How Consume Media Covered Payroll with a $100K Credit Line

About the Business

Consume Media is a boutique video marketing agency based in Atlanta. With a full-time team of twelve creatives, they produce strategic, high-converting video content for high-growth companies. From explainer animations to brand stories and TV commercials, their work helps clients reach new customers and scale with confidence.

After thirteen years in business, the team knows what it takes to deliver quality at speed. But like many service-based agencies, they face a recurring challenge at the start of each year: a cash flow gap between when invoices go out and when payments arrive.

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The Challenge

In January, Consume Media wrapped a significant volume of projects and sent invoices to clients. Payments were scheduled for the end of the month. Payroll was due the following week. Despite the business being healthy, their cash position in that moment was tight.

The founders had dealt with this before. In the past, they used a line of credit through a regional bank. But the process was slow and operationally painful. Approval had taken weeks. There were in-person signing sessions, unnecessary paperwork, and expensive origination fees that made the product feel more like a penalty than a solution.

When the same issue came up again in January, they knew they needed a new approach. One that was built for the speed of a modern business, not the pace of a legacy bank.

The Fundwell Solution

Consume Media found Fundwell through a referral. Within minutes, the co-founder submitted an online application. It was a Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend. Despite the timing, Fundwell delivered approval by Tuesday and made funds available by Wednesday. The total time from application to access was less than 48 business hours.

Inside the Fundwell platform, the process was fast, transparent, and human. The portal surfaced multiple pre-qualified funding options. Their Fundwell representative helped explain the tradeoffs and confirmed what the founder already knew: a revolving line of credit would provide the flexibility the business needed without overcommitting.

The agency chose a $100,000 credit line and drew $20,000 to run payroll. The funds arrived just in time, removing the stress of dipping into personal reserves or delaying critical payments.

When client checks cleared later that week, they repaid the draw in full. The cost of borrowing came out to just $150. And just as importantly, they retained access to the line of credit for future needs.

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The Outcome

With the crisis averted and a better funding tool in place, Consume Media gained something far more valuable than short-term capital. They found a financial partner that operates at the same speed they do.

What was once a frustrating and expensive process with traditional banks became a simple, technology-led experience. No office visits. No long waits. No hidden fees. Just fast, transparent access to working capital when it was needed most.

The line of credit remains open for future use. And when the agency is ready to take on larger opportunities or add new headcount, they now know where to turn.