mellow — working capital for smoke shops
your shop is six months out from the federal hemp ban.
your bank statements show the squeeze coming.
three brokers called you this week and you trust none of them. we get it.
independent funding research and referral inquiries for operating smoke shops, vape stores, tobacco retailers, head shops, hemp and cbd retailers, and hookah lounges.
typical provider range
$10K to $500K
advertised provider decision
24 to 72 hours
industries
smoke / vape / tobacco / head / cbd / hookah
industries we serve
category-specific information for the verticals generalist lenders and brokers often misunderstand.
smoke shops
working capital for inventory pivots, hemp ban transitions, and everything in between.
view funding options →vape stores
funding through flavor bans, PMTA shifts, and inventory transitions.
view funding options →tobacco shops
advances for shops that banks will not touch, licensed in every state.
view funding options →head shops
capital for glass, accessories, and the pivot away from intoxicating hemp.
view funding options →hemp / cbd retailers
bridge funding for the shops most exposed to the november 2026 ban.
view funding options →hookah lounges
build-outs, ventilation compliance, and working capital for lounges.
view funding options →not funded yet because you're not open yet? start with how to open a smoke shop and tobacco license requirements for your state.
why mellow
category-specific.
the research starts with the rules, deposit patterns, and product risks that make specialty retail different from ordinary small business.
qualified first.
the initial form separates operating merchants from pre-revenue projects before sensitive documents or credit checks enter the conversation.
terms stay third-party.
mellow does not issue approvals or set financing terms. any available provider controls underwriting, disclosures, and the final agreement.
the federal hemp ban changes everything
on november 12, 2026, section 781 of the continuing appropriations act takes effect and bans intoxicating hemp products — delta-8, delta-10, thca flower, hhc, thc-o, and most hemp-derived edibles and beverages. for a typical smoke shop, that category is 30-60% of revenue. shops have months, not years, to pivot inventory and replace that margin.
the shops that come through this are moving now: shifting shelf space to glass, kratom, nicotine, and non-intoxicating cbd, negotiating bulk pricing on replacement inventory, and lining up working capital before revenue dips make underwriting harder. our guides explain the financing trade-offs and the inquiry form captures the operating facts a potential referral partner would need first.
read the full hemp ban 2026 guide →guides for shop owners
no jargon, no sales pitch — the mechanics, the regulations, and the honest trade-offs.
hemp ban 2026
what section 781 bans, what survives, and how shops are funding the pivot before november 12, 2026.
read →how an mca works
factor rates, holdback, remittance, and what to watch for — the mechanics, explained honestly.
read →mca vs. line of credit
when an advance fits, when a line of credit is genuinely better, and why banks decline this vertical.
read →frequently asked questions
how is a merchant cash advance different from a loan?
an mca is a purchase of your future receivables, not a loan. the funder buys a fixed amount of your future revenue at a discount, and you remit a share of sales daily or weekly until the purchased amount is delivered. there is no interest rate — the cost is set by a factor rate agreed up front. our guide on how mcas work covers the mechanics in detail.
do you work with shops that already have advances?
some specialty providers consider later positions, but each additional payment increases cash-flow risk and narrows the market. the initial mellow inquiry asks for time in business, revenue, and the amount needed. do not send bank statements through the initial form. a suitable referral is not guaranteed.
how fast can i get funded?
some revenue-based providers advertise decisions in 24 to 72 hours after receiving a complete application, but timing varies by provider, file complexity, verification, and underwriting. submitting an inquiry to mellow is not an approval or a promise of that timeline.
what credit score do i need?
funders in this space weigh your bank statements more than your credit score. consistent deposits, a stable average daily balance, and few negative days matter more than your FICO. lower scores narrow the funder list but rarely end the conversation. approval is always subject to funder underwriting.
what documents do you need to start?
the initial mellow inquiry asks for business name, contact details, state, time in business, monthly revenue range, amount needed, and an optional explanation. do not send bank statements, identification, bank account numbers, or social security numbers through the initial form.
how does mellow get paid?
the initial inquiry is free. a third-party provider, broker, marketplace, or referral partner may pay mellow for marketing, a lead, a referral, or a completed transaction. the structure and amount depend on the arrangement.
do you fund shops in every state?
mellow accepts commercial inquiries from operating specialty retailers across the united states. actual availability varies by provider, state, industry, product mix, and underwriting. submitting the form does not guarantee that a matching option exists.
tell us about your operating shop.
takes about 3 minutes. initial inquiry only — do not upload bank statements or identification.