ROI Funder vs Lighter Capital

What Lighter Capital says it offers

Lighter Capital advertises non-dilutive financing up to $10M for SaaS and tech companies with recurring revenue, repaid over up to 4 years.

From the Lighter Capital homepage (checked October 2026): the company offers non-dilutive financing described as debt, with up to $10M available and no equity, board seats or personal guarantees. It says "SaaS Is Our Specialty" and that software, hardware or tech solutions with subscription or annual-contract revenue are eligible.

The site lists at least $200K in annual recurring revenue and at least 5 paying customers in its how-it-works section, while its FAQ says a minimum of $200K ARR or $15K MRR. The two statements differ slightly, so confirm with the company. Applicants must have a headquarters, branch or subsidiary in the U.S., Canada or Australia.

It states repayment up to 4 years with flexible options and no collateral requirement. Pricing, minimum amounts, time in business and credit requirements are not stated on the page.

Timeline as the page describes it

Lighter Capital says the application takes under 2 minutes, you hear back within 24 hours if minimums are met, and a term sheet follows within a few days.

The site walks through a staged process: a short application, notification within 24 hours if minimum requirements are met, a term sheet within a few days after you link financial data, and funds deposited shortly after you sign. Follow-on funding is listed as available in as little as 90 days.

That is quick for a larger financing. It is not same-day. If you need money today, a longer underwriting process like this may not be the right tool, however good the pricing.

How ROI Funder is different

ROI Funder is not limited to recurring-revenue software companies and looks at bank deposits rather than ARR.

We underwrite from business bank statements. A file is complete with the application plus 3 months of statements, and on approved, complete files, money can reach your account the same business day. Guidelines are 500+ FICO, 6+ months in business and $20,000+ in monthly revenue.

Amounts run from $5,000 to $5,000,000 across revenue-based financing, working capital, term loans, lines of credit, equipment financing and SBA loans, all matched through our 100+ funder network. We cover all 50 states.

The difference is who qualifies and how fast: Lighter Capital focuses on recurring software revenue, while we focus on ordinary small-business cash flow. (Its page does not say whether repayment is tied to revenue, so ask.)

Do the math on revenue-based repayment

Revenue-based repayment moves with sales, so it eases pressure in slow months but takes longer to repay when sales are weak.

Illustrative example: a business takes $100,000 to be repaid with a total of $120,000, at 10% of monthly revenue. At $80,000 a month in revenue, it pays $8,000 a month and is done in 15 months. At $40,000 a month, it pays $4,000 and takes 30 months.

Notice that the total cost stays at $20,000 in this setup, but the time changes. Some structures instead apply a cap or a minimum payment, and that changes everything. Always ask which one you are getting.

For a deeper walk-through, see our revenue-based financing guide and the payment stress test. Example numbers are illustrative only.

Checking whether you are a SaaS borrower at all

If less than most of your revenue is recurring subscriptions or contracts, you are probably a main-street borrower, not a SaaS one.

Specialist funders look at recurring revenue because it predicts next month's cash. A quick self-test: take last month's revenue and subtract anything that was a one-time sale. If what remains is more than most of the total and comes from customers under contract or subscription, you look like a recurring-revenue business.

Illustrative example: a software agency bills $60,000 a month, but $45,000 is project work that ends when the project does. Only $15,000 recurs. A lender that underwrites on ARR will see a smaller business than the agency feels like. A lender that reads bank deposits will see $60,000 in steady monthly inflows.

This is why the way a lender reads your business matters as much as the price. Ask each one what it measures, and give it the evidence that shows your business in its best honest light. Figures here are illustrative only.

When Lighter Capital is the better fit

A SaaS or tech company with a few hundred thousand dollars of recurring revenue, seeking a large raise without giving up equity, is its target customer.

• You sell subscriptions. The product is built around recurring revenue.
• You want to avoid dilution. The company describes its capital as non-dilutive.
• You need a large amount. Up to $10M is above our top range of $5,000,000.
• You can wait a few days. The staged timeline fits planned growth, not emergencies.

When ROI Funder fits better: restaurants, contractors, retailers, medical practices, e-commerce sellers and other businesses without subscription revenue, and anyone who needs money in days or less. Also, owners with 500-range credit and steady bank deposits.