How Much Do I Still Owe on My MCA? (Simple Math + What to Ask)
Not sure how much is left on your merchant cash advance? Here's the simple math to estimate it in 5 minutes, why your number may not match the funder's, and how to get an official payoff letter.
Search terms covered
- How Much Do I Still Owe on My MCA? (Simple Math + What to Ask)
- Guides
- how much do i still owe on my mca
You took a merchant cash advance (MCA). Money comes out of your account every day or every week. And now you're asking the big question:
How much do I still owe?
Good news: you can get a solid estimate in about five minutes. This guide shows you the math, what can make it wrong, and how to get the real number from your funder.
The short answer
What you still owe ≈ total payback − what you've paid so far
That's it. The hard part is getting the two numbers right.
Step 1: Find your total payback amount
Your MCA contract says how much you agreed to pay back. It's usually called the purchased amount, payback amount, or total receivables sold.
If you can't find it, do the math:
Total payback = advance amount × factor rate
Example:
- Advance: $20,000
- Factor rate: 1.40
- Total payback: $28,000
Not sure what a factor rate is? Read What is a factor rate?
Watch out: If fees were taken out before you got the money (like an origination fee), your advance amount on paper may be higher than what hit your bank. Use the number in the contract, not what landed in your account.
Step 2: Add up what you've paid
Log into your business bank account. Search for the funder's name or "ACH DEBIT."
Add up every debit from that funder since the advance started.
Shortcut for fixed daily payments:
Paid so far ≈ daily payment × number of successful debits
Example:
- Daily ACH: $350
- Successful debits so far: 40
- Paid so far: $14,000
Count only debits that actually cleared. If a payment bounced or was returned, don't count it.
Step 3: Do the subtraction
Using our example:
- Total payback: $28,000
- Paid so far: $14,000
- Estimated still owed: $14,000
You can also see how far along you are:
Percent paid = paid so far ÷ total payback
$14,000 ÷ $28,000 = 50% paid.
And how many payments are left:
Payments left ≈ still owed ÷ daily payment
$14,000 ÷ $350 = about 40 more business days (roughly 8 weeks).
Want the calculator to do this? Use the MCA calculator.
Why your number might not match the funder's
Your estimate is a great check. But it's not the official payoff. Here's why the funder's number can be different:
- Returned payment fees. If a debit bounced, many contracts add a fee.
- Missed or paused payments. These push your balance up compared to the schedule.
- Percent-of-sales payments. If you pay a percent of card sales, your daily amount changes. You have to add real debits, not multiply.
- Early payoff discount. Some contracts let you pay less if you pay off early. That can make the real payoff lower than your estimate.
- Reconciliation. Some contracts let you ask for lower payments if your sales drop. That changes the schedule.
- Payments still processing. A debit from yesterday may not show on their side yet.
If the funder's number is much higher than yours, ask them to show you a payment history. Compare it line by line to your bank statement.
How to get your official payoff number
Before you pay off, refinance, consolidate, or take a new advance, get it in writing.
Ask your funder for a payoff letter. Here's a simple message you can send:
"Hi, please send a written payoff letter for my advance [contract # if you have it]. Please include the payoff amount, the date it's good through, and a full payment history. Thank you."
A good payoff letter shows:
- The exact payoff amount
- The date the number is good through
- Where and how to pay
- Whether any early payoff discount was applied
Then check it against your own math. If it's close, great. If it's far off, ask why before you pay.
If you have more than one MCA
Do the math separately for each advance. Don't mix payments from Funder A into Funder B's total.
Then add them up to see your full picture:
| Advance | Total payback | Paid so far | Still owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funder A | $28,000 | $14,000 | $14,000 |
| Funder B | $12,000 | $3,000 | $9,000 |
| Total | $40,000 | $17,000 | $23,000 |
More on this in How to organize stacked MCA payments.
Quick checklist
- Found total payback in the contract
- Added up every cleared debit from the bank
- Subtracted to get the estimate
- Noted any bounced or missed payments
- Asked the funder for a written payoff letter
- Compared their number to mine
Related guides
- How to calculate your remaining MCA balance
- How to track daily MCA ACH payments (free template)
- Daily ACH MCA payment tracker
Stop guessing what's left
Doing this math by hand works. But you have to redo it every week.
Funding Tracker keeps your estimated remaining balance up to date for every advance — so you always know where you stand.
- See paid-to-date and what's left per advance
- Track stacked advances side by side
- Spot bounced or extra debits fast
👉 Sign up at fundingtracker.app
Disclosure: Funding Tracker is not a lender, broker, or funder. We don't provide financing or financial advice. We help merchants track advances they already have. Always confirm balances and payoff amounts directly with your funder.