Best purchase order financing companies for CPG brands in 2026

A $500,000 Walmart purchase order lands in your inbox. Your co-packer needs 40% upfront within 10 days to start production. Walmart pays on Net 90. That 80-day gap between cash out and cash in is the growth paradox every CPG brand faces: big retail orders require capital you don't have yet.

Purchase order (PO) financing solves this by paying your supplier directly, letting you fulfill orders without depleting working capital or giving up equity. But the PO financing market is fragmented. Rates, minimums, funding speed, and CPG experience vary widely across lenders.

This guide ranks the best purchase order financing companies in 2026 for CPG brands and retail suppliers, with a focus on the criteria that matter most: rates, funding speed, minimum order sizes, retail expertise, WIP financing, and international supplier support. We also explain why comparing multiple PO lenders through a single application saves time and typically produces better terms than approaching companies one by one.

Quick comparison: top PO financing companies for CPG brands in 2026

Rates reflect publicly available data and Finder's 2026 PO financing lender review. Actual terms depend on transaction size, customer creditworthiness, and deal complexity. These are starting points, not guarantees.

Company profiles: what each PO financing lender offers

Bridge Marketplace

Bridge Marketplace is a lending marketplace that connects CPG brands and retail suppliers with a network of 150+ specialized lenders, including several PO financing companies on this list. Rather than applying to each lender separately, you submit one request (roughly 10 minutes) and receive competing term sheets within 48 hours.

Bridge is also a direct lender for Walmart purchase orders, funding up to 100% of cost of goods on approved transactions. That dual role, marketplace plus direct lender, means your deal gets routed to whichever path produces the best terms. For CPG brands that need PO financing alongside other products like inventory financing or working capital loans, Bridge can match multiple needs through a single relationship.

There is no cost for borrowers to submit a request, receive term sheets, or compare offers.

Star Funding

Star Funding, based in New York City, has specialized in purchase order financing and factoring for over 25 years. In a Q&A published on Bridge Marketplace, Star Funding's Avi Levine explained that rates typically fall between 1.5% and 3% per 30-day period, determined by transaction size, duration, margin, and logistics complexity.

Star Funding handles both PO financing and factoring in-house, which eliminates the need to coordinate with a separate A/R factor after goods ship. They also offer work-in-process (WIP) financing, covering raw material and component costs when products require assembly before delivery.

For CPG brands supplying Walmart or other major retailers, this combined capability means a single lender manages the full cycle from production through invoice collection.

Star Funding is a lender on the Bridge Marketplace network.

King Trade Capital

King Trade Capital (KTC) describes itself as the largest PO finance company in the United States. Based in Dallas, KTC focuses on small to middle-market companies and handles both domestic and international transactions, including letters of credit for overseas production.

KTC recently funded a $2.1 million PO facility for a dry baked goods manufacturer and a $3 million facility for a licensed apparel company scaling to meet retail demand. KTC often works alongside existing factors or asset-based lenders, structuring PO finance as a complement rather than a standalone product. Their minimum transaction size skews toward larger deals ($250K+), which suits established CPG brands shipping to national retailers.

Southstar Capital

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Southstar Capital offers 100% financing on purchase orders with a transition to accounts receivable financing once goods are delivered and invoiced. That transition reduces the borrower's cost since A/R factoring rates are lower than PO financing rates.

Fit Small Business's 2026 comparison rates Southstar's starting fees as among the lowest in the market (from 1%). Southstar has published CPG-specific case studies, including a $500K PO and A/R facility for a consumer brand scaling into retail distribution. Their funding timeline is typically 2 to 5 days from approval.

Liquid Capital

Liquid Capital offers PO financing that covers up to 100% of cost of goods in transit. Approved customers can receive funding in under 24 hours, according to their website, making them one of the faster options when production timelines are tight.

Liquid Capital's PO financing typically works in combination with their A/R factoring solution, similar to Star Funding's model. However, their WIP financing capabilities are more limited, and their rates (2–4% per 30 days) sit at the higher end of the range. The speed advantage matters most for brands that already have goods produced and need transit or logistics funding quickly.

1st Commercial Credit

1st Commercial Credit has provided PO financing for over 20 years, with published rates from 1.5% to 5% per 30-day period. They accept smaller transactions than many competitors, making them a viable option for emerging CPG brands with modest initial orders.

They also handle factoring in-house and recently surpassed $7 million in small PO financing transactions. Their transparent rate publication (1.5–5% range on their website) is a plus in an industry where many lenders require a conversation before disclosing any pricing.

SMB Compass

SMB Compass is a broader business financing company based in Rye, New York, offering nine loan programs including PO financing. Their strength is breadth: if a CPG brand needs PO financing now and an SBA loan or equipment financing later, SMB Compass can serve multiple needs. The trade-off is less PO-specific expertise compared to dedicated PO finance companies. Their international supplier capabilities are limited compared to specialists like King Trade Capital.

PurchaseOrderFinancing.com

Based in Chicago and operating since 2002, PurchaseOrderFinancing.com focuses on domestic and international transactions in the $500K to $25 million range. They fund both finished goods and import/export transactions, with experience across cross-border supply chains. Their minimum deal size ($500K) puts them out of reach for earlier-stage brands, but their international capabilities make them worth considering for CPG brands sourcing from overseas manufacturers.

How to evaluate the best purchase order financing companies for CPG brands

Not every lender is the right fit for a CPG business selling into retail. Here are the criteria that separate a useful PO financing partner from a poor match.

Rates and total cost

PO financing fees typically range from 1.5% to 6% per 30-day period, according to Finder's 2026 analysis. Those fees compound. On a $200,000 supplier payment at 3% monthly, you pay $6,000 if Walmart pays in 30 days but $12,000 if they pay on Net 60. Always calculate total cost based on your retailer's actual payment timeline, not just the headline rate.

Ask whether the lender also handles A/R factoring. When one company manages both the PO finance and the post-delivery factoring, the transition typically reduces your effective rate since factoring fees are lower than PO financing fees.

Funding speed

Some lenders fund in 24 hours; others take 5 to 10 business days. Speed matters most when you're racing a production deadline. If your co-packer needs a deposit within a week of receiving the PO, a lender with a 10-day approval process won't work. Confirm timelines for both initial setup (first deal) and subsequent transactions, since the first deal always takes longer.

Minimum order sizes

Minimum deal sizes vary from $50K to $500K+. This is a common disqualifier for emerging CPG brands landing their first Target or Costco order at a modest scale. If your initial PO is $75,000, half the companies on this list won't take the deal.

CPG retail expertise

A lender that understands retailer payment terms, OTIF compliance penalties, slotting fees, and chargebacks will structure deals that account for those realities. A generalist lender may offer competitive rates but underwrite your deal using criteria that miss CPG-specific risks. Ask prospective lenders which retailers they've worked with and whether they understand the difference between a Walmart replenishment PO and a new-item setup.

WIP financing

If your product requires assembly, manufacturing, or co-packing from multiple component suppliers, you need a lender that offers work-in-process financing. WIP PO financing covers raw material and component costs across multiple vendors before the final product is assembled. Star Funding explicitly offers WIP financing; many lenders only fund finished goods.

Domestic vs. international supplier support

CPG brands sourcing from overseas manufacturers need a lender comfortable with international transactions, letters of credit, and longer supply chain timelines. International PO financing carries added complexity (currency risk, shipping delays, inspection requirements), and not every domestic lender handles it. Confirm whether the lender has direct experience with your specific supplier countries.

Why applying to PO financing companies one at a time costs you

Most CPG founders approach PO financing the way they'd approach a bank loan: research one lender, submit an application, wait for a response, then try another if the terms are wrong. This sequential approach has real costs.

Each application requires gathering the same documents: financial statements, the purchase order, supplier cost breakdowns, and customer credit details. Submitting them separately to five lenders means five rounds of back-and-forth. Meanwhile, your co-packer's production slot doesn't wait.

The bigger problem is leverage. When you apply to one lender at a time, that lender has no incentive to compete on price. They quote their standard rate, and you have no benchmark to negotiate against. With multiple lenders reviewing the same deal simultaneously, each knows others are bidding, and competition tends to produce better terms.

A 2025 Bridge Marketplace analysis found that direct lenders offer a single product with no built-in competition, while generalist marketplaces provide options but often lack the deep CPG specialization needed. A specialized marketplace combines both advantages: multiple competing offers from lenders who understand your industry.

Bridge Marketplace: compare PO financing offers through one application

Bridge Marketplace connects CPG brands and retail suppliers with a network of specialized lenders, including PO financing companies like Star Funding. Instead of applying separately to each lender on this list, you submit one request that takes roughly 10 minutes. Bridge matches your deal with lenders whose criteria fit your transaction, and you receive competing term sheets to compare side by side.

Here is what that looks like in practice:

1. Submit your request. Share your PO details, supplier costs, and basic financials through Bridge's application. The process takes about 10 minutes.

2. Get matched. Bridge routes your request to PO financing lenders in its network whose criteria match your deal size, product type, and retailer.

3. Compare offers. You receive standardized term sheets showing rates, advance percentages, and fee structures so you can compare lenders on a consistent basis.

4. Choose and fund. Pick the offer that fits your margins and timeline. Bridge's team supports you through closing.

Bridge is also a direct lender for Walmart purchase orders, funding up to 100% of cost of goods for brands supplying the world's largest retailer. That means some deals can be funded directly by Bridge, while others get matched to the best-fit lender in the network.

For CPG brands juggling tight production deadlines and razor-thin margins, the marketplace model eliminates the time cost of serial applications and adds the competitive pressure that produces better rates. There is no cost to submit a request and receive term sheets.

Start a 10-minute application at Bridge Marketplace

FAQs

What are typical purchase order financing rates in 2026?

PO financing fees typically range from 1.5% to 6% per 30-day period, depending on transaction size, customer creditworthiness, and deal complexity. When converted to an annual percentage rate, PO financing often exceeds 20% APR, according to Finder.

However, PO financing is short-term and transaction-specific, so comparing it to a traditional loan APR is misleading. The relevant question is whether the financing cost is lower than the profit margin on the order.

Can startups or early-stage CPG brands qualify for PO financing?

Yes. PO financing approval depends primarily on your customer's creditworthiness, not your company's financial history. If you have a confirmed purchase order from a major retailer like Walmart or Target, many lenders will consider the deal based on the retailer's payment reliability. Some lenders have minimum deal sizes ($250K+), so emerging brands should look for companies that accept smaller transactions.

What is the difference between PO financing and invoice factoring?

PO financing provides capital before goods ship, paying your supplier directly so production can begin. Invoice factoring (A/R factoring) provides capital after goods ship, advancing cash against the resulting invoice. Many PO financing arrangements transition to factoring once goods are delivered and invoiced, which reduces cost since factoring rates are lower.

How fast can I get funded with PO financing?

Initial deal setup takes 2 to 10 business days depending on the lender and deal complexity. Some lenders like Liquid Capital can fund approved customers in under 24 hours for subsequent transactions. Bridge aims to provide multiple offers within 48 hours of a complete submission.

Does Bridge Marketplace charge CPG brands to compare PO financing offers?

No. The bridge is free for borrowers. There are no fees or platform charges to submit a request, receive term sheets, or compare offers. Bridge is compensated by lenders upon successful close.