Overview
Many merchants face cash flow challenges but lack access to fast, streamlined funding options.
NMI’s embedded lending solution, Business Capital, powered by Parafin, allows eligible merchants to access business funding directly within their merchant portal. Using anonymized merchant sales data, personalized, pre-approved funding offers are automatically generated and delivered by email and displayed in the merchant portal—without requiring affiliate partners or merchants to complete a traditional credit application.
Neither affiliate partners nor NMI are involved in loan approval and financial risk is assumed by Parafin as the lending provider. Affiliate partners earn a commission on approved funding, creating a new revenue opportunity without operational or financial responsibility.
By offering Business Capital, partners can support merchant growth, improve retention, and unlock a recurring revenue stream—without managing underwriting, funding, or servicing.
ℹ️ All loans are issued by Celtic Bank. All loans and offers are subject to credit approval, identity verification, and periodic review, and terms may change without notice. Bank transfers are subject to review
Merchant Benefits
Merchants can apply through a simple, self-serve experience with no traditional credit checks and minimal paperwork. If approved, funds are typically deposited within one to two business days, and repayment is handled automatically by Parafin.
Key Benefits include:
- Pre-approved offers based on sales history for Flex Loans and Term Loans
- A path to funding for newer merchants through Starter Loans
- Repayment that fits the loan type: a percentage of daily sales for Flex Loans, or fixed scheduled payments for Term Loans and Starter Loans
- One flat fee disclosed upfront, with no compounding interest or late fees
- Fast funding, typically within one to two business days if approved
- Self-serve experience to review offers, accept funding and track repayment in the portal
Affiliate Partner Benefits
Business Capital is designed to be low effort and high impact for partners.
Key benefits include:
- Additional revenue: Partners earn commission on every loan funded.
- Improved merchant retention: Merchants value access to fast, flexible capital.
- No financial risk: Partners do not fund loans or assume liability.
- Minimal operational effort: Underwriting, funding, repayment, and servicing are handled by Parafin.
Loan Types
Parafin determines which Business Capital product best fits each merchant and presents only that product to them. You can see each merchant’s loan type in the Loan Type column of the Business Capital report. Partners can’t choose which loan type a merchant receives.
Flex Loan
- Repayment is tied to future merchant sales, with a percentage of daily sales debited until the loan is repaid
- Requires at least three months of processing history on the platform
Term Loan
- A fixed payment amount, set when the loan is funded, is debited on a periodic schedule until the loan is repaid, giving merchants predictable payments
- A single flat fee is disclosed upfront, with no compounding interest or late fees
- Requires at least three months of processing history on the platform
Starter Loan
Starter Loans give newer merchants a path to funding before they have enough history for a pre-approved offer.
- Available to merchants with at least one transaction but less than three months of processing history on the platform. Not all merchants are eligible
- No pre-approved offer is shown. Instead, the merchant connects their business bank account through Plaid so Parafin can review additional revenue information and decide whether to make an offer
- Repayment is a fixed amount every two weeks over a three-month term, and merchants can pay early with no penalty
- A single flat fee is disclosed upfront, with no compounding interest or late fees
- Merchants can track repayment progress, remaining balance and estimated payoff timing in the Business Capital section of their portal
Who Is Eligible?
Business Capital availability depends on merchant eligibility determined by Parafin.
Flex Loan eligibility requirements include:
- Be based in the U.S.
- Supported merchant categories (some MCCs are excluded)
- Card payment volume in your NMI portal that meets the requirement for the loan type:
- Flex Loan and Term Loan: at least three months of processing history
- Starter Loan: at least one transaction and less than three months of processing history
Eligibility does not guarantee an offer. Offers appear only when criteria are met.
What Happens After It’s Enabled?
Once Business Capital is enabled by a partner:
- Eligible Flex Loan and Term Loan merchants may see pre-approved funding offers in the merchant portal
- Eligible Starter Loan merchants may see an invitation to check their eligibility by connecting their bank account through Plaid
- Merchants can accept offers directly through the embedded experience
- Merchants may receive email notifications and in-portal pop-ups
- Funding and repayment are managed by Parafin.
Common Questions
Who is Parafin?
Parafin is an external financing provider that works with us to provide access to capital. Parafin handles all underwriting, funding, and servicing.
What is a Parafin Flex Loan?
- A one-time lump sum amount offered to pre-approved merchants. Repayments are calculated by a fixed percentage of sales and do not incur compounding interest.
- Repayments are automatically debited from the merchant’s linked bank account. Recurring payments are net-30 days and included in the offer details.
Do I take on any merchant financial risk?
No. There is no financial risk or liability for the partner. Approval and repayment are based on Merchants’ sales data and collections are handled by Parafin.
Can partners control pricing or terms?
No. Pricing, eligibility, and repayment terms are set by Parafin.
Need Help?
For additional support, please contact our Support team by submitting a ticket: