From a construction crew waiting on its first payment to a restaurant facing an equipment emergency, see how four Canadian businesses used 2M7 funding to keep operations running and take advantage of opportunities.
By Avi Bernstein, CEO, 2M7 Financial Solutions
Client names withheld for privacy. Amounts, timing and terms vary by business.
TL;DR
- These Canadian business funding case studies show how 2M7 merchant cash advances supported equipment, payroll, inventory and repairs.
- The four businesses received advances from $24,000 to $65,000, one to two business days after application.
- Fixed and flex payment structures addressed different cash flow patterns. Flex payments require daily card processing.
Running a business means paying for things before the money comes in. A contract needs materials before the first invoice clears. Equipment breaks down days before a busy weekend. A supplier offers inventory you know will sell, but wants payment now. These are everyday cash flow gaps, and they happen to successful businesses too.
When timing matters, waiting weeks for a bank decision isn't always an option. Here are four examples of how Canadian businesses used merchant cash advances from 2M7 to cover a short-term gap and keep moving.
The four businesses
| Case | Province | Amount (CAD) | Purpose | Payment structure | Application to funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Alberta (Calgary) | $65,000 | Equipment deposit and payroll | Fixed | 2 business days |
| Restaurant | Ontario (Hamilton) | $24,000 | Walk-in cooler replacement | Flex | Next business day |
| Retail | British Columbia (Kelowna) | $35,000 | Seasonal inventory | Flex | 2 business days |
| Trucking | Quebec (Laval) | $32,000 | Transmission repair, fuel and payroll | Fixed | 2 business days |
1. Construction: $65,000 to Get a Calgary Contractor's Project Started on Time
“I had a crew booked and a supplier waiting on a deposit. The rep and I went through what was due before the first progress payment. We got the equipment order in and started the job when we said we would.” (Owner, Calgary electrical subcontractor)
The challenge: A new contract was ready to go, but the costs couldn't wait for the first payment.
A Calgary electrical subcontractor had just secured a commercial renovation project. After six years in business, the company had seven field employees and the experience to take on the work.
There was just one problem: the electrical equipment supplier needed a deposit before releasing the switchgear required for the job. Meanwhile, the contractor had employees to pay and wouldn't receive the first progress payment until several weeks after work began.
The owner approached the bank about temporarily increasing an existing line of credit. But the bank needed updated financial statements, and the equipment order had to be confirmed that same week.
Waiting could have put the entire project schedule at risk.
How 2M7 Helped
The owner connected with a 2M7 funding representative, who reviewed the supplier's deposit deadline, upcoming payroll obligations and expected timing of the first progress payment.
Rather than simply looking at how much funding the business could qualify for, the conversation focused on how much it actually needed to get the project underway.
2M7 provided a $65,000 merchant cash advance with fixed payments, deposited two business days after the initial application.
The owner chose fixed payments. With progress payments arriving on a set schedule, a predictable daily amount was easier to plan around than a payment tied to sales.
The funding covered the supplier deposit and helped bridge payroll expenses until the project's first payment arrived.
The Result: Work Started as Promised
The contractor placed the equipment order, the crew started on schedule and the project moved forward without waiting for additional bank financing.
The first progress invoice was paid approximately six weeks after work began.
Eight months later, the owner returned to 2M7 for another advance to purchase materials for two projects running simultaneously.
We asked the owner: What would delaying the start have meant for the customer relationship?
“If we had pushed the start, the general contractor would have had to reshuffle every trade behind us. On commercial jobs, that's how you stop getting the next call. Starting on the date we promised mattered as much as the job itself.”
Funding at a glance
- Amount funded: $65,000
- Funds deposited: 2 business days after application
- Payment structure: Fixed
- Used for: Equipment deposit and payroll
- Outcome: Project started on schedule, with repeat funding eight months later
For contractors, a signed contract doesn't always mean cash is immediately available. Sometimes the difference between starting a project and delaying it comes down to having the working capital to cover the costs in between.
Explore construction and trade business funding
2. Restaurant: $24,000 to Save a Busy Weekend in Hamilton
“The cooler died on a Monday, and we had a catering order for Saturday. My rep showed me what the payments would look like in a slow week using our actual sales. We had the new cooler running by Friday and got the catering order out on time.” (Owner, Hamilton restaurant)
The challenge: A broken walk-in cooler threatened weekend service and a major catering order.
For a restaurant owner, equipment rarely breaks down at a convenient time. A 55-seat neighbourhood restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario, had been operating for four years, building a steady business around weekend dinner service and catering.
Then, on a Monday, its walk-in cooler failed. The restaurant had a catering order scheduled for Saturday, along with its regular weekend reservations. The owner quickly arranged temporary refrigeration to protect the inventory, but replacing the cooler required an immediate deposit to the installer.
The bank couldn't approve an increase to the restaurant's operating line of credit before the deposit deadline. With every passing day, the risk of losing business grew.
How 2M7 Helped
The restaurant owner worked with a 2M7 representative to arrange a $24,000 merchant cash advance, with funds deposited the next business day. The advance covered the replacement cooler deposit and temporary refrigeration costs.
Because restaurant revenue fluctuates throughout the week, the owner chose 2M7's flex payment option. Instead of making the same payment regardless of sales, flex payments are a set percentage of daily credit and debit sales, so the payment rises and falls with sales. Flex payments are available only to businesses that process daily card payments.
The representative reviewed the restaurant's actual sales figures and showed the owner what payments could look like during both slower and busier weeks. That gave the owner a clearer picture of how the funding would fit into the restaurant's cash flow.
The Result: The Kitchen Was Ready for the Weekend
By Friday, the new cooler was installed and running. The restaurant fulfilled its Saturday catering order and welcomed its regular weekend customers without the equipment failure disrupting service.
What could have turned into a costly interruption became a manageable repair. No further advance had been requested at the time of follow-up.
We asked the owner: What was your biggest concern when the cooler failed?
“The catering order. Losing the stock would have hurt, but letting down a customer who had booked us for an event was what kept me up that night. Once I knew the new cooler could be in by Friday, I could focus on running the kitchen again.”
Funding at a glance
- Amount funded: $24,000
- Funds deposited: Next business day after application
- Payment structure: Flex
- Used for: Cooler replacement and temporary refrigeration
- Outcome: Equipment replaced in time for weekend service and catering
Restaurant owners have enough to manage without a critical equipment failure threatening their busiest days. Fast access to funding helped this owner focus on getting the kitchen back to normal rather than worrying about how to pay for the repair.
Explore restaurant equipment and operations funding
3. Retail: $35,000 to Stock Up Before the May Long Weekend
“Our supplier could get us more paddleboards before the May long weekend, but I had three days to pay. My rep caught that our online sales went into a separate account and told me which statements to send. We got the boards in before the weekend and sold most of that shipment by the end of June.” (Owner, Kelowna outdoor retailer)
The challenge: A time-sensitive inventory opportunity came with a three-day payment deadline.
Not every business funding need starts with an emergency. Sometimes the opportunity is right in front of you, but you need money to act on it.
That's what happened to an outdoor equipment retailer in Kelowna, British Columbia. The business had been operating for three and a half years, selling outdoor gear through both a physical storefront and an online shop.
Just before the May long weekend, a distributor offered an additional shipment of popular paddleboards and life jackets. For a retailer heading into the busy summer season, having more of its best-selling products available was an attractive opportunity.
But there was a catch. The supplier needed payment within three business days to reserve the inventory.
The owner's existing bank line of credit was already partly committed to spring inventory purchases. Using the remaining credit would leave less room for everyday operating expenses. Rather than stretch the existing credit line, the owner contacted 2M7.
How 2M7 Helped
The business qualified for a $35,000 merchant cash advance with flex payments.
The owner chose flex payments because the store's sales swing with the seasons and the weather. Payments that rise in busy summer weeks and drop in slower ones matched the store's cash flow. Flex payments are available only to businesses that process daily card payments.
During the application, the 2M7 representative noticed that online sales were deposited into a different bank account from the store's other revenue.
The representative identified which additional statements were needed, helping the owner provide the necessary documentation without unnecessary back-and-forth.
The funds were deposited two business days after the initial application, allowing the retailer to secure the additional shipment before the supplier's deadline.
The Result: More Inventory When Customers Wanted It
The paddleboards and life jackets arrived before the long weekend, giving the store additional inventory heading into its busiest selling season.
By the end of June, approximately two-thirds of the shipment had sold. The remaining products sold over the summer.
The following spring, the owner returned to 2M7 for a smaller advance to restock the store's fastest-selling products.
We asked the owner: How did you decide the inventory opportunity justified the funding cost?
“I looked at what that shipment would sell for in a normal summer against what the advance would cost. Paddleboards were our best seller the year before, so I was confident they would move. The margin on the boards covered the cost with room to spare.”
Funding at a glance
- Amount funded: $35,000
- Funds deposited: 2 business days after application
- Payment structure: Flex
- Used for: Seasonal inventory
- Outcome: Additional stock secured before peak season, with repeat funding the following spring
For retailers, timing can make all the difference. Having the right products available when customers are ready to buy is an important part of growing sales. In this case, fast business funding helped the owner take advantage of a supplier opportunity without using up the company's remaining bank credit.
Explore retail inventory and growth funding
4. Trucking: $32,000 to Keep Deliveries Moving After a Major Breakdown
“When the transmission went, I had two loads already booked. I had to pay the shop to order the parts and pay another carrier to take those loads. The rep helped me work out what I needed until the next invoices came in. Both loads made it on time, and my truck was back on the road the following week.” (Owner, Laval trucking company)
The challenge: A transmission failure put two scheduled deliveries and ongoing operating expenses at risk.
When a truck breaks down, the repair bill is only part of the problem. A Laval, Quebec-based trucking company had been operating for five years, running regular freight routes between Quebec and Ontario with a fleet of five trucks.
When one truck needed a transmission replacement, the owner faced several expenses at once. The repair shop required a deposit to order the necessary parts. Two freight loads were already booked and needed to be delivered. Fuel costs and driver payroll were also coming due, while the business was still waiting for customer invoices to be paid.
The owner contacted the bank about increasing the company's operating line of credit, but the bank requested updated financial statements and couldn't provide a decision before the repair shop's deadline. The business needed another solution, and quickly.
How 2M7 Helped
The owner worked directly with a 2M7 representative to calculate the immediate funding requirements.
Together, they reviewed the repair deposit, the cost of hiring another carrier to handle the two scheduled loads, and the fuel and payroll expenses due before the next customer payments arrived.
2M7 provided a $32,000 merchant cash advance with fixed payments, deposited two business days after the initial application.
The owner chose fixed payments. Freight income arrives on invoice terms rather than as daily card sales, so a set daily amount was easier to budget around.
The funding allowed the owner to authorize the transmission repair, arrange alternative transportation for the booked freight and cover essential operating expenses.
The Result: Deliveries Stayed on Schedule
Both freight loads reached their customers on time, and the repaired truck returned to service the following week.
Instead of letting one breakdown disrupt multiple commitments, the owner kept the business moving.
Seven months later, the company returned to 2M7 for a smaller advance to help cover fuel and payroll after adding a route with 45-day customer payment terms.
We asked the owner: What did you tell customers while arranging alternative deliveries?
“I called both customers the same day and told them straight: one of our trucks was in the shop, and a carrier I trust would handle their loads. They cared about one thing, the delivery arriving on time, and it did.”
Funding at a glance
- Amount funded: $32,000
- Funds deposited: 2 business days after application
- Payment structure: Fixed
- Used for: Transmission repair, subcontracted deliveries, fuel and payroll
- Outcome: Both deliveries completed on time, truck returned to service the following week
In trucking, a vehicle that's off the road can affect much more than one delivery. Access to working capital helped this business handle an unexpected repair while continuing to meet its commitments to customers.
Explore trucking business funding
Four Businesses. Four Different Challenges. One Thing in Common.
A construction contractor needed to start a job before getting paid. A restaurant owner had to replace essential equipment before the weekend. A retailer saw an opportunity to stock up for the summer. A trucking company needed to keep deliveries moving after a breakdown.
Different industries, different circumstances, but the same underlying problem: the money was needed before the next payment arrived.
That's where having the right funding partner can make a difference. At 2M7, we know business owners don't have time to jump through endless hoops when there's a supplier waiting, employees to pay or customers counting on them.
Our approach is straightforward. We look at your business, understand what you need the funds for and help you explore a merchant cash advance and payment structure that makes sense for your cash flow.
With fixed and flex payment options, transparent costs and direct access to a funding representative, the goal is to make getting business funding simpler. Flex payments are available only to businesses that process daily card payments.
And as these four cases show, funding isn't always about fixing a problem. Sometimes it's about being ready to take the next opportunity.
What to Consider Before Choosing Business Funding
Each of these owners started with the same questions: How much is due before the next customer payment arrives? What happens if that payment is late? How much can the business comfortably pay toward an advance while still covering its other bills?
When comparing funding options, look at:
- The total repayment amount in dollars, not just the advance amount (see how it’s calculated)
- The payment amount or percentage and how often it's withdrawn
- What happens if sales slow down or a customer pays later than expected
If you have time to wait for a bank decision, government-backed options like the Canada Small Business Financing Program may be worth comparing. Applications go directly to a bank, credit union or caisse populaire, which makes the approval decision.
With fixed payments, the amount stays the same. With flex payments, it adjusts with your sales. A 2M7 representative can walk you through the total cost and payment schedule before you decide. There is one fixed cost of capital, shown before signing, and it does not change based on how long repayment takes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can a merchant cash advance be funded?
At 2M7, approval decisions typically come within one business day, and funds are typically deposited within 24 hours of approval. In the four cases above, funds were deposited one to two business days after the initial application.
What's the difference between fixed and flex payments?
With fixed payments, the same amount is paid automatically each business day, and you can call 2M7 to ask about reducing it if revenue drops. With flex payments, a set percentage of your daily credit and debit sales goes toward repayment, so the payment rises and falls with your sales. Flex payments are available only to businesses that process daily card payments.
What can a merchant cash advance be used for?
Most day-to-day and short-term business costs. In these four cases, owners used their advances for an equipment deposit and payroll, a cooler replacement, seasonal inventory, and a truck repair along with fuel and payroll.
Who qualifies for funding from 2M7?
2M7's minimum requirements are a Canadian business operating for at least three months, at least $15,000 a month in revenue and no open bankruptcies. Credit score is considered alongside revenue, so a lower score doesn't automatically rule a business out. Meeting the minimums doesn't guarantee approval.
Need Business Funding? Let's Talk.
Whether you're dealing with an unexpected expense, waiting on customer payments or preparing for your next stage of growth, 2M7 can help you explore your options.
We provide merchant cash advances to qualifying Canadian businesses, with funding of up to $300,000 and a process designed to move quickly.
No complicated bank process. No guessing about costs. Just a straightforward conversation about what your business needs and how we can help.
Speak with a funding specialist.
About the author
Avi Bernstein has led 2M7 Financial Solutions as CEO since 2016, after joining the company as General Manager in 2015. His focus is giving Canadian businesses faster, more flexible access to the working capital they need to grow, stabilize cash flow and act on new opportunities. Before 2M7, he worked in client services at Questrade and in business development, and he completed the Canadian Securities Course with honours. He has also spoken about the state of alternative funding in Canada at industry events, including deBanked CONNECT Toronto.
Connect with Avi on LinkedIn.
