Business Loan in Canada

Apr 2023

Jan 2025

There is a wide array of services available to businesses in Canada seeking to bolster their cash liquidity. This article will explore some of the most popular options, as well as their best use cases. These financial solutions typically include a combination of bank loans, CEBA loans, government business grants, factoring, cash advances, payday loans, and microloans.

Businesses can utilize these financial options to optimize growth, gain liquidity, bridge emergency situations, or capitalize on opportunities.

Let's delve into our options:

1. Traditional bank loans

This is the most conventional form of financing that small businesses can utilize to obtain Typically, these loans are secured by collateral, and may offer lower interest rates, making them an appealing choice for businesses with strong credit. However, small and medium-sized businesses adhering to conservatism and GAAP principles might have lower perceived financial strength, which can make obtaining traditional financing more challenging, especially if the bank relies on financial statements as part of its due diligence process. This can be particularly problematic for new startups and businesses without a significant financial track record. Furthermore, liquidity provided might be limited if a business is relatively new or experiencing volatility, even with collateral in place.

2. CEBA loans

The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans are interest-free loans of up to $60,000 designed for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These loans are 100% backed by the government and do not require any collateral. Businesses can use these loans to cover operating expenses such as payroll and rent, as well as for purchasing equipment or expanding their operations. The CEBA loans offer flexibility and accessibility with a few caveats. Firstly, the loan forgiveness repayment date has been extended to December 31, 2023, for CEBA loan holders in good standing. This means that loan holders may have to start repaying their CEBA loans as early as 2024. Secondly, eligibility is only applicable to businesses that have had an active business account with their financial institution as of March 1, 2020, and can demonstrate a decline in revenue due to the pandemic.

3. Factoring

Factoring enables businesses to sell their accounts receivable (invoices) to a third-party (a factoring company) at a discount. The factoring company then acts as the agent to collect payments from the invoice customer, providing the business with liquidity (cash) based on a certain percentage of the invoice amount. Factoring can significantly improve cash flow for small and medium-sized businesses by offering liquidity and quick access to funds. It is also helpful that the factoring company will be the one taking care of ensuring invoices are paid, freeing up valuable resources for small businesses.

4. Government business grants

The Canadian government provides an array of business grants designed to help small businesses flourish and These grantstypically target specific industries or business activities, such as clean technology, innovation, workforce development, and international trade, among others. A considerable number of grants currently emphasize research, development, and exporting. The application process for these grants can be intricate, requiring well-prepared grant proposals that effectively communicate the business's objectives, anticipated outcomes, and potential impact. This process is often competitive, as numerous businesses vie for the limited funding available. Newer businesses or those without prior grant writing experience may find this process daunting, and may benefit from seeking professional grant writing assistance or collaborating with experienced partners in their industry. Despite the challenges, securing a government grant can be a game-changer for small businesses, providing essential funding without the burden of repayment, and fostering growth, innovation, and competitiveness in the marketplace.

5. Payday loans or Microloans

Payday loans and microloans are small, short-term loans that are typically utilized to address unexpected expenses or navigate temporary cash flow gaps. While these loans may not be suitable for long-term financing needs due to their relatively higher interest rates and fees, they play a vital role in providing financial support during emergencies. By offering quick access to funds, payday loans and microloans help businesses remain afloat and operational during challenging times, allowing them to successfully weather temporary cash flow issues that are anticipated to improve in the near future. This targeted financial assistance can be a lifeline for businesses, enabling them to maintain stability and continue serving their customers as they work towards recovery and growth.

6. Cash Advance

A cash advance, particularly in the form of a Merchant Cash Advance (MCA), is an innovative financing solution that provides businesses with a lump sum of cash in exchange for a percentage of their future sales (typically credit card sales). Cash advances and MCAs can be exceptional financing options for businesses that need funds swiftly or require increased liquidity to seize opportunities that demand prompt. One of the key advantages of this financing option is its speed and flexibility. Cash advances can be processed more quickly than traditional loans, often within a matter of days, allowing businesses to address their financial needs without delay. Additionally, repayment terms are tailored to the business's sales volume, making it a more manageable solution for businesses with fluctuating revenues. MCAs are particularly valuable for new businesses and small enterprises that may face challenges in obtaining traditional bank loans due to a lack of financial history, inadequate financial book strength, or a dearth of collateral. By offering an alternative financing avenue, cash advances empower these businesses to overcome financial barriers and pursue their growth objectives. Ultimately, the various financing options available to Canadian businesses each have their own strengths and specific use cases. Traditional bank loans can be attractive for businesses with strong credit, while CEBA loans offer interest-free financing for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Factoring provides immediate liquidity to businesses with outstanding invoices, and government grants can support targeted industries and activities. Payday loans or microloans can assist in managing short-term cash flow gaps. And cash advances offer rapid access to funds for businesses lacking financial history or collateral. The choice of financing option will depend on the unique needs and circumstances of each business. By understanding the advantages and limitations of each option, businesses can make informed decisions about the most suitable financing solution to support their growth, liquidity, and success.

May 19, 2023

January 24, 2025

Revenue Based Financing: What is it and how can it Help Grow Your Business?

If you’re an entrepreneur seeking affordable funding options for your business without giving up equity or being burdened by debt, Revenue-Based Financing (RBF) might be just what you’re looking for! RBF has been steadily rising in popularity among growth-stage companies, and for good reason; the flexibility and unique blend of equity and debt financing is changing the game as it keeps you in control every step of the way.But that’s not all. A whole world of revenue-based avenues, such as Merchant Cash Advances and Factoring are entering the scene too!In this article, we will dive into the world of RBF, its alternatives, and provide you with valuable resources to help you make an informed decision about financing your business.

What is Revenue Based Financing?

Revenue Based Financing is a new type of funding that combines the convenience of a business loan with the peace of mind of flexible repayment options.Instead of a set monthly repayment, RBF allows your company to trade a percentage of sales for start-up capital. This allows you and the investor, as it provides the funds you need without tying up valuable equity or incurring debt. Your investor can rest easy knowing that they will receive regular payments (though the amounts may vary) under a legally binding contract.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Find an Investor

Venture capital firms, dedicated RBF investors, or angel investors are a good place to start.

2. Pitch Your Business

Present your business plan, financials and growth projections to the investor. Show them your intended use of the funds and your company’s potential for generating consistent revenue.

3. Negotiate Terms

If the investor is interested, this is where you will negotiate the investment amount, percentage of revenue shared, repayment cap, and anything else that is pertinent to the deal.

4. Sign on the Dotted Line

Once the terms are agreed upon, both you and the investor sign a legally binding document that outlines the specifics of the deal.

5. Put the Funds to Use

Receive your funds (usually in a lump sum), and put them to work in marketing, product development, hiring, or other areas that will propel your company’s growth forward.

6. Monthly Payments

As your business starts generating revenue, repay your investor based on the agreed-upon monthly percentage.

7. The Repayment Cap

Once you have hit the predetermined repayment cap, your obligation to the investor is fulfilled, and you retain full control of your business.

RBF Alternative: Merchant Cash Advances

If your business is retail based or receives a high volume of revenue from credit card transactions (such as a restaurant), Merchant Cash Advances may be a more suitable financing option. With MCA, you exchange a percentage of future credit card sales for the lump sum investment.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Apply for MCA

Once you find a reputable Merchant Cash Advance provider, apply for funding using the above-mentioned information for your business, as well as your credit card transaction history.

2. Receive the Funds

Again, usually a lump sum.

3. Repay Via Sales

MCA offers a big advantage in that you have quick access to the funds, and the flexibility of repayments being tied to sales, which eliminates the need for collateral. However, MCA’s can be more expensive than a traditional loan, and the deduction from your daily sales may impact your cash flow for a time. Learn more about Merchant Cash Advances here.

RBT Alternative: Factoring

Factoring is also known as accounts receivable financing or invoice financing. It may work best for you if your business is facing cash flow issues due to slow-paying clients. With factoring, you sell your unpaid invoices to a factoring company at a discount, and they take care of collecting the funds.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Find a Reputable Factoring Company

Preferably one that specializes in your industry.

2. Sell Your Unpaid Invoices to the Factoring Company at a Discounted Rate

Usually 70-90% of the invoice amount.

3. Get Paid Upfront

The Factoring company will subtract their fees and pay you the agreed upon amount right away.

4. Invoice Collection

Now it’s out of your hands, and the factoring company takes care of collecting the overdue amount from your clients!

5. Receive the Remaining Balance

Once the client pays, the Factoring Company will send you the remaining balance, minus their fees. Factoring eliminates the need for you to waste time chasing after clients to pay their invoices, and gives you quick access to the funds, relieving your financial stress. However, like merchant cash advances, factoring can be more expensive than a traditional loan.

Choosing the Right Financing Option

After reading this article and looking into the different financing options for your business, you hopefully have an idea of which option is best for your business. Ultimately though, the biggest factors to consider are:

Your Business Industry
Your Revenue Model
Company Growth Stage
Repayment Flexibility

Once you determine those, you can make the choice that works best to propel your business forward! Revenue Based Financing is getting more creative and attainable as the structure of our economy evolves. It really is becoming the financing option of the future.

May 26, 2021

January 24, 2025

5 Reasons Why Successful Businesses Also Borrow Money

There's a huge misconception in the world of business. People tend to think that if a company (that's not a startup) has to borrow money, it's not successful. Yes, in certain situations, you do need some capital to get up and running from a few bad months. However, usually, it isn't bad for your company. It can be a huge boost for your business and take your sales to a new height that you didn't know existed. Here are five reasons why successful businesses needs to borrow money.

Meet Consumer Demands

If you're running a successful business, you're going to scale over time. Your customers will increase, and your current production capacity won't meet your future demands. Scaling is an important part of the journey, and if you don't speed up production, the sign that says 'out of stock' will run your enterprise into the ground. Taking a merchant cash advance (MCA) could be a great way to upgrade equipment and start meeting consumer demands. It does cost you money upfront, but in the long run, it'll boost your profits tenfold.

Stepping Away from a Rough Patch

We mentioned COVID-19 a while ago, and it is a major reason why companies need to be open to the idea of borrowing money. Millions of businesses globally shut down because either their services weren't required by the public or they couldn't maintain enough profits to stay above water. If your company struggled to find ground but still made it to the early post-COVID era we're in right now, you're lucky. However, things might not be such food to you if you can't get yourself back to a certain level of stability. By taking a merchant cash advance, you might be able to hire new personnel, find new contractors to work with, spend more on advertising, and get back to work!

Making Payments on Time

Even some of the top businesses in the world need raw materials to make their products. And, most of the time, payments from customers take months until they're in the pocket of the finance department. To make sure you make all your payments on time, an MCA will help you keep the wheel spinning, and since you already have the money needed to pay it back, you're good to go.

Keeping Up With Competition

No matter what you sell, there's probably some other businesses out there that has been in the same industry for longer than you have. This means that they have a stable grip on the market and have a better cash flow to scale their business. Taking a merchant cash advance is like a quick hack to catch up to your competition and speed up sales much quickly as compared to the other, more traditional routes.

Reducing Personal Investments

If you’re running a small to medium business, it’s always tempting to put in all your personal savings to keep the business afloat. Building a cash reserve is a good way to keep financial problems at bay. However, a recommendable way to save yourself from the pitfall of personal investments is to borrow money. By bringing in the cash you need from other places, you’re keeping your bank account safe and sound.

Closing Thoughts

The word 'debt' is not the final nail in the coffin for your company. With proper planning, it can help you reach heights that you never imagined. That is where we come in. 2M7 Financial Solutions is a company that offers merchants cash advances, which you can return from a specific percentage of your sales. If you're looking for a reliable company to help you outshine your competition, request a quote, we will be happy to assist you.

May 25, 2022

January 24, 2025

2M7 Announces 2022 “Forward Thinkers Scholarship” for Business and Finance Students in Canada

2M7 Financial Solutions is proud to announce its annual Forward Thinkers Scholarship to support Canadian post-secondary students in Business, Finance, or equivalent programs who are forward-thinking individuals dedicated to making a difference in their fields. The selected recipient will have demonstrated excellence in their studies and will receive $2,500.00 CAD towards their continued success.“

Students are the future of our industry and we welcome the new perspectives and fresh ideas they bring to the table,” said Avi Bernstein, CEO of 2M7 Financial Solutions. “We’re proud to support passionate and talented individuals in the pursuit of their education, and we welcome all Business and Finance majors to apply for an opportunity to receive the Forward Thinkers Scholarship in 2022.”

As one of Canada’s leading merchant cash advance providers, 2M7 Financial Solutions helps Canadian small and medium businesses secure the funding they need to accelerate their growth. As a client-centric company, 2M7 values the entrepreneurs who are the backbone of the Canadian SME economy and believes in empowering business owners and enabling them to achieve their full potential. Similarly, 2M7 believes it’s important to give students the opportunity to excel in their fields and bring cutting-edge ideas that will help drive the industry forward.

The selected recipient will encompass 2M7’s values of innovation and demonstrate a genuine desire to make innovative strides within their respective field.

To learn more about the scholarship or to start the application, please visit the Forward Thinkers Scholarship page here.

Applications will be accepted beginning June 1^st, 2022, and the deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on August 31, 2022. Winners will be announced in the Fall of 2022.

About the “forward thinkers scholarship” by 2M7

The ”Forward Thinkers Scholarship” by 2M7 is an annual scholarship program, established in 2022 by 2M7 Financial Solutions. It recognizes outstanding students who are pursuing or entering full-time studies in Business, Finance, or an equivalent program. For those interested in applying for the 2022 scholarship, please make sure to follow 2M7 on Facebook for further announcements.