Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how MerchantGuidance collects, uses, and protects information from visitors who use our website to research and compare business funding options. By using MerchantGuidance, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly to us, such as your name, business details, contact information, and funding needs when you submit a form or request to be matched with a lender. We also automatically collect certain technical information when you visit our site, including your IP address, browser type, device information, and browsing activity, through cookies and similar technologies described in our separate Cookie Policy.

How We Use Your Information

MerchantGuidance uses the information we collect to operate our website, connect you with relevant lenders and funding partners, respond to your inquiries, and improve our content and tools. We may also use aggregated or anonymized data to understand trends among our visitors and to guide decisions about which funding topics and resources to develop further.

Sharing Information with Lenders and Partners

When you submit an inquiry or request information about funding options through MerchantGuidance, we may share relevant details with the lenders or partners best suited to respond to your request. These partners use the information you provide to evaluate your inquiry and, where appropriate, contact you directly with information about their products. We share only what is necessary to facilitate this connection and do not sell your personal information to unrelated third parties.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

MerchantGuidance uses cookies and similar technologies to support site functionality, analyze traffic, and personalize content. Further detail on the types of cookies we use and how you can manage them is available in our Cookie Policy, which forms part of our overall approach to protecting visitor privacy.

Data Security

We apply reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the information you share with MerchantGuidance from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. While we work to maintain a secure environment, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security of your information. We encourage visitors to avoid sharing sensitive financial account numbers or passwords through any form on our website, as our forms are designed to collect general business and contact information rather than direct account access.

International Data Transfers

MerchantGuidance operates primarily within the United States, and information collected through our website may be stored and processed on servers located in the United States or other jurisdictions where our service providers operate. If you access MerchantGuidance from outside the United States, please understand that your information may be transferred to and processed in a country with data protection laws that differ from those in your home jurisdiction.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding the personal information we hold about you, including the ability to request access to, correction of, or deletion of certain information. You may also opt out of certain communications from MerchantGuidance at any time. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided at the end of this policy.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, including connecting you with lenders, responding to inquiries, and meeting legal or recordkeeping obligations. When information is no longer needed for these purposes, we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize it in accordance with our internal data handling practices.

State and Regional Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, applicable law may provide additional rights regarding your personal information, such as the right to know what information is collected, the right to request deletion, or the right to opt out of certain types of data sharing. If you wish to exercise any rights available to you under applicable law, please contact us using the information below and we will respond in accordance with the requirements that apply to your request.

Children’s Privacy

MerchantGuidance is intended for business owners and is not directed toward individuals under the age of eighteen. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors, and if we become aware that we have inadvertently done so, we will take reasonable steps to delete that information.

Third Party Links

Our website may contain links to third party sites, including lender applications and partner resources. This Privacy Policy applies only to MerchantGuidance and does not extend to the practices of third party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external site you visit through links found on our platform.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. Updates will be posted on this page along with a revised effective date, and continued use of MerchantGuidance after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.