Sarah Mattina
Homegrown, a revenue-based growth capital provider for brick-and-mortar businesses, today announced a pilot program with Square, the commerce platform that helps millions of sellers start, run and grow their businesses. The program launches exclusively to Square sellers with $24 million in committed capital to deliver purpose-built expansion financing for multi-location operators ready to open their next location.
Built for proven Square operators with two or more locations, such as coffee shops, fitness studios, restaurants, beauty and wellness brands and neighborhood retailers, the partnership gives eligible operators access to terms of up to four years and amounts up to $1 million, with no personal guarantees, no balloon payments and monthly payments that flex with revenue. Capital is non-dilutive, meaning that operators do not need to sell their equity to access financing.
The partnership pairs Square’s existing seller relationships with Homegrown’s expansion-stage underwriting expertise and customer experience, so proven multi-unit operators can fund their next location, acquisition or remodel without leaving the Square ecosystem they already trust.
“This program is designed to meet operators at a critical growth moment, giving them more cash flow flexibility as they invest in the next phase of their business,” said Michael Davis, CEO and founder of Homegrown. “So much of America’s small business economy runs on Square. This partnership brings a new type of expansion capital to brick-and-mortar entrepreneurs across the country, and that’s a meaningful moment for both teams.”
“At Square, we’ve spent over a decade making sure local business owners have access to capital on fair terms, and we’ve seen firsthand what happens when the right financing reaches sellers at the right moment,” said Andrea Raj, Square Banking’s Head of Product. “Partnering with Homegrown to provide sellers with a new capital option is about extending that same commitment to a new stage of growth: the moment a seller has proven their concept and is ready to take it further. We’re excited to bring this option to the sellers who qualify.”
Expansion financing is structurally different from working capital. Operators at this stage need more capital, longer terms and structures built for managing growth across multiple locations. Bank loans and SBA programs are difficult to access, and equity, when available, comes at the cost of ownership and control. Homegrown was built to fill that gap, with longer runway, no equity, no personal guarantees and repayment tied to revenue. Every application is reviewed by a Homegrown expert deeply versed in expansion capital who asks thoughtful questions and returns with tailored options for operators, rather than the take-it-or-leave-it offers common with traditional financial institutions at this size.
“Homegrown is an incredible option for people like myself, trying to grow their business in an efficient way,” said Todd Huber, Co-owner of Night Swim Coffee and a Square seller. “This partnership with Square is a really nice option that gives good value for raising money.”
Eligible Square sellers can learn more and apply here. Businesses not yet on the Square platform can learn more and apply here.
