Groupon didn't invent payday loans. "Merchant Cash Advance" loans have existed for many years where merchants who process credit cards can sell a portion of the

Groupon didn't invent payday loans. "Merchant Cash Advance" loans have existed for many years where merchants who process credit cards can sell a portion of their future credit receipts for immediate cash and the industry has grown substantially year over year. The industry kind of has a scummy tinge to it, but these are merchants who cannot get capital from traditional sources and want to upgrade their retail location or buy some equipment. (or go on a vacation, the funders truthfully don't really care how they use the money)