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Tips and Resources for Running Businesses in Ontario

Tips and Resources for Running Businesses in Ontario

7
Apr 2020
24
Jan 2025

The business landscape is always evolving. In the last few weeks, the situation for many businesses in Ontario has changed drastically. You may be wondering where you can turn to find support in these challenging times.The good news is that there are plenty of supports for business owners operating in Ontario. If you’re looking for answers, try some of these tips and resources.

Federal and Provincial Support for Business Owners

Both the federal and provincial governments have announced funds designed to help business owners keep their doors open and their lights on during this time. If you’ve faced slashed hours or needed to lay employees off, then you may be eligible for business support funds.These funds could help you pay your employees during this time. Other funds are available to help businesses n Ontario manage their day-to-day operating expenses.

Check Government Websites for Resources

You may also want to look at the provincial government’s website, which has lists of programs and services for business owners like you. You can find one-on-one small business consulting and guidance, as well as workshops and more. You may also qualify for consultations with lawyers or accountants. Support is also available if you need grants, permits, or licenses. There are even resources to support mentorship and networking, available through Small Business Enterprise Centres.

Connect with Your Peers

Networking resources may be available through government-run resources. You may also find support through local small business organizations or trade federations. Even social media can help as you connect with your colleagues and peers.

Great Options for Creating Liquidity

In an uncertain market, business owners like you need financial options to help you create liquidity. Check in with your financial institution about measures they can provide to help you. You may also explore other options, like a merchant cash advance. The right funding options will help you create stability and flexibility when your business needs it most. Curious to learn more about your financing options? Get in touch with the experts and discover what a merchant cash advance could do for your business.

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June 14, 2021
January 24, 2025

5 Reasons Why Merchant Cash Advance Works for Small Businesses

With COVID-19 vaccines being administered all around the world, it's only a matter of time that businesses resume their work in the field. While corporations will have little to no hurdles, it will be small businesses that will have to make more effort. You don’t need to be an expert to understand these issues in today's economy. Some help in reopening will allow any sort of company to see instant results if capital is invested and used effectively. This is where merchants cash advances come in. An MCA works very differently. You’re receiving funding from a financial solution business. However, the perk of getting an MCA is that you only have to pay it back from a percentage of your sales. If you aren’t making any sales, you won’t have to pay back anything. So, if that doesn’t sound like a reasonable enough argument to make you get an MCA to nudge your business in the right direction, let us continue. Here are five reasons why cash advances will work in our company’s favor.

Easy to Qualify

Today's economy makes it troublesome for businesses in terms of finance. Conventional loans have rigid requirements that are turning people away. Moreover, they take more time, and sometimes your request may be denied. Merchant cash advances are more viable as they offer a sum of money at a fixed rate, and are easy to qualify for, even for first-time owners. While bank loans require hours to fill out, these applications contain brief questionnaires, prioritizing output rather than processing information. Expand Office Space Upgrading your office will be one of the heftiest investments you’ll ever make. But, it’s a necessary one. If your office space no longer meets the requirements of your business, you have to move into something that’s more fit to your needs. However, it’s not cheap. Moving into a new office requires a ton of money upfront. An MCA can be a great way to complete the down payment and move into the new office.

Quick Funding

Traditional bank loans have an approval time for weeks, and it is not even certain if your application will get accepted or not. If you don’t want to get caught up in those waiting times, an MCA is the best option. Funds from an MCA could reach your account the same day as your application is submitted!

Works Despite Credit Score

There are cases when businesses are in a stable situation and may have a poor credit score. In such cases, qualifying for a loan is impossible as banks want a surety that you are a viable candidate for receiving money. A history of bad credit is a red flag that tells a bank you won’t be able to repay the loan. An MCA gives you a much reliable alternative for cases where credit scores are low. There will be some things that will change but you will still be entitled to receive a cash advance!

No Restrictions

With bank loans, there are a ton of rules and regulations that restrict you from spending your money on certain places. With an MCA, there’s no such limitations. You’re free to invest your advance into anything as long as it helps in the growth of your business. An MCA can help elevate your operation to new heights with greater flexibility and opportunities. If you’d like to learn more about obtaining a merchant cash advance for your business, 2M7 Financial Solutions is here to help. We offer merchant cash advances to businesses in all industries and of all sizes. Gain an edge over your competition and contact us today.

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April 4, 2022
January 27, 2025

Merchant Cash Advance vs. Cheques Factoring

Managing a small business is challenging. One of the common challenges for business owners is financing. Your company might not have a lengthy credit history or collateral to apply for a bank loan. Whether you want to grow your business or cover unforeseen expenses, you have come across other financing options. Merchant cash advance and cheques factoring are some of the available options for small businesses.

What Is Merchant Cash Advance?

A merchant cash advance is an alternative financing option for small businesses. You can take the funds upfront and pay them off with a percentage of future sales. The MCA is an ideal solution for businesses that need fast funding and might not be eligible to take a bank loan. The availability of funds is another excellent advantage. If your business needs the funds fast to proceed with the operations, the cash advance will be approved within a day or two.

PROS

Fast access to funds

When timing is crucial and you can't go through the lengthy bank approval process, the MCA is your solution. Small businesses can get funds within a day or two from submission. Unlike the traditional bank process, the financial institutions that issue MCAs don't do rigorous checks. They will check the business's past sales to determine whether they qualify for a cash advance.

Ideal for businesses that work with cash and credit cards

Retail and restaurant businesses rely on a high volume of credit card sales, making them ideal for obtaining MCA. If your business depends on cash or credit cards, a cash advance is the ideal financing method. This opportunity is perfect for the ones that don't rely on invoices. Instead, they take a percentage of the credit card sales to repay the loan.

CONS

High-interest rates

Merchant cash advance comes with higher interest rates than traditional bank loans. The convenience of having the funds fast will cost more. However, the price is worth paying when you need urgent funds to proceed with the business operations.

What Is Cheques Factoring?

A post-dated cheque is a cheque that can be cashed on the indicated date on the document's face. It is a form of advance payment and can be cashed on a specific date. According to Canadian laws, a cheque can't be cleared before this date. If you still need cash to keep your business's liquidity, you can sell the cheque to a factoring company.

PROS

Fast approval

Depending on the date indicated on the check face, you might have to wait long to receive the payment. If you need to meet your business needs urgently, factoring your cheques will provide you with funds quickly. They will pay off a particular value of the face value while keeping a specific percentage as a fee.

No credit score checks

When applying for a traditional bank loan, they will do a rigorous check on your financial history. When your small business is relatively new and doesn't have a credit history, you might be restricted from obtaining such loans. Your ability for cheque factoring isn't assessed with credit history, and you aren't required to disclose collateral. This is very important, as you don't need to put your property or equipment at risk. The factoring company will check the check for authenticity.

Not deal with cheques

Having to deal with cheques is a tedious job. Passing this responsibility to a third party means less time spent sorting out cheques so that you can focus on the more important aspects of your business.

CONS

Higher cost

The factoring company will charge fees to provide you with the cash in advance. They will usually pay 80% of the amount indicated on the face. However, the high cost might pay off if you need money urgently.  

Requirements

Cheques factoring companies might have specific requirements for cashing out your document. For example, the check drawer should be a reputable entity. Also, the factoring company might have particular requirements on the cheque's active time.

Merchant Cash Advance vs. Cheques Factoring

For cheques factoring, you will pay a fee to the factoring company expressed as a percentage of the total amount. On the other hand, you will pay off your MCA as a percentage of your future sales. When choosing the suitable financing method for your company, select the one that is a better fit for your needs. We at 2M7 are dedicated to providing the needed funds to enhance your business's liquidity without restrictions on how to use them. Get in touch with us, and we will answer your specific needs!

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September 18, 2020
January 24, 2025

Why a Merchant Cash Advance is Better than a Business Loan

There are many funding options available for small business owners like you. You may be thinking of a business line of credit or even a business loan.Another, newer option is the merchant cash advance (MCA). This option is quickly gaining traction with business owners. Why? MCAs are often better than business loans.

A Merchant Cash Advance Fits Your Needs

Business loans are traditionally for large business purchases. Some lenders may not offer business loans unless they’re a certain size, such as $100,000 or more. If you need less than that, you may not be able to qualify for a loan.A merchant cash advance is different. It can be as big or as small as you need, giving your business more flexibility when it comes to funding. If you just need a little bit of cash to stay afloat, an MCA could be a great option.

MCAs Are Flexible

A merchant cash advance may also be the right choice because it’s flexible in terms of payment. MCAs are assessed on your future sales.The lender will look at your past sales and estimated future sales. They’ll then offer you a percentage of those sales as an advance on them.As you make sales, you pay back your advance. If your sales are higher, you can pay the advance off more quickly. If your sales are lower, then you don’t need to struggle to meet a certain minimum payment.This makes a merchant cash advance much easier for business owners like you to manage.

They’re Great for Startups

Many lenders require an extensive business history before they’ll extend a formal business loan. They want to see past proof of success.A merchant cash advance looks to the future, not the past. Even if you’ve only been in business a couple of months, you may be able to qualify for an advance.If you’re thinking about the future of your business funding, then it’s time to consider a merchant cash advance.

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