capital eligibility criteria are determined by Shopify’s underwriting model, which reviews sales history, disputes, and customer engagement. Keep in mind that Shopify doesn’t disclose the exact thresholds it uses, so merchants won’t know that they qualify until they receive an offer. Merchants must also have sold on Shopify for at least 90 days. There is no personal credit check, but funding amounts and offers vary by merchant and are not guaranteed.

The Capital Flex product carries additional requirements, including a U.S.-based business and bank account and at least $50,000 in gross merchandise value (GMV) over the trailing 12 months.

Why Shopify sellers are searching for alternative financing options

Nationally, more small businesses are turning to online lenders for financing: The share of applicants seeking funding from online fintech lenders rose from 17 percent in 2020 to 29 percent of all applicants in 2025, according to the Federal Reserve’s Small Business Credit Survey. But satisfaction with those lenders has fallen sharply. That same survey found that 60 percent of those applicants who borrowed from online lenders found actual borrowing costs were higher than expected, and cited high interest rates and unfavorable repayment terms as the most common challenges.

For Shopify merchants specifically, the reasons for looking beyond Shopify Capital tend to fall into a few categories:

  • Invite-only access leaves qualified merchants without an option at all
  • Daily sales deductions pull cash out during already-slow periods
  • Funding tied to one platform, with limited use for multichannel or wholesale sales
  • Limited visibility into total cost compared to fixed-term financing

For a closer look at how Shopify Capital stacks up against a non-dilutive option, see our Shopify Capital vs Kickfurther comparison.

5 questions to ask before choosing a Shopify Capital alternative

Before signing up for any funding option, run through these five questions below. They surface the issues that most often cause friction after the capital arrives.

1. What am I really funding, and is the rest of my business ready for it?

If you’re funding marketing spend without enough inventory, you’re creating demand that your business can’t easily fulfill. Funding inventory without a plan to drive demand creates stranded capital. Match the funding to the part of the business causing the real bottleneck.

2. Will this repayment affect other obligations I already have?

Stacking multiple repayment structures can quickly compound. Even if each one is manageable on its own, the combined cash outflow can strain working capital when a business needs it most, such as during a slow sales month or while waiting on a large wholesale payment.

3. Does the repayment schedule match when my business actually generates cash?

A fast funding decision feels good, but the repayment structure runs for months. Make sure the timing aligns with inventory cycles, payment terms, and seasonal patterns. For example, funding that repays daily doesn’t fit well with a seasonal business that sees most of its revenue in two months of the year.

4. Am I optimizing for speed of approval or fit with my business?

Fast approvals don’t fix misaligned financing. A same-day approval can leave a business locked into unfavorable repayment terms that don’t match cash flow six months later. The best option is usually the one that still works once the initial funding need has passed.

5. Does this option require giving up equity or a personal guarantee?

Some financing options require a personal guarantee or trade equity for capital. Knowing this up front avoids surprises later, especially for early-stage brands considering long-term ownership.

7 funding options for Shopify stores

The right financing option comes down to a straightforward question: Does the repayment schedule match the timing of your sales? Each option below answers that differently.

Option Funding type Typical eligibility Payment structure Best for
Shopify Capital Platform financing Invite-only, based on Shopify sales history; active 90+ days % of sales or revolving draw Shopify sellers
Kickfurther Consignment-based inventory funding $200,000+ trailing 12-month revenue; physical product Pay as inventory sells CPG and inventory scaling brands
Wayflyer Revenue-based financing $10,000+ monthly revenue; 6+ months operating % of daily revenue Ad-driven e-commerce growth
Clearco Revenue-based financing 12+ months of revenue; $100,000+/month % of revenue Paid acquisition scaling
Stripe Capital Platform financing Invite-only, based on Stripe payment data % of payments Stripe-native sellers
Amazon Lending Platform financing Invite-only, based on Amazon seller data % of sales Multichannel sellers also on Amazon
8fig E-commerce financing Active e-commerce sales history % of sales (installments) E-commerce sellers planning supply chain
Bank loan or line of credit Traditional financing Strong financials and credit score Fixed monthly schedule Established businesses

1. Kickfurther

Kickfurther is a marketplace-based consignment financing model in which inventory is funded upfront by a community of Buyers, and brands pay for that inventory as it sells. There are no fixed monthly payments and no daily sales sweeps. Because funding is non-dilutive, brands keep full ownership and don’t take on traditional debt. Kickfurther works with brands once they’ve reached at least $200,000 in trailing 12-month revenue and have an established physical product. It’s best suited for CPG and inventory-heavy e-commerce brands managing wholesale orders, seasonal inventory, or long production timelines.

2. Wayflyer

Wayflyer is a revenue-based financing provider for e-commerce and DTC brands, offering cash advances and term loans with repayment collected as a percentage of daily revenue or through fixed installments. Funding can land in as little as one business day. Wayflyer is best for e-commerce brands funding paid acquisition with short revenue cycles, though continuous repayment can strain cash flow for brands with longer inventory cycles.

3. Clearco

Clearco offers revenue-based financing through several products:

  • Fixed Funding Capacity: A one-time upfront amount with a set repayment schedule
  • Rolling Funding Capacity: An ongoing line of funding that replenishes as the business repays it, so capital stays available without reapplying
  • Cash Advance: Working capital deposited directly for general use
  • Invoice Funding: Pays time-sensitive vendor bills, including inventory orders, with capped weekly payments

Clearco is best for brands with steady, predictable revenue that want short-term coverage for marketing spend or vendor invoices.

4. Stripe Capital

Stripe Capital offers built-in financing based on a merchant’s existing Stripe payment data, with repayment deducted as a percentage of daily payment volume. Like Shopify Capital, access is invite-only and tied entirely to one platform. It’s best for Stripe-native sellers who want frictionless funding without a separate application, though it shares the same platform lock-in tradeoff as Shopify Capital.

5. Amazon Lending

Amazon Lending offers invite-only financing to qualifying Amazon sellers, based on their sales history and platform account performance. Repayment terms vary by offer. It’s a useful option for sellers who sell only on Amazon, since funding is based on Amazon-specific performance data and is restricted to spending on Amazon-only initiatives.

6. 8fig

8fig is an e-commerce financing provider built around supply chain planning, now operating under Bizcap after a 2025 acquisition. Funding is delivered in installments aligned with a brand’s cash flow needs, with repayment tied to sales. It’s best for e-commerce sellers actively planning inventory and supply chain spend, particularly around larger restocks or new product launches.

7. Traditional bank loan or line of credit

Bank loans and lines of credit offer the lowest cost of capital for businesses that qualify, since they’re priced on creditworthiness rather than a flat factor rate. An SBA 7(a) loan, for example, can provide up to $5 million in financing with longer repayment terms of up to 25 years, but approval generally takes 60 to 90 days and requires strong financials and documentation. This option is best for established brands with predictable revenue and the ability to manage a longer approval process.

How Goodwipes funded inventory without taking on debt or giving up equity

Like many growing CPG brands, Goodwipes faced a familiar problem: Rising demand for its plant-based, hypoallergenic wipes, but not enough cash flow on hand to produce the inventory needed to keep up. Without additional stock, growth would have stalled. Through Kickfurther’s consignment-based funding, Goodwipes secured the capital needed to produce enough inventory to meet demand. Unlike financing tied to daily sales deductions, payments followed inventory sell-through, so cash flow stayed aligned with when the product actually moved.

“

We needed inventory to grow, and a company doesn’t always have the money to produce enough inventory. Thank god we found David and everyone at Kickfurther.

— Sam Nebel, President, Goodwipes

Choosing the right online funding option for growth

There’s no single best Shopify Capital alternative—only the one whose repayment schedule matches the pace at which your business actually gets paid. Revenue-based options like Wayflyer and Clearco can work well for brands funding marketing spend with short, fast-turning sales cycles. Platform financing, such as Stripe Capital and Amazon Lending, offers convenience for merchants who are comfortable staying within a single platform. Traditional bank financing remains the lowest-cost option for brands that qualify and can wait out a longer approval process.

For CPG and inventory-heavy brands, the bigger constraint usually isn’t access to capital; it’s how that capital is repaid. Kickfurther’s Co-Op model aligns payments with sell-through rather than a fixed schedule, so brands aren’t paying faster than their product is moving. Running through the five questions above before committing to any option can help confirm the right fit.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What are some financing options for scaling my Shopify store?

Shopify merchants have several options beyond Shopify Capital, including revenue-based financing (Wayflyer, Clearco), platform financing (Stripe Capital, Amazon Lending), traditional bank loans or lines of credit, and consignment-based inventory funding from Kickfurther. The right choice depends on what’s being funded and how quickly the business generates cash to repay it.

Can I get Shopify Capital and another loan at the same time?

It depends on the terms of each agreement. Some lenders restrict stacking additional financing on top of an existing advance, particularly when repayment is tied to a percentage of sales. Before combining funding sources, check both agreements for restrictions and consider whether the combined repayment obligations fit your business’ cash flow.

How much does Shopify Capital really cost?

Shopify Capital’s cost depends on which product you qualify for. Merchant Cash Advance applies a flat fee to the total advance amount, which is disclosed upfront, regardless of repayment speed. Capital Flex charges fees only on the outstanding balance, so cost depends on how long funds are drawn. Neither product discloses a traditional annual percentage rate, which can make it harder to compare to fixed-term financing.

Is Shopify Capital a loan?

Shopify Capital’s Merchant Cash Advance product is not a traditional loan. It’s a purchase of future sales in exchange for an upfront advance, repaid through a percentage of daily sales. Capital Flex functions more like a revolving line of credit. Because of this structure, Shopify Capital may not affect a merchant’s personal credit in the same way a conventional bank loan would. Merchants should confirm this directly with Shopify, since credit-reporting practices can change.

Does Shopify Capital affect my personal credit score?

Shopify Capital does not run a personal credit check during underwriting and is not typically reported in a way that affects a merchant’s personal credit score, since funding decisions are based on store sales data rather than personal financial history. Merchants should still review their specific funding agreement, since terms can vary.

Is Kickfurther a good alternative to Shopify Capital for CPG brands?

For CPG and other inventory-heavy brands, Kickfurther can be a strong alternative because payments are tied to inventory sell-through rather than a fixed schedule or daily revenue deduction. It’s best suited for brands with an established physical product and at least $200,000 in trailing 12-month revenue.

What is consignment financing and how does it work?

Posted on by Amanda Levine

By: Erik Straub, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Kickfurther

Consignment financing is a model where one party receives inventory (or the capital to produce it) upfront and pays the other party who provided the inventory or the payment to create it when the inventory sells. It’s used by consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands that need inventory and working capital tied to their actual sell-through, not to a fixed monthly schedule.

At Kickfurther, we built our entire consignment financing model around this idea so brands don’t pay until their products move.

Since co-founding Kickfurther, I’ve talked to hundreds of consumer brands, and the same pattern shows up at almost every growing CPG company I talk to: the need for cash to pay your manufacturer arrives long before the cash you’ll earn from selling that inventory. That timing gap is the single biggest reason scaling brands stall, take on debt they regret, or hand over equity they didn’t have to.

Consignment financing is one of the cleanest ways to close that gap. In this post, I’ll walk through how it actually works, what it costs, who it fits, and how it compares to the other funding options on the table—plus how Kickfurther’s version of the model works in practice.

How consignment financing works

Consignment has been around for decades in retail stores. In a traditional consignment arrangement, a store agrees to stock a product but doesn’t pay for it until the product is purchased by a customer. The risk shifts off the store and onto the brand or the funder.

Consignment financing applies the same concept to inventory funding. Instead of a brand paying out of pocket (or taking on debt) to produce a purchase order, a third party funds the inventory upfront. The brand only pays the funder back as the inventory sells.

The basic flow, from start to finish

Here’s what it looks like step by step:

  1. A brand identifies an inventory order it needs to produce. Say, a wholesale PO, a seasonal restock, or a volume-buy from a supplier.
  2. The funder reviews the brand’s financials, sales history, and the specific order.
  3. Once approved, the funder pays the manufacturer (or the brand) directly to produce or purchase the inventory
  4. The brand receives the finished inventory and sells it through its normal channels, such as DTC, wholesale, retail, and marketplaces.
  5. As inventory sells, the brand pays the funder back on a schedule tied to actual sales, plus a pre-agreed cost of capital.

The key thing to notice here is that repayment is anchored to sell-through, not to a calendar.

Brand, lender, supplier: Who’s all involved

There are usually three parties in a consignment financing arrangement:

  • The brand: the company that needs inventory and will sell it to end customers.
  • The funder (lender): a marketplace, fintech platform, or specialty financing entity that supplies the upfront capital.
  • The manufacturer or supplier: the party producing the goods, who often gets paid directly by the funder.

Some models add a fourth party: the end retailer or distributor, especially when the inventory is being sold into wholesale channels with their own payment terms.

Example: Snack brand needs financing help

Imagine a snack brand needs to fund a $200,000 production run for an initial launch with a retailer. The retailer pays on net-90 terms.

Without consignment financing, the brand has two bad options. Pay the manufacturer out of cash and starve every other line item for three months, or take a bank loan that funds roughly half the order and starts requiring monthly payments before the retailer has even paid its first invoice.

With consignment financing, the brand can fund the full $200,000 upfront, ship to the retailer, and start paying the funder back from the same revenue the inventory is generating. Cash flow stays aligned with the actual business, instead of fighting against it.

consignment financing flowchart

Who is the best fit for a consignment model?

Consignment financing isn’t for everyone. It’s purpose-built for businesses that have inventory at the center of their P&L and strong, reliable sales.

CPG brands with seasonal or volume-driven cycles

The clearest fit is a CPG brand whose production cycle is longer than its sales cycle. Food, beverage, beauty, personal care, apparel, supplements, household goods—anything where you commit cash to a manufacturer months before that inventory turns into revenue.

Seasonal brands feel this gap most acutely. One of our customers captures it well:

“

Our business is highly seasonal, with peak demand spanning from Black Friday through Valentine’s Day. It can be tough to meet demand during our peak with a 5-month purchasing cycle. The flexibility of using funds without immediate repayments allowed us to manage our cash flow more effectively and focus on growing our business.

Brands with proven sell-through

Most consignment financing providers want to see real revenue, not a pitch deck and a dream. The whole model depends on inventory selling, and funders want evidence of this.

Generally, that means a brand with at least 12 months of sales history, predictable channel performance, and clean unit economics. The more data the funder has on how fast your products turn, the more comfortably they can fund larger orders.

At Kickfurther, for example, we can fund any brand with more than $400K in trailing 12-month revenue, or over $200K if they have POs from large retailers.

When consignment inventory financing isn’t the right fit

It’s not the right tool for every business. A few situations where I’d point founders elsewhere:

  • Pre-revenue or pre-product brands. If you’re still validating, you need venture capital or a small business grant, not inventory funding.
  • Service businesses. No inventory = no consignment financing.
  • Brands with thin margins. If your contribution margin is tight, the cost of capital can erode whatever buffer you have. Be honest about the math.
  • Brands looking to fund non-inventory expenses. Marketing, payroll, software, R&D. That’s a different problem that requires a different funding source. Having said that, a brand can use Kickfurther’s inventory funding to be reimbursed for inventory they’ve already purchased and then use that new cash flow to put towards other business activities.

What does consignment financing cost?

This is the question every founder asks first, and it deserves a straight answer.

How costs are typically structured

Consignment financing isn’t usually quoted as an annual percentage rate. It’s quoted as a fixed cost of capital on a specific funding amount over a specific term. So a brand might agree to pay back $210,000 on $200,000 of funding over a six-month sell-through window.

That fixed structure is actually one of the things founders like about it. You know the total cost upfront. You aren’t watching a variable interest rate creep, and you aren’t on the hook for compounding charges if things take longer than expected.

Why it isn’t quoted as an interest rate

A traditional loan amortizes over a fixed term with fixed monthly payments, regardless of what your business is doing. An interest rate is the right way to describe that arrangement.

Consignment financing repayment is tied to inventory selling. Some months you might pay back more, some months less, and the total cost is set at the start. Stamping an APR on that mechanic would be misleading; the math doesn’t behave like a loan.

Comparing total cost to other funding types

Apples-to-apples comparison takes a little work, but here’s the framing I use with founders:

  • Versus a bank loan, consignment financing usually costs more in absolute dollars, but it covers a larger share of the order, doesn’t require monthly payments before revenue lands, and doesn’t put personal assets on the line.
  • Versus equity, it’s almost always cheaper. Giving up 10% of your company to fund a single inventory cycle is a permanent cost. Consignment financing is one-and-done per order.
  • Versus a merchant cash advance or factoring, consignment financing is often cheaper and more transparent, with no daily debits or hidden fees.

If you want a deeper look at how this stacks up against the most common alternatives, our team has a longer comparison post on purchase order financing versus inventory financing that breaks the math down further.

How is consignment financing different from a traditional loan?

This is where the model separates itself. A loan is a contractual obligation to pay a fixed amount on a fixed schedule, secured by something, usually personal assets. Consignment financing is structured differently in three meaningful ways.

No fixed monthly payments

A bank loan often starts charging you the month after you sign. If your inventory hasn’t shipped yet, that doesn’t matter—the payment is due. Consignment financing repayment is tied to your inventory sales. If sales ramp slowly, generally, repayment ramps slowly. If sales are faster, you pay it off faster.

How it’s treated on the balance sheet

A loan is debt. It sits on your balance sheet, eats into your debt-to-equity ratio, and shows up every time another lender or partner runs your numbers. Consignment financing is structured around the inventory itself rather than as a debt obligation, so it doesn’t load up the balance sheet the same way. That matters when you’re trying to stay attractive to future funding partners or acquirers.

For a fuller breakdown of why founders increasingly look outside traditional debt and equity, our team wrote about why you should consider non-dilutive funding earlier this year.

Consignment financing vs. other inventory funding options

Founders rarely choose consignment financing in a vacuum. Here’s how it stacks up against the other tools on the table.

Funding type % of order funded upfront Repayment trigger Typical time to fund
Consignment financing Up to 100% Inventory sell-through 1–4 weeks
Bank loan / line of credit Roughly 50% (typical) Fixed monthly schedule 4–12 weeks
Purchase order financing 70–90% (typical) Customer payment 1–3 weeks
Revenue-based financing Varies Daily/weekly % of revenue 1–2 weeks
Equity funding Up to 100% (cash) None (permanent) 3–9 months
Credit cards / personal credit Limited by credit line Fixed monthly schedule Immediate

Bank loans and lines of credit

Banks remain the cheapest source of capital on paper, but the headline rate is only part of the picture. According to the Federal Reserve’s 2024 Small Business Credit Survey, only about half of small business loan applicants received the full amount they requested, and the typical inventory-secured bank product only funds roughly half the order value. Combine that with personal guarantees and amortization that starts immediately, and the actual fit is often poor.

Purchase order financing

PO financing is consignment financing’s closest cousin. It funds a specific PO, usually pays the manufacturer directly, and gets repaid when the customer pays. The biggest practical difference is that PO financing is only available if you have existing purchaser orders in an amount large enough to cover your supply run, and PO financing is usually capped at a percentage of the order, while consignment financing doesn’t require a PO and can fund the full amount. We have a side-by-side breakdown of how the two models differ in our post on inventory financing for CPG brands.

Revenue-based financing

Revenue-based financing pulls a fixed percentage of your top-line revenue every day or week until the amount charged is repaid. It’s flexible compared to a loan, but it’s tied to all of your revenue, not just the inventory cycle the funding paid for. For seasonal brands or brands with multiple product lines, that can feel like death by a thousand paper cuts.

Equity or Convertible Debt funding

Equity can be the most expensive money you’ll ever take, even though it doesn’t feel that way upfront. Generally, you will have to give us some percentage of your company (and still potentially pay interest) for this type of funding. While you might not pay anything out of pocket up front (other than legal fees, which, themselves, can cost tens of thousands of dollars), you will own less of your company moving future, which means the repayment pain will be felt anytime your company makes a distribution or pays dividends and when it sells.  Consignment financing covers the same gap, costs you only the agreed cost of capital, and leaves your cap table intact.

How do you qualify for consignment financing?

Most providers run a similar diligence playbook. Here’s what to expect.

Revenue and operating history

You’ll generally need 12+ months of sales, predictable monthly revenue, and a clear track record of inventory turning. Different providers have different minimums—some start at $100K in annual revenue, others want $1M+. Plan to share at least a year of bank statements, sales reports, and accounting data.

Inventory health and margins

Funders want to see that the specific inventory they’re funding will sell. That means SKU-level performance data, sell-through rates, and gross margins are healthy enough to cover the cost of capital with room to spare. If you’ve had a recent stockout, that’s actually helpful—it shows demand outstripping supply.

Documentation you’ll need

Plan to share:

  • Two to three years of profit and loss statements
  • Recent bank statements (typically 6–12 months)
  • Sales reports by channel and SKU
  • The specific PO or production order you want funded
  • Manufacturer or supplier quote and timeline
  • Existing inventory and accounts receivable summary

The better your data hygiene, the faster the underwriting.

How Kickfurther’s consignment funding model works

Now, the part where I’ll talk specifically about what we do. We built Kickfurther because, as operators ourselves, we kept seeing brands hit the same wall: the bank-funded half was too small, the equity offer cost too much, and nobody had a model that actually matched how a CPG business burns and earns cash.

100% upfront funding for your inventory order

Most traditional providers fund a slice of your order. We fund up to 100%. That means if your manufacturer needs $200,000 to produce, you can have $200,000 wired to them, not $100,000 plus a scramble for the rest.

A marketplace of Buyers funds your Co-Op

We don’t fund Co-Ops off our balance sheet. Instead, we built a marketplace of Buyers—people who participate in funding inventory through Kickfurther. When your Co-Op goes live, Buyers fund it collectively.

This structure is the reason we can fund the full order.

You pay as inventory sells through

Repayment is the part founders tell me they appreciate most. There’s no monthly amortization. You can pay us back from the same revenue the inventory generates, and you set sales estimates. If sales come in faster, you finish faster. If they take a little longer, the structure has flexibility.

“Coffee lots will go on sale. A farmer might call with lots of coffee at a certain price but we can’t necessarily jump on it because we don’t have the cash flow. This limits broadening our scope of coffee offerings.” — Sarah, Underground Coffee

That’s the kind of moment consignment financing exists for. Capital that arrives when the opportunity does, repayment that arrives when the revenue does. See if Kickfurther is a fit for your business.

FAQs

Is consignment financing considered debt?

It’s structured differently from a traditional loan. Because repayment is tied to inventory sales rather than a fixed amortization schedule, and because providers like Kickfurther don’t require personal guarantees, consignment financing typically doesn’t sit on a brand’s balance sheet the same way debt does. Always check with your accountant on how to record it for your specific situation.

Does consignment financing affect my personal or business credit?

It depends on the provider. Many consignment financing providers, including Kickfurther, do not report the arrangement to consumer credit bureaus. That’s a meaningful protection compared to credit cards, personal loans, or SBA-backed bank products.

What happens if my inventory doesn’t sell?

This is the most important question to ask any provider. The structure varies. With Kickfurther, repayment is generally tied to your sell-through schedule, so if sales lag, the timeline flexes—up to a point. We work with brands actively when sell-through doesn’t hit projections. Other providers may have stricter terms or require backup repayment sources, so always read the contract closely.

How fast can I get consignment financing?

Approval timelines run from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the provider, the size of the order, and how clean your financial documentation is. Once a Co-Op goes live on the Kickfurther marketplace, funding can come together in days. Plan ahead anyway. The worst time to start the process is the week your manufacturer needs payment.

Can I use consignment financing alongside other funding sources?

Yes, and most growing CPG brands do. Consignment financing covers the inventory line item; bank credit lines, equity raises, or revenue-based products can cover marketing, payroll, R&D, and other operating expenses. Stacking funding sources is normal as long as you’re clear with each provider about the others.

Do I need collateral for consignment financing?

The inventory itself often serves as the underlying asset, so traditional collateral like real estate or equipment usually isn’t required. That’s a major difference from secured bank loans, which often require a hard asset pledge in addition to a personal guarantee.

Is consignment financing available for first-time inventory orders?

Most consignment financing providers, including Kickfurther, want to see at least 12 months of sales history before funding an order. That said, “first-time” can mean different things—it might be your first wholesale PO, your first volume-buy, or your first international shipment, all of which are fundable for an established brand. If you’re truly pre-revenue, you’ll likely need to combine bootstrap, friends-and-family, or grant capital first to establish a sales record, then layer consignment financing on top once orders are repeatable.

 

Common Inventory Mistakes CPG Brands Make (And How To Avoid Them)

Posted on by Amanda Levine

Most brands that hit $300K-$1M in revenue run into the same inventory challenges. These aren’t failures; they’re predictable growing pains. Here’s what to watch for.

Mistake #1: Ordering just-in-time when you should be thinking ahead

What it looks like: Waiting until you’re almost out of stock to place the next PO. Ordering exactly what you need for the next 60 days, nothing more. Operating on a ‘we’ll figure it out when we get there’ basis.

Why it hurts: When you’re reordering reactively, you lose negotiating power with suppliers. No volume discounts. No flexible terms. You’re paying more per unit right when growth should be lowering your costs. Plus, if lead times stretch (and they always do), you risk stockouts during your best sales periods.

How to avoid it: Build a rolling 6-month inventory forecast. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just directionally right. Order ahead when you can, especially before peak seasons. Think about inventory as a strategic asset, not just an operational task.

Mistake #2: Tying up all your cash in one big PO

What it looks like: Spending 70-80% of your available cash on a single inventory order. Having no cushion for marketing, hiring, or unexpected opportunities. Feeling cash-strapped right after placing an order.

Why it hurts: The most expensive inventory decisions aren’t about overordering; they’re about sacrificing growth because all your cash is locked up waiting for products to sell. When opportunities come (a retailer wants a test order, a wholesale lead converts, Amazon recommends you for a promotion), you can’t take advantage because your money is tied up in inventory that won’t sell for 60-90 days.

How to avoid it: Leave at least 30-40% of your working capital available after placing a PO. If you can’t afford to do that and still order the inventory you need, it’s a signal that you should explore external funding options rather than stretching your cash dangerously thin.

Mistake #3: Accepting bad supplier terms because you need product now

What it looks like: Paying 100% upfront because you don’t have negotiating leverage. Accepting longer lead times than you’d prefer. Skipping quality checks or rushing production to save time. Ordering smaller quantities at higher per-unit costs.

Why it hurts: When you’re desperate, suppliers know it. You end up with worse pricing, worse terms, and more risk. And if quality suffers because you rushed, you’ll pay for it in returns, reputation damage, and lost customer trust.

How to avoid it: Build relationships with your suppliers before you’re in crisis mode. Negotiate terms when you’re in a strong position (like right after a successful order), not when you’re scrambling. If you’re consistently in ‘urgent’ mode, that’s a signal your planning or capital structure needs to change.

Mistake #4: Treating all SKUs the same

What it looks like: Reordering everything equally, regardless of sales velocity. Not tracking which products are actually driving profit. Keeping slow-moving inventory in stock ‘just in case.’

Why it hurts: Not all SKUs are created equal. Some move fast, some sit. When you treat them the same, you end up with too much of the slow stuff and not enough of the winners. This ties up cash in dead inventory while your best-sellers stock out.

How to avoid it: Run an ABC analysis:

  • A items (top 20% of SKUs that drive 80% of revenue): Always keep these in stock
  • B items (steady but not stellar): Order predictably but don’t overstock
  • C items (slow movers): Order minimally or consider discontinuing

Mistake #5: Saying no to growth because timing doesn’t line up

What it looks like: Turning down wholesale opportunities because you can’t afford the PO. Passing on promotional placements because inventory won’t arrive in time. Saying ‘maybe next quarter’ to strategic partnerships.

Why it hurts: The opportunities that come at inconvenient times are often the best ones. Retailers don’t wait. Promotional slots don’t stay open. If you’re consistently saying no because of inventory timing or cash constraints, you’re not operating at your full potential.

How to avoid it: Build optionality into your capital structure before you need it. Know what funding sources you’d tap if the right opportunity came up. Don’t wait until you’re desperate. Set up relationships and understand your options in advance.

Mistake #6: Assuming you can bootstrap forever

What it looks like: Pride in ‘never taking on debt.’ Viewing external capital as a weakness, not a tool. Growing slower than you could because you’re waiting for revenue to fund the next order.

Why it hurts: There’s nothing wrong with bootstrapping in the early days. But at a certain point, self-funding becomes self-limiting. Your competitors who have access to capital can move faster, take bigger swings, and capture market share while you’re waiting for cash to free up.

How to avoid it: Recognize that smart founders use capital strategically. Inventory funding, in particular, isn’t debt. It’s aligning your payments to sales performance. The goal isn’t to avoid all external capital; it’s to use the right capital at the right time to accelerate growth without giving up equity or overextending.

See the pattern here?

Here’s what ties all of these mistakes together: They’re reactive decisions made under pressure. The brands that scale cleanly are the ones that think about inventory before it becomes a bottleneck. They plan ahead, build relationships, and understand their capital options before they’re desperate. You don’t need to solve all of this overnight. But recognizing these patterns early means you can make strategic choices instead of scrambling.

Here’s what to do next

If you’re seeing yourself in 2-3 of these scenarios, it’s worth thinking about how your capital structure could give you more flexibility.

If you’re a US brand with trailing 12-month revenue under $200K, you may not be ready for Kickfurther funding YET, but we work with tons of wonderful partners from funding options to fulfillment and everything in between. See if one could be a fit for you! And when the time is right, we’d love to help you add consignment inventory funding to your capital stack.

Kickfurther Expands Access to Inventory Funding for Brands Under $400K in Revenue

Posted on by Amanda Levine

Growing a product business has never been about demand alone. It’s also about timing. Founders feel that gap every time a supplier needs payment upfront, while revenue is still weeks or months away. We built Kickfurther to bridge that gap with consignment-based inventory funding that aligns payment to actual sales, not fixed schedules.

Today, we’re making access to that model available to even more emerging brands.

What’s New

Kickfurther is expanding its qualification criteria to support brands with $200,000–$400,000 in trailing twelve-month revenue, as long as they hold purchase orders from national retailers such as Target, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, and others.

This means more early-stage founders can say yes to every opportunity–not just the ones they can afford–with access to inventory funding that doesn’t restrict cash flow.

Why We’re Making This Change

Founders at this stage have proven something important: customers want their product, and now major retailers do too.

What they often don’t have is the working capital to fulfill those large POs without draining cash or taking on personal risk. Traditional financing wasn’t built for this moment:

  • approval is slow
  • payments start immediately
  • and capital is credit-based rather than sales-based

Kickfurther’s model flips that dynamic:

  • We pay your supplier upfront (or fund recent orders) so you can stock up with confidence
  • You pay us back only as the inventory sells, without adding debt to your balance sheet
  • Your working capital stays free for marketing, hiring, or simply stabilizing operations as you grow

Emerging brands with real traction deserve a capital structure that moves at their speed. This update gives them exactly that.

Who Now Qualifies Under the Expanded Criteria

A brand is now eligible if it:

  • Is a US-based company
  • Sells physical products
  • Has at least $200,000 in trailing twelve-month revenue
  • Holds active purchase orders with national retailers (Walmart, Amazon, Target, Costco, etc.)

This update ensures that brands with meaningful retail opportunities are no longer held back by revenue limits.

What This Means for Founders

If you’re building an emerging CPG brand, this expansion means:

You can finally say yes to major purchase orders

Retailers move fast. Cash flow shouldn’t slow you down. Capture every order and unlock volume discounts you may not have been able to reach before.

You don’t have to choose between growth and liquidity

Inventory shouldn’t force you to pull back on marketing, team support, or product development.

You can grow without debt or dilution

Consignment funding keeps your balance sheet clean and your ownership intact.

You get more than capital. You get a partner.

Founders describe Kickfurther as feeling like a “coworking experience,” not a transactional lender. We’re here to help CPG founders grow and succeed—and we’re in it for the long haul.

Why This Matters for the CPG Community

The early-growth stage is where many great brands stall. And it’s not because demand isn’t there; it’s because capital options don’t align with how product businesses actually operate. Long lead times, upfront supplier payments, seasonal shifts, and retailer terms all create friction that traditional financing wasn’t designed for.

Kickfurther’s expansion brings more founders into a model aligned with how their businesses truly work.

Looking Ahead

This is one step in a broader effort to support the full spectrum of CPG builders, from emerging brands proving demand to established operators scaling multi-SKU portfolios. As brands grow, our funding limits and pricing improve with them, creating a long-term partnership that compounds over time.

If your brand now falls within the updated criteria and you’re preparing for your next production run or fulfilling a new retail partnership, we’d love to support you.

Connect with our team to see if Kickfurther’s consignment-based inventory funding is the right fit for your next stage of growth.

Flexible Funding That Rewards Growth: Meet Kickfurther’s New Pricing Model

Posted on by Amanda Levine

Kickfurther’s new pricing is designed to give CPG brands more flexibility, more breathing room, and better cash flow.

We’ve moved away from the old subscription model — where brands paid an upfront annual fee to access the platform — and replaced it with a more flexible model that better aligns with your growth cycle.
How It Works

With our new pricing model, you can now access pay-as-you-use funding, meaning you only pay a small percentage when you use it.

And just like before, you’ll still enjoy benefits like:

  • Payment after sales – You won’t start paying until the inventory is sold
  • Loyalty rewards – Your funding fee goes down the more you work with us

Why It’s Better

For CPG brands, timing is everything. Our new model gives you the runway to scale without straining cash flow.

You’ll still enjoy everything that makes Kickfurther unique — debt-free funding, off-balance sheet treatment, payment after sales, and loyalty rewards — but now with no upfront subscription cost. Plus, if you sell your inventory faster, your Monthly Consignment (Co-Op) fee can go down.

Kickfurther payment structure

Why We Made the Change

This update came directly from customer feedback.

Brands told us they loved Kickfurther’s flexibility but wanted pricing that scaled with their usage. So, that’s exactly what we built.

Now, your costs are more predictable, your payments are better aligned with sales, and your capital stays focused on what drives growth: marketing, product innovation, and distribution.

Because when your cash flow is stronger, your whole business moves faster. And that’s what we’re here to support.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about how to take advantage of this new pricing model where everyone wins, book time to chat with a member of our team.