Some funding needs are not about how much you have but about when. A property sale closes in three weeks, but the next deal closes Friday. A large invoice will be paid next month, but a supplier wants a deposit now. A refinance is approved but not yet funded, and a window is closing. In each case you know where the repayment will come from. You just need to get there first. That is the job of bridge capital. fundivi offers bridge capital from $50K to $1M with decisions in about 3 hours, and this guide explains how it works, what qualifies, and when another product would serve you better.
If your business has been open for 6 months or more, brings in $30K or more in monthly revenue, and the owner has a personal credit score of 550 or higher, you can see what you qualify for in about 2 minutes.
What Makes Bridge Capital Different
Most financing is judged on your ability to repay over time from the ordinary earnings of the business. Bridge capital is judged on something more specific: a defined event that will repay the money. Because that event is known, the arrangement can be short and fast. Because it is short, the structure leans on the event happening, not on years of earnings.
That focus on a single repayment event is why bridge capital can be decided so quickly. The question is less about a broad financial profile and more about whether the event is real, whether it will happen on time, and whether it is large enough to repay the amount.
What Counts as a Repayment Event
Not every future payment qualifies. A good repayment event is specific, documented and reasonably certain. Common examples include:
The sale of a property or asset, backed by a signed purchase agreement and a scheduled closing date.
A refinance or permanent financing that has been approved and is waiting to fund.
A large customer payment, supported by an issued invoice, a contract and the customer's history of paying.
An insurance payout or a government payment that has been approved and has a known timeline.
A construction or project draw scheduled under a signed agreement.
What does not qualify is a hope. Expecting that sales will pick up next quarter, or that a pitch will probably turn into a contract, is not a repayment event. The test is whether you can point to a document that shows the money is coming and roughly when.
Situations Bridge Capital Is Built For
Real estate. Investors use bridge capital to close on an acquisition before an existing property sells, or to fund purchase and renovation ahead of permanent financing. Speed often decides who wins a deal, and a buyer with funds ready can move when others cannot.
Receivables and large payments. A business with a big, confirmed invoice outstanding can cover costs while it waits, without selling the invoice or giving up control of the relationship.
Event and hospitality businesses. Deposits, staffing and supplies are due well before an event's revenue arrives. A confirmed booking can be the repayment event.
Partner buyouts and recapitalizations. When a transaction has a defined funding source on a date, bridging the interval lets the deal close on schedule.
Timing mismatches in contracts. A government or corporate contract that requires you to start work before the first payment is a classic gap.
Why Speed Matters More Than Rate Here
Bridge capital exists because of a deadline. If the opportunity disappears while you wait for a cheaper loan, the cost of the cheaper loan is the entire opportunity. That is why speed is often the deciding feature.
It does not mean cost is irrelevant. Short term money is usually more expensive than long term money for the period it is outstanding, and you should make sure the opportunity justifies it. A simple test: compare the cost of the bridge with the profit or benefit you gain by acting now. If the benefit is much larger, bridging makes sense. If the margin is slim, think again.
The cost calculator lets you model different amounts and timeframes so you can see the total before you commit.
What Happens if the Repayment Event Is Delayed
This is the risk owners should think about first. Closings slip, customers pay late, and approvals take longer than expected. A bridge that was meant to last three weeks may need to last six.
Plan for it. Before you accept, ask what happens if the event is delayed: are there extension options, what do they cost, and what is the consequence of missing the date. Build in a cushion by choosing a term longer than your best case estimate. And have a backup repayment source in mind, even if you never use it. A bridge works best when the event is solid, the timeline has slack and you understand the options if things move.
If the event falls through entirely, you are left with a short term obligation and no planned source of repayment. This is why only a documented, reliable event should be used, and why honesty with yourself about the odds matters.
Bridge Capital Compared With Other Options
Against a line of credit: a line is revolving, built for ongoing and uncertain needs, and is typically cheaper if you already have one in place and the room to use it. Bridge capital is better when the amount is large or the timeline is urgent and no line exists. Decisions on a line typically take 1 to 3 days, while bridge capital can be decided in about 3 hours.
Against working capital: working capital can also be decided the same day and suits general operating needs. Bridge capital is tied to a specific repayment event and is the more natural fit when the amount is larger and the payoff is defined.
Against a term loan: a term loan is meant to be repaid steadily over time from earnings. If there is no single payoff event and the investment pays back gradually, a term loan fits better.
Against factoring: if the repayment event is a customer paying an invoice, factoring is another way to turn that invoice into cash. It takes about one to two weeks to set up and fees depend on the wait, so if you need money in hours, bridge capital is faster.
What fundivi Looks At
fundivi's underwriting engine reviews your bank activity along with the details of the repayment event. It considers how steadily revenue arrives, how your balances behave and whether the event is documented and plausible.
The baseline requirements are 6 months in business, an active business checking account, $30K or more in monthly revenue and a 550 FICO. Meeting them does not guarantee approval, but it means you are in range. For a quick decision, have your documents ready in advance.
Documents to Have Ready
Speed depends on a complete file. For most bridge requests, gather the following.
The proof of the repayment event: a signed purchase agreement, an approval letter, a contract, an invoice or a payment schedule.
Recent business bank statements.
Basic business and ownership information.
For real estate, details about the property and the transaction.
A short explanation of the timeline: when you need the funds, when you expect to be repaid and what could change that.
The clearer the picture, the faster the decision. If you want to see the full path, the how it works page walks through each stage.
A Worked Example
A real estate investor has a signed contract to sell a renovated property for $620,000, closing in 25 days. A second property, available at a discount, will go to another buyer if the investor cannot close by next Thursday. The investor needs $180,000 to close on the new property in six days.
A conventional bank cannot move that quickly. A bridge can. The investor provides the signed sales contract, recent bank statements and the purchase agreement on the new property. The decision comes back in about three hours. The funds close the new deal, and when the first property sells, the proceeds repay the bridge in full. The investor also asks about extension terms in case the closing slips, and plans a margin in the timeline to allow for it.
Consider the opposite case. An owner hopes to land a contract next quarter and wants a bridge in the meantime. There is no signed agreement and no confirmed payment, so there is no repayment event. That is not a bridge situation. It may suit working capital or a line of credit better, or it may suggest waiting.
Getting Help
If you are not sure whether your situation fits, the funding product matcher asks a few questions and points to a likely fit. For a time sensitive deal, you can book a consultation. To learn about the company, visit the about page, and for further guides see our resources. fundivi is a hybrid lender that matches you first against its own capital and can bring in vetted partners when another structure fits.
Building a Safety Margin Into Your Plan
The best bridge plans assume that something will go slightly wrong. A closing date can slide by a week. A customer can pay on the fifteenth instead of the first. A permit can take longer than promised. The question is whether your plan survives that kind of slip.
Start by writing down the earliest and the latest realistic date for your repayment event. Choose a bridge term that covers the later date, not the earlier one. Then ask what the cost would be if you needed that full time, and whether the opportunity still makes sense at that price.
Next, think about who else is involved. If the payoff depends on a buyer, a lender or a customer, how reliable are they, and how motivated are they to be on time? An established buyer with financing already approved is a stronger anchor than one still searching for a mortgage.
Finally, keep communication open. If a delay appears, tell your provider immediately instead of waiting for the due date. Early conversations make extensions and adjustments far easier than late ones, and they are often the difference between a minor inconvenience and a real problem.
Why Bridge Capital Complements Your Other Funding
Bridge capital works best as one tool among several, not as a standing habit. A business that uses it once or twice a year for clear, documented events is using it as intended. A business that relies on it every month to cover ordinary costs is probably missing a better structure, such as a line of credit set up in advance or working capital repaid on a fixed schedule.
Think of it as the specialist on your team. You call it when the situation is defined, the clock is running and no other product can move as fast. Between those moments, keep your regular financing in good order so the bridge is rarely needed, and so that when it is, your record with the lender is strong. A short conversation with the team about how your products fit together is worth having before the next deadline arrives, not during it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can bridge capital close?
fundivi bridge capital decisions can come back in about 3 hours when your file is complete, though timing depends on the deal and is not guaranteed for every applicant.
What counts as a valid repayment event?
A documented, reasonably certain event, such as a property sale with a signed contract, an approved refinance, a confirmed large payment or a scheduled project draw.
Is bridge capital more expensive than other products?
Short term funding often costs more for the period it is outstanding. Compare the cost with the benefit of acting now, and use the cost calculator.
How much can I get?
fundivi bridge capital runs from $50K to $1M, depending on the event and your business.
What if my repayment event is delayed?
Ask about extension options before you sign, choose a term with slack, and have a backup source of repayment in mind.
Can I use bridge capital for more than one opportunity?
Each request is evaluated on its own repayment event. Discuss multiple overlapping needs with the team.
Next Steps
If you can name the payoff and the clock is running, bridge capital may be the fastest way across. Take the 2 minute application to see what your business qualifies for.
