Business Public Records Lookup
See what public records exist for your business — UCC filings, tax liens, and judgments. Understand how they affect your MCA qualification before any funder sees them.
What Public Records Mean for MCA Funding
UCC Filings
Uniform Commercial Code filings show that a lender has a security interest in your business assets. Common with existing loans and MCAs. Active UCCs don't prevent funding but affect which position new funders can take.
Tax Liens
A tax lien means you owe unpaid taxes to the IRS or state. This is a serious red flag for underwriters. Resolving tax liens before applying dramatically improves your chances and terms.
Judgments
Court judgments show legal disputes. Active judgments are concerning; satisfied ones less so. Underwriters want to understand the context — a satisfied judgment from years ago has minimal impact.
What Public Records Tell MCA Funders About Your Business
Before any MCA funder approves your application, they run a public records search on your business. This search reveals UCC filings (Uniform Commercial Code liens from previous financing), tax liens, judgments, and bankruptcy records. These records significantly impact your eligibility, factor rate, and advance amount. Understanding what funders find — and cleaning up any issues before you apply — can improve your MCA terms substantially. Our public records lookup tool shows you the same information that funders will see, giving you the opportunity to address issues proactively.
UCC Filings and What They Mean for MCA Applications
When you receive a merchant cash advance, the funder files a UCC-1 financing statement against your business, claiming a security interest in your future receivables. These filings are public record and show other funders that you have existing obligations. Multiple active UCC filings indicate multiple positions (stacking), which increases risk for subsequent funders. Having one or two UCC filings is normal for businesses that use MCA funding regularly — it's multiple concurrent filings from different funders that raise red flags.
Tax Liens: How They Affect MCA Eligibility
Federal and state tax liens are among the most serious public records for MCA underwriting. An active IRS tax lien gives the government priority over most other creditors, meaning MCA funders are in a subordinate collection position. Small tax liens (under $25,000) with payment plans in place may not disqualify you, but large or unresolved tax liens typically require resolution before funding. If you have a tax lien, having proof of a payment plan and current compliance can help your application.
Judgments and Their Impact on Funding
Civil judgments against your business indicate past legal disputes that resulted in court orders to pay. While a judgment itself doesn't automatically disqualify you from MCA funding, it signals potential financial stress and may indicate garnishment orders on your bank accounts. Funders evaluate judgments based on the amount, age, whether they're satisfied (paid), and whether any garnishment is active. Satisfied (paid) judgments are much less concerning than active ones.
Cleaning Up Your Public Records Before Applying
If your public records search reveals issues, consider addressing them before applying: for old UCC filings from paid-off MCAs, request termination statements from previous funders (they're legally required to file them within 20 days of request); for tax liens, set up a payment plan and get documentation of compliance; for judgments, negotiate settlement or payment plans with creditors. Even partial cleanup can improve your fundability. Most record improvements take 30-90 days to reflect in public databases.
Why use our business public records check? Our tools are built by MCA industry professionals who understand the nuances of merchant cash advance underwriting. Every calculation reflects real-world funding scenarios, giving you accurate estimates that match what actual funders evaluate. No registration required, no credit pull, and completely free to use.
Common Questions About Business Public Records Check
Everything you need to know about using our business public records check to make smarter funding decisions.
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