2026 Head-to-Head · Our Pick Inside
Apex Capital vs Outgo Factoring (2026): Which Is Better for Owner-Operators?
Head-to-head comparison of two of the most searched factoring companies in trucking — with our 2026 pick for owner-operators. Pricing, contracts, NOA timing, fuel cards, and real math.
Our 2026 pick: Outgo — flat fee, no contract, DAT-integrated, NOA on signup.
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission if you sign up through our link. Costs you nothing.
Apex Capital charges 1.5%–3.5% percentage-based factoring with all-invoice commitment plus 60-day notice. Outgo by DAT charges flat $20–$35 per invoice, month-to-month, no notice period. For owner-operators under 3 trucks without heavy fuel-card spend, Outgo is almost always cheaper. Apex wins for fleets where the fuel card network offsets the percentage rate.
TL;DR — Apex Capital vs Outgo at a glance
- ⭐Outgo wins for owner-operators: flat fee (no percentage), month-to-month contract, NOA issued on signup, native DAT One integration. Best for 1–3 truck operations and new authority.
- •Apex Capital wins for established fleets (2–25 trucks) that want a bundled fuel card program and are comfortable with an all-invoice commitment and 60-day cancellation notice. The fuel discount network can partially offset the higher factoring rate at scale.
- •Bottom line: if you do not have high fuel card spend to offset Apex's percentage rate, Outgo's flat-fee model is almost always cheaper and more flexible for small operators.
Side-by-side comparison: Apex Capital vs Outgo
| Feature | Outgo (by DAT) ⭐ | Apex Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat fee per invoice | Percentage of invoice |
| Rate | Flat fee (transparent, fixed) | 1.5% – 3.5% + fuel card offsets |
| Contract term | Month-to-month, no notice period, partial-invoicing allowed | 60-day notice required, all-invoice commitment (no fixed-term ETF) |
| Early termination | None | No fixed-term ETF; 60-day cancellation notice required |
| Funding speed | Same-day | Same-day |
| Advance % | Up to 100% (flat fee model) | 95–98% |
| Min volume | No minimum | Varies by contract |
| Fuel card | No proprietary card (industry partners) | Yes — Apex fuel card network |
| NOA timing | Issued immediately on signup | 1–3 business days |
| DAT integration | Yes — native DAT One billing | No direct integration |
| New authority | Yes — Day 1 friendly | Yes — accepts new authority |
| Best for | Owner-ops, small fleets, DAT users | Established fleets 2–25 trucks |
Rates and terms vary by carrier credit, volume, and negotiated contract. Confirm directly with each provider.
Pricing breakdown — flat fee vs percentage
This is the biggest structural difference between the two companies and the one that matters most to your bottom line.
Outgo — flat fee model
- Fixed dollar amount per invoice
- Cost is the same whether the load pays $800 or $2,500
- No percentage compounding on larger invoices
- Fully predictable — know your cost before you book
- No hidden ACH fees or reserve clawbacks
Apex — percentage model
- 1.5% – 3.5% of each invoice face value
- Cost scales with the size of each load
- Fuel card kickback program can offset part of the rate
- Rate varies by volume, credit, and contract length
- Higher gross invoice = higher factoring cost
Real math: $20,000/month in invoices
Outgo (flat fee, example)
Assume ~20 invoices at $1,000 avg. Flat fee of ~$25/invoice = ~$500/month in factoring cost.
Your net: $19,500. Cost is fixed regardless of invoice size.
Apex (2.5% rate)
2.5% × $20,000 = $500/month in factoring fees.
At 1.5%: $300. At 3.5%: $700. Rate varies — and scales up on bigger months.
At identical cost, Outgo wins on predictability and no contract lock-in. Apex can win if fuel card discounts reduce your net cost below Outgo's flat fee.
Contract terms: month-to-month vs multi-year
Outgo
- Month-to-month enrollment
- No early termination fee
- Cancel anytime without penalty
- Full flexibility for carriers testing factoring
Apex Capital
- 60-day cancellation notice required
- All-invoice commitment — every invoice must be factored with Apex
- No fixed-term contract or early termination fee (ETF)
- Read the full agreement before signing
Apex requires a 60-day cancellation notice and all-invoice commitment (every invoice must be factored), but no fixed-term contract or early termination fee. For a new owner-operator who only wants to factor some loads, the all-invoice requirement is a meaningful constraint. Outgo is month-to-month with no notice period and allows partial invoicing — factor only the loads you choose.
Funding speed comparison
Both Outgo and Apex offer same-day funding for clean invoice submissions. This is table stakes at this level — any major factoring company worth using funds same-day. The difference is in first-invoice timing.
Outgo
- Same-day funding standard
- Submit before daily cutoff — wire same day
- First submission: 1 business day for setup verification
- After setup: consistent same-day cadence
Apex Capital
- Same-day funding standard
- Established track record, reliable wire processing
- First submission: standard same-day or next-day
- Mobile app available for invoice submission
Funding speed is effectively a tie. Make your decision on pricing, contract, and integration — not funding timing.
Notice of Assignment (NOA) timing
The Notice of Assignment is the legal document your factor sends to every broker, telling them to remit payment to the factoring company instead of you. Brokers will not pay anyone not listed on the NOA — which means you cannot start factoring invoices until your NOA is in place.
Outgo — NOA issued on signup
Outgo generates and issues your NOA immediately when you complete enrollment. You can include it in your carrier packet from Day 1 — before you've submitted a single invoice. This is critical for new carriers building broker relationships.
Apex Capital — 1–3 business days
Apex issues your NOA after contract review and approval, typically 1–3 business days after you complete onboarding. You cannot factor invoices or notify brokers until this is issued.
For an established fleet that already has broker relationships with a prior factor, the 1–3 day delay is minor. For a new authority carrier building their first broker list, getting the NOA on Day 1 is a real operational advantage.
Fuel card programs
Apex's fuel card program is genuinely its strongest differentiator. If you are running 5+ trucks and paying for fuel in volume, the Apex network can deliver meaningful discounts that partially or fully offset the percentage factoring rate. This is the main reason fleets with high fuel spend sometimes prefer Apex despite the higher factoring cost.
Outgo — no proprietary fuel card
- No Outgo-branded fuel card
- Partners with industry fuel programs externally
- Lower factoring rate partially compensates
- Best for carriers managing fuel through fleet cards independently
Apex Capital — fuel card network
- Apex fuel card with discount network access
- Discounts at major truck stops nationwide
- Works best for fleets with high monthly fuel spend
- Kickback program can offset factoring rate at volume
Do the math for your operation specifically. If you are an owner-operator running 1–2 trucks, your fuel spend likely does not generate enough discount to bridge the gap between Apex's percentage rate and Outgo's flat fee. If you are running 10+ trucks with heavy mileage, Apex's fuel card is worth the analysis.
Customer support comparison
Outgo
- DAT-backed support infrastructure
- Integrated with DAT One platform support
- Newer to factoring specifically — building track record
- Streamlined onboarding for DAT users
Apex Capital
- 20+ years in trucking factoring
- Dedicated account managers for larger accounts
- Strong brand reputation in the industry
- Established dispute resolution process
Apex has the edge on institutional experience and brand recognition. Outgo has the edge on integration — if a problem touches both your load board and your factoring, you are dealing with one company (DAT) rather than two separate vendor relationships.
Who should choose Apex Capital?
Apex is the better choice when:
- You are running 2–25 trucks with established broker relationships and consistent monthly volume
- Your fleet has high fuel spend and the Apex fuel card network delivers meaningful per-gallon discounts that offset the factoring rate
- You are comfortable with an all-invoice commitment + 60-day notice and have no plans to switch factoring companies
- You value Apex's 20+ years of brand recognition with brokers and shippers
- You want a single vendor that provides factoring + fuel card + credit checks in one bundled package
- Your monthly invoice volume is high enough that dedicated account management adds value
Who should choose Outgo?
Outgo is the better choice when:
- You are a 1–3 truck owner-operator and want predictable, transparent costs per invoice
- You are on new authority and need your NOA issued on Day 1 for your carrier packet
- You use DAT One to find loads and want factoring integrated with your existing workflow
- You want no contract lock-in — cancel anytime if your business model changes
- You want flat-fee pricing that does not scale up when you have a big load month
- You are comparing total cost without fuel card spend, and Outgo's flat fee beats Apex's percentage
Real owner-op math: 5 trucks doing $50K/month
Let's run the numbers on a 5-truck operation factoring $50,000/month in invoices.
| Scenario | Outgo | Apex (2.5%) | Apex (1.75%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly invoices | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Factoring cost | ~$1,250 (flat) | $1,250 | $875 |
| Contract risk | None | 60-day notice + all-invoice | 60-day notice + all-invoice |
| Fuel card savings needed to win | N/A | $0 (tied) | $375+/mo to break even vs Outgo |
At 2.5%, Apex and Outgo cost roughly the same. Apex wins only if the fuel card saves more than the rate difference. At 1.75% (negotiated), Apex saves ~$375/month — but you are committed to 60-day notice and all-invoice factoring at that rate, and you need consistent volume to justify it. An owner-op scaling up or down month-to-month is better served by Outgo's flexibility.
What about non-recourse factoring?
Both Outgo and Apex offer non-recourse factoring options. Non-recourse means the factor absorbs the loss if the broker goes bankrupt — but this protection is more limited than it sounds.
Outgo non-recourse
Outgo's non-recourse terms are written to be cleaner and more straightforward. Broker insolvency = factor eats the loss. Coverage scope and exclusions are clearly documented at enrollment.
Apex non-recourse
Apex offers non-recourse options, typically at a higher rate. Standard exclusions apply — disputes, paperwork errors, and slow-pay situations are typically still recourse even under a non-recourse contract.
Reality check on non-recourse: it protects you only against broker insolvency. Disputes, short pays, missing POD signatures, and rate confirmation discrepancies are almost universally excluded from non-recourse coverage. Vet brokers via DAT credit scores regardless of which factor you use.
Why we recommend Outgo for 2026
We've looked at both companies closely. For the majority of owner-operators and small fleets — which is most of the trucking industry — Outgo is the better starting point in 2026. Here are the four reasons:
- Flat-fee pricing eliminates rate risk.When your loads get bigger, your factoring cost stays the same. A percentage model means every high-paying load costs you more. Outgo's flat fee makes your cost-per-invoice predictable before you book.
- No lock-in means no trap.Apex's all-invoice commitment and 60-day cancellation notice are real constraints for carriers whose business model evolves — factor one load through a different company and you are in breach. With Outgo's month-to-month, no-notice structure, switching or pausing costs nothing.
- NOA on signup is operationally critical for new carriers. Your Notice of Assignment needs to go into every carrier packet you send. A 1–3 day delay from Apex means 1–3 days you cannot position yourself for new broker relationships. Outgo removes this friction entirely.
- DAT One integration reduces admin load.If you are booking loads on DAT One — which most owner-operators are — Outgo's native integration means your invoice workflow connects directly to your load booking. Less manual data entry, faster submission, fewer errors.
Free signup for Outgo · No credit card required
Apex vs Outgo FAQ
Is Apex Capital or Outgo cheaper?
For most owner-operators, Outgo is cheaper on a per-invoice basis because its flat-fee model has no percentage compounding on larger loads. On a $2,000 load, Apex at 2.5% costs $50; Outgo's flat fee is typically lower and predictable. On high-volume months, Outgo's fixed cost means savings scale with revenue. Apex can win if fuel card discounts offset the rate — but that requires high fuel spend.
Can I switch from Apex to Outgo?
Yes, but check your Apex agreement first. Apex requires a 60-day cancellation notice and an all-invoice commitment — meaning every invoice must be factored through Apex during the notice period. There is no fixed-term ETF, but you cannot simply walk away the same day. Outgo is month-to-month with no notice period, so once you move, you are not locked in again.
Does Outgo have a fuel card?
Outgo does not have a proprietary fuel card program. Apex's fuel card network is a genuine advantage for fleets that drive high mileage and want centralized fuel discounts. If a fuel card is critical to your operation, factor that into the comparison — the Apex fuel discount can partially offset its higher factoring rate depending on your fuel spend.
Is Outgo new authority friendly?
Yes. Outgo accepts new authority carriers from Day 1. Because it is integrated with DAT One, the onboarding process is streamlined — if you are already on DAT, you can connect factoring without starting from scratch with a separate company. The immediate NOA issuance is especially valuable for new carriers who need to send their carrier packet to brokers right away.
How long is the Apex Capital contract?
Apex Capital does not use a fixed-term contract. Instead, Apex requires a 60-day cancellation notice and an all-invoice commitment — every invoice you generate must be factored through Apex. There is no early termination fee tied to a specific contract length, but the all-invoice requirement and notice period are real constraints. This is one of the main reasons smaller carriers and new authority operators compare Apex against no-commitment alternatives like Outgo before signing.
What is Outgo's factoring rate?
Outgo uses a flat-fee model rather than a percentage. Outgo's flat fee is typically $20–$35 per invoice depending on volume tier. Exact pricing is confirmed at enrollment. For comparison: Apex's percentage rate of 2.5% on a $2,000 load = $50, while Outgo's flat fee on the same load might be $25–$35 — saving 30–50% per invoice for typical owner-op load values.
Does Apex factor for new authority?
Yes. Apex Capital accepts new authority carriers. They are one of the more established names in trucking factoring and have onboarding processes for carriers without an operating history. That said, new authority carriers should carefully read the all-invoice commitment and 60-day notice requirements before signing — factor only the loads you choose is not possible under Apex.
Can I use Outgo with non-DAT load boards?
Yes. Outgo works regardless of which load board you use to find loads. The DAT One integration is a bonus for carriers who are already on DAT — it automates invoice generation from rate confirmations — but factoring itself is independent. You can factor invoices from loads booked on Truckstop, direct shippers, or any other source.
How fast does Outgo pay?
Outgo funds same-day for clean submissions. Submit your rate confirmation, signed BOL/POD, and invoice before the daily cutoff and the wire hits your account the same day. First-time submissions may take one additional business day while Outgo verifies your setup. After setup, same-day funding is standard.
Our pick: Outgo for owner-operators in 2026
Flat fee, no contract, NOA on signup, DAT One integrated. Built for 1–5 truck operations. Sign up in minutes.
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission if you sign up through our links. Costs you nothing.
Reviewed by Don Grazio · UC Bureau Compliance Lead
Don has 12+ years working with motor carriers on FMCSA compliance, including new entrant audits, MCS-150 filings, BMC-91 insurance setups, and ELD compliance. UC Bureau researches FMCSA regulations (49 CFR Parts 380–399) directly with carriers across the U.S. and Canada. Content is fact-checked against current federal regulations. UC Bureau is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Transportation or FMCSA — we provide tools and guides to help carriers stay compliant. Learn more about UC Bureau →