The Top 4 Small to MediumSized Business Trends in 2019

You’ve done your research, and you’re convinced a merchant cash advance is a great opportunity for your business. You can get a flexible funding solution to help you cover essential business costs or even expansion. Better yet, you can quickly access the funds you need with flexible repayment terms. So, how do you get an MCA? Follow these steps and you’ll have the funding you need in no time.

Research Providers

Doing research should be your first step. There are plenty of lenders offering MCAs, but not all of them are created equal. Many of them do business online. This makes it easy to find information about where they operate and the kinds of businesses they support. Some specialize in working with small businesses, while others prefer working with large businesses. Some may have expertise in your industry. Always look for a provider who is upfront about their MCA program. Check customer reviews and testimonials. What do other business owners say about this lender?

Submit an Application

Once you’ve decided on a provider, it’s time to prepare your MCA application. Always review the lender’s specific requirements. The more complete and accurate your application, the faster the lender can approve you. You’ll need to provide:

• Government-issued ID, to prove your identity
• Your merchant ID number
• Recent bank statements
• A void cheque

Your merchant ID number allows the lender to check on your merchant account, giving them accurate information on your monthly sales. Your recent bank statements can also provide this information, as well as crucial information about cash flows. You’ll also need to provide a bank account number for your business. The business bank account is where your merchant cash advance will be deposited.

The Approval Process

The lender will approve your application within two business days. If your application is complete and accurate, the funds may arrive on within the same day. Always check what the lender will provide. Some lenders will offer up to 125 percent of your monthly sales. Next, they’ll send you an agreement. Read this over carefully, since it contains information about your repayment schedule, fees, and more. Some lenders post their general terms, including rates and fees, online. You can review them before you apply. If you’re unsure about the lender’s offer, don’t be afraid to contact them. For example, if you were hoping for more funds than they offered, you can discuss their rationale with them. Once you’re satisfied with the lender’s terms, your funds will be transferred to your bank account.

How Repayment Works

Your merchant cash advance provider should get in touch with your payments processor. They’ll set up direct deductions, which means repayment of your advance happens automatically. You can keep track of payments through your account with the provider. This makes the process perfectly transparent, and you’ll always know where you stand.

Get the Funds You Need Now

Ready to get a merchant cash advance for your business? You can get in touch with the experts for a free quote or apply now. The funds you need could be just a few clicks away.

Merchant Cash Advance vs. Business Loan: Which One Is Right for Your Business?

Most Canadian small business owners will need outside capital at some point. The question is rarely whether to get it, but which type actually makes sense for where the business is right now.

The Traditional Route: Business Loans 

A business loan gives you a fixed amount of capital repaid in monthly installments over an agreed term. The schedule is set from day one and you always know exactly what you owe, which makes it a solid fit for longer-term investments with predictable returns.

Canada also has a government-backed option worth knowing about. Canada's Small Business Financing Program, administered by ISED, partners with banks and credit unions to make loans available to businesses that might not otherwise qualify for conventional financing. In 2024-25, the program supported over 6,400 loans totalling close to $1.9 billion.

The tradeoff is access. Banks want clean financials, strong credit, and often collateral. For many small business owners, those requirements are the whole problem.

How a Merchant Cash Advance Is Different

A merchant cash advance advances you a lump sum against your future revenue. Repayment comes as a fixed percentage of your daily or weekly sales, drawn automatically until the balance is paid off. Slow week, less comes out. Strong week, you pay it down faster.

The cost is structured through a factor rate rather than an interest rate, making an MCA a higher-cost product than a bank loan in most cases. What it offers in return is speed, flexibility, and a qualification process built around your sales history rather than your credit score. Businesses turned down by banks due to credit history or limited operating time often qualify here, and funding can land in your account within a day or two.

Picking the Right Tool

A business loan makes sense when you have the credentials to qualify, the investment is long-term, and you have time for the application process. A merchant cash advance makes sense when you need capital fast, your revenue is the stronger part of your financial picture, or you need repayment that moves with your business. This holds true across industries whether you are in retail, restaurants, construction and trades, or trucking. The right product depends less on what you do and more on what you need the money for and how fast you need it.

If you want a straight conversation about which option fits your situation, feel free to reach out to us.

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Every new year brings new tools, techniques, and strategies that help small and medium-sized businesses succeed in an increasingly competitive world. Here are the top four business trends you need to look out for in 2019.

Cybersecurity

Cyber attacks are going to become a more common threat to small and medium-sized businesses. Everyone is a vulnerable target. Whereas many companies are actively preventing attacks, there will be a shift to proactive detection and response in the year to come.

Personalization

The personal touch is going to rein in 2019. Personalized marketing campaigns, transparency, and personal calls-to-action are going to be the ways to connect with potential customers.

Go Remote

The remote office is becoming increasingly a part of today’s business trends world. Small and mid-sized businesses can now reduce operating costs by rethinking their staffing strategies with the use of a remote workforce. With so many low-cost telecommunications platforms available, the days of the cubicle are now on the decline.

Reviews Are Key

Some business leaders resist social media use in the office, but social posting is a great way to connect with your local audience and get valuable reviews. Nearly 95 percent of shoppers read online reviews before making a purchase. It’s worth taking the time to gather testimonials and write case studies more now than ever.If you are looking to grow your business in 2019, there are alternatives to a traditional bank loan you should consider. For details on how you can get approved for a merchant cash advance, speak to one of our experts today.