Business Loans

Business Loans in Canada

Small business loans can be a great way to borrow money when you need to purchase equipment, fund a marketing campaign, or open a new location. At Smarter Loans, our panel of 50+ industry experts have reviewed and qualified Canada’s most trusted lenders. We make it easy to find the business financing you need quickly, with the best rates and flexible repayment terms.

What is a Good Interest Rate?

Current interest rates for businesses range from about 7.99% to 10%. A good rate, however, is one you can comfortably afford when making your monthly repayments.

If you’ve been operating for at least 6-12 months—and have a minimum of $10,000 in monthly sales—Smarter Loans can connect you with the financial resources you need.

Pre-apply online (right corner), or check out our roster of reputable Canadian lenders below to find the best rate for you.

Let Smarter Loans connect you with the top business loan providers in Canada.

Get Business Loan Now!

Top Business Loans Providers in Canada

Company
Amount
Interest Rate
Reviews
Terms
$5,000 - $300,000
Starting at 7.99%
4 - 18 Months
$5,000 - $300,000
Starting at 7.99%
3 - 12 months
$5,000 - $250,000
Varies
N/A
$500 to $300,000
Starting at 8.39%
2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 or 24 month terms
$5000 - $500,000
Starting at 7.99%
6 - 18 Months
$5,000 - $250,000
Starting at 9%
3 - 18 months
$10,000 - $250,000
Varies
3 - 12 months
$20,000 - $6.25 Million
Starting at 8.95%
36 - 48 Months
$5,000 - $100,000
Starting at 29%
4 - 6 months
$250 - $1,000,000
Starting at 10%
3 months - 60 months

Why Get a Loan for Your Small Business?

Financial support is a key to success for small businesses. That’s why business credit has grown in popularity in recent years.

Value of business credit disbursed in Canada from first half 2018 to first half 2022, by type of supplier (in billion Canadian dollars)

Source: Statista.com

With a small business loan, you can borrow a fixed amount of money, invest it in your company’s growth, and pay it back by instalments over a period of time.

By saving your cash to run your business–instead of spending it on large expenses or lump sum payments–financing solutions can help you grow faster.

What You Can Use Business Financing For

Get established

Get the working capital new businesses need to buy inventory, execute marketing plans, or finance an equipment purchase.

Grow your company

Grow your small business by borrowing money to hire staff, develop new products, or upgrade machinery, equipment or tools.

Manage cash flow

Improve cash flow management by financing small projects and covering emergency or short-term expenses like rent and payroll during seasonal downtimes.

Expand your operation

When it’s time to renovate your premises, fund an acquisition, or purchase commercial property, Smarter Loans can help connect you with advances of up to $1,000,000+.

Find the Financing You Need with Smarter Loans

Here are just some of the financial solutions we can help you access when you connect with one of our partner lenders or pre-apply online:

  • Term loan
  • Line of credit
  • Merchant cash advance
  • Invoice factoring
  • Bad credit loan

Pre-apply for a business loan in 3 easy steps

  1. Take 30 seconds to complete our application online: Simply fill in the form by choosing the options that apply to you.
  2. We find you a lender: We’ll find the most suitable loan provider for your situation.
  3. You get your loan: One of our partner lenders will get in touch to process your application and get you the funds you need (often in just a few days).

How to Compare Your Finance Options

With so many lenders in Canada, using Smarter Loans to compare and choose the right small business loan for your situation is a smart idea.

Here are some important factors to consider when comparing services:

Loan Amount

The amount you can qualify for is largely determined by your income, credit, debts, and whether or not the funds you borrow are secured against your business.

Repayment Terms

Repayment terms dictate how much your monthly payments will be and how long they’ll continue until you’ve repaid your loan (plus interest) in full.

Interest Rate

While interest rates determine the cost of borrowing, you can often get a lower rate by putting up a business asset (like real estate, for example) as collateral.

Fees

It’s important to find out if the financing you’re considering comes with any upfront or ongoing fees.

What Size Loan Should You Take?

Since all businesses are different, loan sizes for entrepreneurs range from a few hundred dollars to $500,000 and more.

The key to taking the right amount is having a plan to use your financial advance to fuel revenue growth. This will help you comfortably pay back what you owe within the agreed terms.

Calculate Your Monthly Payments

Here’s a simple example:

Let’s say you want to borrow $5,000 at an interest rate of 10% over 2 years.

If the repayment frequency is monthly, your payment amount would be $230.72 per month.

Use the calculator below to get an estimate of what your monthly payment will look like when you apply to a lender through Smarter Loans.

Business Loan Calculator

$5k$30,000$500K
$0k$5,000$250K
1%10%50%
1 year2 year term5 years
$
$

Your Payment Details

Your Payment Details

"Below you will find a detailed breakdown of your payments in each month and each year. Find out how much interest, principal and total you'll be paying with the information you entered. Change your term length, interest rate and loan amount to see how it impacts your payment breakdown."

Common Loan Eligibility Criteria

Banks and other lenders consider a number of factors before approving a company for funding. Since each application counts towards your credit score (even if it’s declined), it’s good advice to know the qualification criteria before you apply.

In addition to your personal income and resume, here’s what entrepreneurs often need to show to get approved for financing:

Appraisal of assets

For a secured loan, most lenders will request an asset appraisal to ensure your collateral is sufficient should you have trouble making your repayments in full.

Financial statements

Monthly revenue numbers and cash flow projections go a long way to showing lenders the health of your finances and your ability to repay what you owe.

Credit and debt history

A bank or financing company will usually look at both your personal and business credit approval scores as part of their application process.

Business plan

Most lenders will want to see a detailed business plan outlining your objectives and how you intend to use any borrowed resources.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Loans


1. What type of credit score is needed for a business loan?

While there is no one magic number that enables businesses to receive the financial resources they need, a higher credit score works to the benefit of the borrower. As a general rule, higher credit rating (either the business, or the business owner) will increase the chances of getting approved for a business loan.

 

2. How important is cash flow to receive business financing?

This depends on the type of loan being obtained. For unsecured (no collateral) loans, cash flow is very important, because that’s how the lender evaluates the business’s ability to repay the loan. Daily and monthly sales numbers, especially through debit and credit cards, are a critical factor for business loan approval. For secured loans, where business assets such as equipment or real estate is used, the cash flow may be slightly less important.

 

3. What is an SBA loan?

For businesses that have a track record of operations in Ontario and across Canada, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provides funding programs through SBA-approved lenders. While the lender (mainly banks and financial institutions) provides the capital, the SBA guarantees up to 85% of the loan amount, which helps the business owner obtain a lower interest rate.

Depending on each individual business profile, the owner can gain up to $5 MM of SBA-backed financing with loan terms from 5 up to 25 years. However, an emphasis is placed upon credit scores and established histories when evaluating businesses for qualification.

 

4. Can business loans be used for refinancing other debts?

In a nutshell, yes. However, there are some nuances. When obtaining business financing, lenders generally require the borrower to explain the purposes and rationale for where the funds will be deployed. Therefore, it is important to notify the lender at the outset whether these funds would go for marketing, capital expenditures, technology purposes or debt refinancing.

 

5. When should business loans NOT be used?

While it is ultimately the owner’s discretion and/or company policy that determines how the capital structure is formed, best practices for debt management include being vigilant with it particularly in cases where the business is in trouble. For example, it is not advised to use a business loan to pay overdue bills and employee salaries when the business is not profitable. Business loans should be used to increase revenue and grow a business, so that the there is a positive return on investment after the funds are used up. A great example of this is purchasing inventory that is expected to sell during a busy season, or investing to open a patio for a restaurant, which will bring in extra revenue.

 

6. Who is eligible for a small business loan?

Small business loans are relatively easy to obtain as long as a business has been operational for at least a year and generates at least $10,000 in monthly revenue.  To apply and receive funding, business owners need simply to complete an application (online or at specialist lenders) and provide access to their business’s registration details and financial statements, as well as credit profile. While size is not a direct consideration, lenders will want to look at a consistent history of revenue generation, so they can feel confident in a business’s ability to repay the loan.

 

7. Is a personal credit score and business credit profile the same thing?

No, the personal credit score in Canadian provinces and territories is a number between 300 and 900. While there is no equivalent score for a business in Canada, different credit bureaus have adapted a scoring system to rank creditworthiness by evaluating certain behaviours of businesses.

 

8. Is a business plan necessary?

This depends on the type of loan being obtained. While most small business lending companies will want to see how the small business will deploy the funds, a well-formulated business plan may not be a requirement. In the case that it is necessary though, it is important to answer the following questions:

a) What the small business loan will be used for (additional funding “cushions”, expansion, equipment/technology purchases, working capital, funds for supplier/employee payments, capital expenditures, cash flow purposes etc.)

b) Expected business and economic conditions over the next 2-5 years

c) How they will impact profitability and financial strength

 

9. I’m considering doing business internationally. What do I need to know?

If you are currently exporting or considering exporting outside of Canada, you need to carefully consider your strategy. Thankfully, there are great resources available to you.

 

General Inquiries:  

Smarter Loans has teamed up with Export Development Canada to help Canadian businesses navigate global opportunities. Their unique suite of solutions can help you offset the risks of doing business abroad, finance your deal and access the working capital you need.

Want to learn more about how EDC can help? Send your inquiry to an EDC Trade Advisor today

 

Credit Insurance:

To keep your financial situation secure, consider talking to an Export Development Canada (EDC) Trade Advisor. EDC has solutions that can protect you against the risk of not getting paid when doing business beyond our borders and help you get more cash to grow your exporting business.

Learn more about EDC’s Solutions Here.

 

10. How to select the best lender?

When looking at different lenders for small business financing, it is important to consider a broad list of items before committing to one lending option. While it is tempting to take the offer with the best rate, a lender should be viewed through the lens of a business partner. In the same way that a great business partner can improve the company, a great lender can provide your business with the resources to take it to the next level. As such, the following should be considered, weighed, and decided upon:

a) Their policy frameworks (application processes, information requirements, and ALL fees)

b) Ancillary services they offer (e.g. transaction banking solutions)

c) Term of the loan (measured in years or months)

d) Variable or fixed rates (possibly adjusted to real rates to account for inflation)

e) Funding amount offered and how it matches with the capital that is needed.

 

11. Can a business based out of a home qualify for such a loan?

Absolutely. If the business is registered and meets the other qualifications of the lender, the business can be located out of a residential living arrangement.

 

12. What is a private business loan?

Private business loans in Canada include all loans made to businesses by non-bank lenders. Loans from online lenders, private lending businesses, family members or friends, venture capitalists, or brick-and-mortar financial businesses all count as private loans. Private loans are an option when a business prefers not to deal with a bank, or when a business fails to meet the bank’s strict lending criteria. There are many different types of private lenders, ranging in competitiveness and reputability, so it’s important to find one you trust.

 

13. Can I apply for a small business loan online?

Applying for small business loans online is extremely common, and thanks to streamlined and convenient online application systems, it takes very little time and effort. Most lenders now have an online application option.

Elite Trusted Lenders

These companies are recognized for their excellent service, product offering and financial literacy education for all Canadians.