Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.7.2, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Merchant Growth Small Business Financing Made Simple - Not Your Average Small Business Loan ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Case Study - Transport Scolaire Champlain](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-transport-scolaire-champlain/) - See how Merchant Growth helped a Quebec school bus company access fast financing for critical infrastructure upgrades and grow revenues by 45%. - [Case Study - Prairie Cannabis Ltd.](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-prairie-cannabis-ltd/) - Prairie Cannabis is one of the original 51 retail cannabis licence holders in Saskatchewan. For expansion capital, they turned to Merchant Growth for help. - [Case Study - Blowers & Grafton](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-blowers-grafton/) - Blowers & Grafton wanted to expand their business to a third location, even with the challenges of the pandemic. However, traditional banks wouldn't help. - [Case Study - Prairie Donair](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-prairie-donair/) - Merchant Growth was there when Prairie Donair sought to innovate and expand on their initial offerings, helping to satisfy its customer base. - [Case Study - Master Mechanic](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-master-mechanic/) - Master Mechanic (Grimsby) applied for financing to help their business during difficult times to keep up with their bills, rent and other unexpected costs. - [Case Study - Construction LCE](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-construction-lce/) - Banks and other lenders can be skeptical to lend to the construction industry. Construction LCE Inc received cash flow to finance an important project. - [Case Study - Power Steam Carpet Cleaning](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/power-steam-carpet-cleaning/) - Power Steam Carpet Cleaning needed extra working capital during their slow season as they were waiting for accounts receivables. Merchant Growth was there. - [Case Study - Terra Excel Drones](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-terra-excel-drones/) - Small business financing case study with Terra Excel Drones who sought out Merchant Growth financing to help keep up with purchase orders in a timely manner. - [Case Study - Shah Brothers](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-shah-brothers/) - Small business financing case study with Shah Brothers who were able to grow their business with expansion financing from Merchant Growth. - [Case Study - Big Star Sandwich (Richmond)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-big-star-sandwich-co/) - Small business financing case study with Big Star Sandwich Co. (Richmond) who used Merchant Growth financing to help cover costs during particularly challenging times. - [Case Study - Nakoda Connections](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-nakoda-connections/) - Small business financing case study with Nakoda Connections who, with their Merchant Growth financing were able to take on additional contracts. - [Case Study - The Decorating Centre](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-the-decorating-centre/) - Small business financing case study with Prairie Cannabis one of the original 51 retail cannabis licence holders in Saskatchewan and has been in operation since 2018 - [Case Study - Montrose](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-montrose-cannabis/) - Small business financing case study with Montrose Cannabis who were in the market for financing to help keep up with demand and make larger inventory purchases. - [Case Study - The Moving Store](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-the-moving-store/) - Purchasing inventory and investing in marketing are two very common reasons that small businesses from many industries seek out financing from Merchant Growth. - [Case Study - CN Law](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-cn-law/) - Small business financing case study with CN Law that qualified for the forgiveness incentive with our Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) Loan refinancing. - [Case Study - Avenue Tire Depot](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-avenue-tire-depot/) - Avenue Tire Depot needed funding from Merchant Growth to establish warehouses that contained inventory to meet the needs of customers immediately. - [Case Study - Harms Trucking](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-harms-trucking/) - When the two trucks from his small family trucking business needed urgent repairs, it depleted the company's savings. Merchant Growth stepped in to save the day! - [Case Study - ProTrack](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-protrack/) - ProTrack came to Merchant Growth with a need to finance a new purchase of equipment for tooling. They were funded and kept the business running smoothly. - [Case Study - Patton Motorcars](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-patton-motorcars/) - Patton Motorcars sell beautiful and reliable vehicles. Come on down to their showroom to start your next car adventure. - [Case Study - KS Contracting](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-ks-contracting/) - KS Contracting overcomes cash flow challenges and scales larger projects seamlessly with Merchant Growth’s fast, flexible financing solutions. - [Case Study - Rosemary Child Center](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-rosemary-child-center/) - Small business financing case study with Rosemary Child Center, a steadily growing childcare business in British Columbia. - [Case Study - Yemen Gate](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-yemen-gate/) - Discover how Yemen Gate Restaurant expanded with Merchant Growth’s financing, bringing authentic Yemeni cuisine to more customers in Ottawa and Orleans. - [Case Study - Naeb Restaurant](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-naeb-restaurant/) - Discover how Naeb Restaurant expanded its dining space with Merchant Growth financing, enhancing its brand and customer experience. - [Case Study - Blockhouse Express Tyre & Oil Lab](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-blockhouse-express-tyre-oil-lab/) - Learn how Blockhouse Express Tyre and Oil Lab expanded into motorcycle sales with Merchant Growth financing, helping them purchase a truck for efficient hauling and boost business success. - [Case Study - Do It All Contracting](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-do-it-all-contracting/) - See how Do It All Contracting streamlined cash flow and managed multiple renovation projects with Merchant Growth financing. - [Case Study - Rapid Test & Trace](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-rapid-test-and-trace/) - Learn how Merchant Growth helped an e-commerce medical testing business improve cash flow, fund inventory, and scale seasonal demand with fast financing. - [Case Study - Strathcona Decorating Centre](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-strathcona-decorating-centre/) - See how Strathcona Decorating Centre used Merchant Growth’s financing to secure large contractor projects, manage cash flow, and grow their independent retail business in Edmonton. - [Case Study - Punjaabi by Royal Paan](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-punjabi-by-royal-paan/) - See how Merchant Growth helped a Punjabi restaurant franchise access fast financing to fund marketing, seasonal promotions, and Western Canada expansion. - [Case Study - Gosson Enterprises](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-gosson-enterprises/) - See how Merchant Growth helped a forestry trucking business bridge cash flow gaps and stay operational with fast, flexible working capital. - [Case Study - Champion Appliance](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-champion-appliance/) - See how Merchant Growth helped an appliance repair business fund expansion, complete renovations, and maintain stable cash flow across locations - [Case Study - D.NSS Trucking](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-d-nss-trucking/) - See how Merchant Growth helped a trucking business adapt to market changes, upgrade equipment, and maintain operations with fast, flexible financing. - [Case Study - Renaissance Immigration Services](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-renaissance-immigration-services/) - See how Merchant Growth, a QuickBooks ecosystem partner, helped a Canadian immigration firm fund a high-return marketing investment and expand into Caribbean markets. - [Case Study - M&S Marché Tropical](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-ms-marche-tropical/) - See how Merchant Growth helped a Montreal specialty grocery store fund its relocation to a larger space, invest in new equipment, and achieve higher sales. - [Case Study - Seamor Marine](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-seamor-marine/) - See how Merchant Growth helped a Vancouver Island ROV manufacturer stabilize cash flow and pursue global opportunities with flexible financing - [Case Study - Entreprises David et Fils](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-enterprises-david-et-fils/) - See how Merchant Growth helped a Quebec commercial cleaning company grow revenues by over 80% through flexible, repeat working capital financing. - [Case Study - BC Based Flooring Company](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-study-bc-based-flooring-company/) - See how Merchant Growth helped a BC flooring company capitalize on bulk supplier discounts, turn inventory in seven months, and build a smarter financing strategy. - [How U.S. Tariffs on Canadian Goods Could Impact Small Businesses—and How to Stay Prepared](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-u-s-tariffs-on-canadian-goods-could-impact-small-businesses-and-how-to-stay-prepared/) - Discover how U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports affect small businesses and learn strategies to stay prepared, including flexible financing and market diversification - [Tariffs’ Impact on Small Businesses and the Support They Need From the Next Federal Government](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tariff-survey/) - More than half of Canadian small businesses say they are feeling the sting of escalating tariffs between the United States and Canada, according to a new survey by Merchant Growth, a digital financing and growth solution for small businesses. The survey, which polled 130 small business owners, reveals widespread impacts on workforce decisions, rising costs, - [How to Start a Business in BC](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-start-a-business-in-bc/) - Learn how to start a business in British Columbia with our step-by-step guide. - [Guide to Small Business Grants in Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-get-a-small-business-grant-in-canada/) - Discover the best small business grants available in Canada. Our comprehensive guide covers federal, provincial, and city-level funding options, along with expert tips for successful applications and securing financial support. - [A Guide to Canadian Small Business Loans](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-loans-canada-a-practical-overview/) - Explore small business loan options in Canada, including government-backed, private lending, and more. Find the best financing solution for your business. - [Small Business Tax Claims in Canada: Navigate Deductions Like a Pro](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-tax-claims-navigate-deductions-like-a-pro/) - Learn about key tax deductions available to Canadian small business owners, common eligible expenses, and tips for staying organized and compliant with CRA regulations. - [How a Business Line of Credit Can Keep Your Canadian Business Running](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-a-business-line-of-credit-can-keep-your-canadian-business-running/) - Discover how a business line of credit can help small businesses manage cash flow, unexpected expenses, and growth opportunities with flexible, fast access to funds. - [Build a Budget for Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/budgeting-for-small-business/) - Learn how to create a budget for your small business, track expenses, and manage cash flow with simple, practical steps. - [Top Small Business Ideas for Canadians](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/top-business-ideas-canada/) - Explore the most profitable and low-cost business ideas to start in Canada in 2025. From freelancing to e-commerce, find high-demand opportunities, industry insights, and funding tips to launch your venture. - [Financing Sources for Small Businesses at Every Stage](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-financing-options/) - Explore a range of small business financing options, including grants and loans, to support your startup or help expand your existing business. Learn how to find the right funding solutions to fuel growth and innovation - [Equipment Leasing for Business: Is It Worth It?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/what-is-business-leasing/) - What is business leasing and why are more companies using it to improve cash flow? Explore the benefits, how it works, and whether it's right for your business. - [How AI Can Help Grow Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/ai-for-small-business/) - We tested AI for small business—from planning to marketing. See where it shines, where it fails, and how to use it right. - [The Merchant Advisor: August Edition](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advisor-august-edition/) - Welcome to another edition of The Merchant Advisor, our monthly newsletter that goes out to email subscribers as well as to all the readers of this blog. This month, we took some time to think about learning, growth, and changing direction for the better. Click below to read the full text (with some extra material - [The Merchant Advisor: Fiscal Year-End](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advisor-fiscal-year-end/) - March is the month of fiscal year-end for Canadian small businesses. It is the time of year when tax preparations are on the minds of many Canadians, and especially business owners. You will probably find yourself checking and double-checking your files, hunting down opportunities for money-saving deductions, and organizing your plan for the next go-round. - [Merchant Advance Advisor: April - Spring Renovations!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-advisor-april-spring-renovations/) - All of us at Merchant Advance Capital hope you had a great Easter Weekend - whether you took the time off to refresh yourself before the spring season gets going in earnest, or took advantage of the occasion as a business boost to help you out going forward! You may have noticed that things are - [The Merchant Advisor: The Value of Time](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-merchant-advisor-the-value-of-time/) - Welcome to the May edition of the Merchant Advisor! It’s already well into spring and the conclusion of the first fiscal quarter, and we can barely believe how quickly time seems to have passed since our last newsletter. Time is an interesting topic when it comes to the alternative lending and financial industry: as new - [A Guide to Charitable Giving this Holiday Season](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/a-guide-to-charitable-giving/) - During the holidays, it’s nice to give back. Look at Merchant Growth’s guide to charitable giving and making a positive impact to your business and community. - [My Credit Score Needs Improvement: Can I Still Apply? [VIDEO]](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/my-credit-score-needs-improvement-can-i-still-apply-video/) - The latest in our series of Merchant Advance Loans 101 videos is live, featuring CEO David Gens addressing some of the most important questions our customers have raised about the Merchant Advance model. This week, we choose to address a common concern among business owners that contact us: the strength of their personal credit score. - [Merchant Advance vs. Business Loan [VIDEO]](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-vs-business-loan-video/) - Our newest Merchant Advance Loans 101 Video is now live over at the Youtube channel for your viewing pleasure. This week, Merchant Advance CEO David Gens takes a look at the differences that separate merchant advance funding from traditional business loan products. The video is below: click through for a full transcript of David's thoughts. - [Loans 101: Is Collateral Required for a Merchant Advance? [VIDEO]](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/loans-101-is-collateral-required-for-a-merchant-advance-video/) - Aside from being the title of a positively amazing movie featuring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx released back in 2004, collateral refers to a pledge made by a borrower of specific property made in order to secure repayment of a loan and protect the lender against the risk of default. In this edition of the - [[VIDEO] Loans 101 - Working With Brokers](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/video-loans-101-working-with-brokers/) - This week's edition of Loans 101, our ongoing video series, is a little bit different in a couple of key ways. First, it features the video debut of Merchant Advance's VP of Marketing and Operations, Alex Chisholm! Secondly, it deals with a side of the Merchant Advance model we don't often discuss here on the blog - [[VIDEO] Loans 101 - Your Credit Score](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/video-loans-101-your-credit-score/) - This week, we welcome another new face to the Loans 101 series: Head of Underwriting, Dominik St-Denis! When it comes to small business lending, perhaps one of the biggest and most recurring sets of inquiries we get from new applicants centers on their personal credit score. As the blog has investigated in numerous past instances, - [[VIDEO] The Best Financial Product for Your Seasonal Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/video-the-best-financial-product-for-your-seasonal-business/) - The blog welcomes you to your Monday morning this week with another instalment of the Merchant Advance Loans 101 video series, this week featuring VP Marketing, Alex Chisholm. https://youtu.be/F1FfN9khGDg Seasonality is a topic that this blog has discussed often in the past. Especially in the Canadian business environment, where seasonal changes can create drastic effects - [[VIDEO] How Can a Merchant Advance Help at Tax Time?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/video-how-can-a-merchant-advance-help-at-tax-time/) - It was Daniel Defoe who first wrote: "Things as certain as death and taxes, can be more firmly believed." Fortunately, this week's Loans 101 video, featuring Head of Underwriting Dominik St-Denis, shows that the arrival of tax time, or the collection of back taxes owed by businesses, need not be a crippling blow to your - [Best Ecommerce Platforms: Compare Features & Pricing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/best-ecommerce-platforms/) - Compare the best ecommerce platforms for Canadian businesses. Explore pricing, pros and cons, and how to choose the right platform for your store. - [The Best Expense Management Software for Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/best-expense-management-software/) - Discover the best expense management software for small businesses, compare top tools, features, pricing, and find the right solution for your needs. - [Impact of Inflation on Canadian Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/inflation-impact-on-small-business/) - Explore how inflation impacts small businesses in Canada, from rising costs to cash flow pressure, and learn practical ways to stay resilient. - [Understanding Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/debt-service-coverage-ratio/) - Learn what Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) is, how to calculate it, and what lenders look for to determine if your business can afford a loan. - [Personal Guarantees: What Business Owners Risk](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/understanding-personal-guarantees/) - Signing a personal guarantee on a business loan? Understand liability, credit impact, bankruptcy risk, and what to review before you commit. - [Loan Application Denied? Here’s What to Do](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/loan-application-denied/) - Business loan denied? Learn the top reasons applications get rejected and practical steps to improve approval odds or explore alternative financing. - [Can Canada Survive a U.S. Trade War?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canada-businesses-survive-trade-war/) - What a Canada–U.S. trade war means for small businesses. See real survey data, margin impacts, and how to stay resilient amid tariff uncertainty. - [Contract vs Full-Time Work in Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/contract-vs-full-time/) - Thinking about contract or freelance work in Canada? Compare employment types, taxes, income stability, and growth opportunities. - [Cash Flow Management Essentials for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/why-is-cash-flow-important-to-business/) - Understand cash flow management, how to forecast, improve inflows, control outflows, and use tools that strengthen your business’s financial health. - [A Guide to Small Business Expenses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/managing-business-expenses/) - Master business expenses with this practical guide for Canadian small businesses—track costs, save on taxes, and boost profitability. - [Shipping Options for Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-shipping/) - Cut shipping costs & wow customers! Discover the best carriers, tools & tips for Canadian small business shipping success. - [How to Expand Your Business with New Locations](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/open-a-second-location/) - Learn how to open a second location in Canada with smart planning, financing, and operational strategies for sustainable growth. - [How to Hire New Employees for Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/hire-employees-in-canada/) - Learn how to hire employees in Canada with confidence—legal steps, onboarding, and strategies for small business success. - [A Guide to Managing Cash Flow for Seasonal Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/running-a-seasonal-business/) - Your guide to running a seasonal business: cash flow tips, staffing, marketing, and off-season planning for year-round success. - [12 Steps to Start a Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-start-a-small-business/) - Discover how to start your small business in Canada with expert tips on planning, compliance, and funding. - [How to Set SMART Business Goals That Drive Growth](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-set-business-goals/) - Set realistic business goals that motivate your team, drive growth, and keep your small business on track for success. - [Business Plan Template & Step-by-Step Writing Guide](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-write-a-business-plan/) - Create a compelling business plan with our step-by-step guide. Learn key components to attract investors and drive business success. - [How to Create a Business Invoice (Free Template)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/create-a-business-invoice/) - Learn how to create and manage business invoices in Canada with this step-by-step guide. Includes free templates, tax tips, and best practices for getting paid faster. - [7 Warning Signs Your Business is Failing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/is-your-business-failing/) - Worried your business is struggling? Learn the warning signs of failure, common pitfalls, and how Canadian entrepreneurs can stabilize, pivot, or rebuild. - [How to Build Business Credit in Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/build-business-credit-canada/) - Learn how to build business credit in Canada with this step-by-step guide for small business owners. Improve your credit score, unlock funding, and grow with confidence. - [What Is the Break-Even Point? Break-Even Analysis Explained](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/break-even-point/) - Learn what the break-even point is, how to calculate it, and why break-even analysis helps businesses plan pricing, costs, and profitability. - [How to Solve Cash Flow Problems in Your Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/solve-cash-flow-problems/) - Struggling with cash flow problems? Learn the causes, warning signs, and practical steps to stabilize your finances and keep your business running. - [CEBA Loan Repayment: Preparing for the 2026 Final Payment](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/ceba-loan-repayment/) - CEBA loan repayment deadline is December 31, 2026. Learn how interest works, what happens if unpaid, and how refinancing may help manage cash flow. - [A Guide to Working Capital](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/what-is-working-capital/) - What is working capital? Discover how to calculate it, what a healthy ratio looks like, and how it affects cash flow, stability, and growth for small businesses. - [CRA Payment Plans for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/cra-payment-plans/) - Owe GST, payroll, or corporate taxes? Learn how CRA payment plans work, what they cost, and how Canadian small businesses can repay tax debt without harming cash flow. - [Income Tax Deadlines for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-tax-deadline/) - Running a Canadian small business? Learn income tax deadlines, what to file, and how to plan for tax payments without disrupting your cash flow. - [What Is Digital Business Transformation?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/digital-business-transformation/) - Learn what digital business transformation means, why it matters, and how small businesses can adopt technology, AI, and data to grow. - [Study: 57% of Canadian small businesses scaled down U.S.-related activity since trade war began last year](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/trade-war-survey/) - VANCOUVER, BC, February 2, 2026 — The relationship between Canada and the U.S. looks drastically different now compared to previous years, with February 1st representing one year since the trade war began across both countries. As cross-border tariffs and ‘buy local’ messaging moulded supply chains and consumer trends in 2025, many Canadian small businesses are - [6 Modern Small Business Marketing Tips](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-marketing-tips/) - Discover modern small business marketing tips to attract customers, improve visibility, and drive growth with proven, easy-to-apply strategies. - [Understanding Business Bankruptcy in Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-bankruptcy-in-canada/) - Learn how business bankruptcy works in Canada, how it affects assets and debts, and what alternatives exist. Clear guidance for small business owners and entrepreneurs. - [Small Business Trends of 2026](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-trends-2026/) - Discover the key small business trends shaping 2026, from AI and customer experience to sustainability, workforce shifts, and growth strategies for Canadian businesses. - [10 Payment Processors for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/best-payment-processors-in-canada/) - Discover the best payment processing solutions for small businesses in Canada. Compare top providers, fees, and features to find your perfect fit. - [7 Accounting Tips for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/accounting-tips-for-small-business/) - Smart bookkeeping made simple. Discover practical accounting tips to help Canadian small businesses stay organized, compliant, and tax-ready. - [How Business Expansion Financing Works](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-business-expansion-financing-works/) - Learn more about how business expansion financing works, and how Merchant Growth can connect your business with the capital it needs to succeed. - [Getting Your Small Business Ready For Spring](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/getting-your-small-business-ready-for-spring/) - After being cooped up indoors during the colder months, it's time to get your business ready for the new season and get your customers excited for spring. - [How to Get Business Financing With a Poor Credit Score](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-get-business-financing-with-a-poor-credit-score/) - Find out how to get business financing with a poor credit score from the experts at Merchant Growth, Canada's best alternative financier for small business. - [How to Finance a New Retail Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-finance-a-new-retail-business/) - Retail owners can finance their business with these options. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. Apply today. - [Comparing Restaurant Funding Options](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/comparing-restaurant-funding-options/) - Explore these restaurant funding options to help your business thrive. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. - [How Does a Line of Credit Work and How Can You Get Approved?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-does-a-line-of-credit-work-and-how-can-you-get-approved/) - Learn how lines of credit work and how to get one. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. Apply today. - [How Does a Merchant Cash Advance for Small Businesses Work?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-does-a-merchant-cash-advance-for-small-businesses-work/) - How does a merchant cash advance work? Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest and most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. Apply today. - [Why So Many Businesses Are Turning to Online Small Business Loans](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/why-so-many-businesses-are-turning-to-online-small-business-loans/) - Why are businesses turning to online small business loans? They offer convenient financing with high approval rates and flexible terms. Read on to learn more! - [How Do You Pay Yourself from Your Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/pay-yourself-from-your-business/) - Learn how to pay yourself as a Canadian business owner—whether through salary, dividends, or draws—and balance personal income with business growth. - [How Tariffs Affect Canadian Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tariffs-impacting-canadian-small-businesses/) - Discover how Canadian small businesses are navigating tariffs, rising costs & supply chain challenges—with practical strategies to adapt - [A Guide to GST/HST for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/gst-hst-for-business/) - Master GST/HST for your Canadian business—learn to register, file, and pay taxes with confidence and ease. - [Startup Funding Options in Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/start-up-funding-options/) - Discover the top startup funding options in Canada, from grants and loans to private investment. Learn how to choose the right path for your business stage. - [Are We in a Recession? Canadian Business Owners Speak Out](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/are-we-in-a-recession/) - Wondering if Canada is in a recession? Discover what small business owners are saying, how to prepare your business for economic uncertainty, and what support Canadian entrepreneurs need most. - [How Much is Business Insurance in Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-much-is-business-insurance/) - Learn everything Canadian small business owners need to know about business insurance—from types of coverage and average costs to how to get started and save. - [What is Inventory Turnover & Inventory Turnover Ratio](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/what-is-inventory-turnover/) - Learn what inventory turnover means, how to calculate it, and why it matters for Canadian small businesses. Improve cash flow, reduce excess stock, and optimize your inventory strategy. - [Top Canadian Home Business Ideas](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/home-business-ideas/) - Discover the best home-based business ideas in Canada, from online services to creative startups. Learn how to get started, what permits you need, and tips to grow your business from home. - [Alberta Wages Rise](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/alberta-wages-rise/) - As we've covered in this blog before, Alberta has always been overly competitive in terms of starting, growing and promoting small businesses. We found the following article, which chronicles the growing trend of high Alberta wages on small business owners, very interesting. - [Unsecured Business Loans Canada: What You Need to Know](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/unsecured-business-loans-canada-what-you-need-to-know/) - When searching for financing, business owners should ensure they understand the differences between unsecured business loans and secured business loans. - [Everything You Need to Know About Alternative Lenders in Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-alternative-lenders-in-canada/) - Small businesses are increasingly looking to private lenders for alternative loans in Canada. Learn more about alternative lending and private business loans. - [How to Get a Business Loan in Alberta](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-loans-alberta/) - Learn more about small business funding in Alberta including the options available, examples of what you can use the funds for, and what you need to prepare. - [Working Capital Loan and Cash Flow Financing for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/working-capital-loan-and-cash-flow-financing/) - Managing available cash flow for growth is challenging, even for profitable small businesses. Learn more about how a working capital loan can help with that. - [A Guide to Getting a Small Business Loan in Ontario](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/a-guide-to-getting-a-small-business-loan-in-ontario/) - We break down how Ontario-based businesses can secure funding for their small business in a comprehensive guide. - [Merchant Growth Facilitates CEBA Forgiveness for Canadian Restaurants](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-growth-facilitates-ceba-forgiveness-for-canadian-restaurants/) - Merchant Growth is here to help Canadian restaurant owners repay their CEBA loans and take advantage of the up to $20K in forgiveness available. - [How to Repay Your CEBA Loan](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-repay-your-ceba-loan/) - Learn more about paying off a CEBA loan, including the terms of the forgiveness program, the options available, and the value of considering refinancing. - [We Love Our Clients: Merchant Growth Reviews](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/we-love-our-clients/) - We care what our customers think! Learn more about what merchants have said about their experience with us that we've helped with their growth financing needs. - [How Long Will It Take For My Business to Receive Funding? [Video]](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-long-will-it-take-for-my-business-to-receive-funding-video/) - We can get you from initial request to funding fast! Find out how long it will take for your business to receive funding with Merchant Growth. - [Why it takes banks so long to process small business loan applications](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/why-it-take-banks-so-long-to-process-small-business-loan-applications/) - Merchant Growth explains why it takes banks so long to process small business loan applications, and what you can do about it. - [Millennials Drive Canadian Renovation Boom](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/millennial-renovation-boom/) - Merchant Growth explains how the booming demand for renovation and contractor services provides an opportunity for Canadian small businesses to scale up. - [Merchant Growth Secures $300 Million Forward Flow Facility with Fortress Investment Group to Refinance CEBA Loans](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-growth-secures-300-million-forward-flow-facility-with-fortress-investment-group-to-refinance-ceba-loans/) - Merchant Growth has secured a $300 million forward flow facility provided by funds managed by affiliates of Fortress with Raymond James serving as the financial advisor to Merchant Growth Ltd. - [Small Business Loans BC: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-loans-bc/) - If you're in need of a business loan in BC, learn about the different options available and the factors you should consider when getting BC small business loans - [Should Your Small Business Have a Holiday Sale?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-holiday-sale-pros-and-cons/) - We look at the pros and cons of your small business offering a holiday sale as well as some alternatives or strategies that you can consider in general. - [Merchant Opportunities Fund Increases BMO Credit Facility to $100 Million](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-opportunities-fund-increases-bmo-credit-facility-to-100-million/) - The facility now consists of a $70 million funding commitment with a two-year term along with a $30 million accordion. - [Fast Business Funding: Quick and Convenient Capital for Your Needs](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fast-small-business-loans/) - Learn more about quick & easy funding options available for small businesses, use-cases, and the benefits and convenience that fast business loans online offer. - [Merchant Growth Announces Strategic Partnership With Loop, Acquires Small Business Loan Rights From Lending Loop](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-growth-announces-strategic-partnership-with-loop-acquires-small-business-loan-rights-from-lending-loop/) - Merchant Growth together with its funding vehicle, Merchant Opportunities Fund, is pleased to announce an exclusive partnership with Loop to become the dedicated financing provider for its small business customers. - [Fuel Your Business Goals With a Business Line of Credit: The Ultimate Guide](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fuel-your-business-goals-with-a-business-line-of-credit-the-ultimate-guide/) - Learn everything business owners need to know about lines of credit, from the various types and their advantages to the application process and more. - [Differences Between Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Paid Ads on Social Media](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/differences-between-search-engine-marketing-and-paid-ads-on-social-media/) - When it comes to growing your small business, paid ads are a great option. The question is, should you use search engine marketing (SEM) or paid ads on social media? - [2022 Small Business Tax Tips in Two Minutes](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-get-ready-for-tax-season/) - Not sure where to start when it comes to filing your business taxes? Rather than read through long drawn-out posts start with the essential tips to get you going. - [How to Use Your Website as a Tool to Grow Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-use-your-website-as-a-tool-to-grow-your-small-business/) - If your website is not contributing to your sales—regardless of if you offer e-commerce or not, it's time to re-evaluate it's content and your site strategy. - [What Should Small Businesses Blog About?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/what-should-small-businesses-blog-about/) - While blogging is a great tool for small businesses, it's key to pick topics that you not only enjoy writing about but that will also add value to your business - [Small Business Email Management Tips](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/email_management/) - At Merchant Growth we know how important it is to email your customers and potential clients. Check out our tips on email management systems. - [The Effect of Oil Prices on Small Businesses in Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/effect-oil-prices-small-businesses-canada/) - The decline in oil prices has significant implications for the Canadian economy and small businesses. Discover how this trend may impact your business. - [Easy Ways to Manage your Credit Score](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/easy-ways-manage-credit-score/) - Learn the 5 key factors that go into your credit score calculation. Maintaining a good credit score is essential when applying for loans and mortgages. - [Earth Day - Small Business Participation](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/earth-day-small-business-participation/) - In honor of Earth Day, we share some simple ways your small business can positively impact the environment while reducing costs. - [Don't Write Off Print Advertising](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/dont-write-off-print-advertising/) - Though small businesses are increasingly encouraged to take advantage of the highly cost-effective and reactive potential of social media and digital marketing, it is not to say that traditional means of advertising have gone the way of the dinosaur. One look at a range of local and specialty publications reveals that businesses across Canada are - [Fraud Prevention Focus](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/did-you-know-march-is-fraud-prevention-month/) - Did you know that March is Fraud Prevention Month in Canada? What is your small business doing to limit the harmful effects of fraudulent activity? A 2014 survey by MNP LLP found that one third (33 per cent) of B.C. businesses claim to have been victims of fraud. Fraud may not hit most small businesses with - [Data Backup Strategy for Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/designing-data-backup-strategy-small-business/) - No matter what kind of small business you operate, you will inevitably end up generating a lot of data. Receipts, contracts, sales information, employee records, visual and multimedia assets... the list goes on to interminable lengths, and varies widely from business to business. In light of this, every small business should take the time to - [Why Debt is Not Always a Bad Thing...](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/debt-always-bad-thing/) - At Merchant Growth we say debt isn’t always a bad thing. Debt shows that you are investing in your business with the hopes of making revenue in the near future. - [Debit Card Fraud at Record Lows](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/debit-card-fraud-record-lows/) - In this post, we discuss the decline of debit card fraud and the widespread adoption of chip-based readers in Canada. - [Customer Testimonial: Dance Kids Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/dance-kids-canada-testimonial/) - Our lovely clients at Dance Kids Canada were nice enough to give us their feedback on our services. Here is what they had to say: "It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Merchant Advance team. Not only is their customer service outstanding, but their no pressure, simple to understand approach takes the fear - [Customer Satisfaction - Asking The Right Questions](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/customer-satisfaction-asking-right-questions/) - Read about how measuring customer satisfaction, from improving customer retention to boosting brand reputation helps improve your overall customer experience. - [Customer Loyalty and the Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/customer-loyalty-small-business/) - Loyalty programs can be effective but for small businesses, building genuine customer loyalty begins with creating a memorable customer experience. - [Credit Score for Business Loan Applications](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/credit-score-for-business-loan/) - When a small business goes in search of funding, the owners' credit scores will traditionally be one of the most important benchmarks for loan eligibility. As a business owner, we know you work hard to keep your finances in order and keep everything running above board. But we also know that some situations can cause negative impact on - [Creating a Small Business Cult Following](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/creating-small-business-cult-following/) - Watch How I Soar: Cult Status and Transcending Expectations Firefly was the best darn television show that never got a fair shake. The brainchild of Joss Whedon, creator of such series as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and later Dollhouse, it blended equal parts dystopian space opera and rollicking wild west themes, built a perfectly pitched ensemble cast, and generally proceeded - [Creating an Awesome Email List](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/creating-an-awesome-email-list/) - From building customer relationships to driving sales and increasing brand awareness, start building an engaged email audience with these valuable tips. - [Expose Yourself to Clients! (with advertising, of course...)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/creating-advertising-exposure/) - From brand awareness to customer acquisition and retention, this post offers ]insights on how to create advertising campaigns that reach your target audience. - [CFIB - What Is It? How Can It Help Your Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/cfib-can-help-business/) - Learn about the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) and the resources and support it offers to small businesses across the country. - [Conducting an End of Year Review](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/conducting-end-year-review/) - Gain practical tips on conducting a thorough end-of-year review, from analyzing financial statements to assessing marketing strategies and customer feedback. - [Cash or Credit? Revenue for Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/cash-or-credit/) - Get expert insights on the latest payment trends and make informed decisions about cash and credit payments with Merchant Growth's helpful tips. - [Cash Flow and Small Business Invoicing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/cash-flow-and-small-business-invoicing/) - Don't let cash flow issues slow your business down. Get practical tips on invoicing software, payment terms, and more, to keep your cash flow rolling along. - [Editorial in the Canadian Business Journal](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-business-journal/) - Merchant Growth was featured in the January issue of The Canadian Business Journal! Read the interview with CEO David Gens about our company's success. - [Canadian bank lending volumes are up - but not for small businesses!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-bank-lending-volumes-are-up-but-not-for-small-businesses/) - Learn about the latest lending trends that are affecting small businesses. Get insights on how small business owners can navigate the lending landscape. - [Business in Vancouver's Top 40 Under 40](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-vancouvers-top-40-under-40/) - We are pleased to announce that Merchant Advance Capital's founder and CEO, David Gens, has been recognized by Business in Vancouver as one of their "Top 40 Under 40." "After 24 years, Business in Vancouver continues to highlight the achievements of BC's young entrepreneurs, executives and professionals by finding 40 outstanding professionals worthy of - [How to Calculate ROI - Simple Business Tips](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-tips-how-to-calculate-roi/) - Maximizing business profits starts with understanding the key ROI metrics, how to calculate them, and how to apply them to improve your business performance. - [Business Technology Tips](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-technology-tips/) - From cloud computing and automation to cybersecurity and data analytics, learn about key factors to leverage technology for your business success. - [Business Podcasting: Let Yourself Be Heard](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-podcasting-let-heard/) - At the Merchant Advance Blog, we're certainly inclined to encourage small businesses to engage with their communities and find opportunities to create discussion and buzz, leaving an impression on customers both existing and potential. We've highlighted great ways to do this, through media both digital and social as well as through brick-and-mortar activity and interaction. - [Small Business Photo Tips](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-photo-tips/) - Learn how to enhance your online presence and attract more customers with visually appealing photos that showcase your brand's unique style and personality. - [Business Partnerships - Do They Help or Do They Hurt?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-partnerships-do-they-help-or-do-they-hurt/) - In this post, we share valuable insights into the benefits and drawbacks of business partnerships to help you make informed decisions for your company. - [Good Debt vs. Bad Debt in Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/good-debt-vs-bad-debt-in-business/) - Starting a small business often requires taking on debt, but not all debt is good debt. Read on to learn about good and bad debt and how to manage the two. - [Business Insurance: A Primer](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-insurance-a-primer/) - A primer on business insurance by Merchant Growth. Insurance helps when things go wrong or are unstable in the marketplace. Contact us for more information. - [Five Steps to Greater Small Business Community Engagement](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business_community/) - Merchant Growth encourages small businesses to build community relationships and partnerships with other businesses. Call Merchant Growth to get financed. - [Building Strong Supplier Relationships](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/building-strong-supplier-relationships/) - At Merchant Growth we encourage businesses to build strong relationships with your suppliers. This is an essential factor for survival and growth as a business. - [Building a Business Emergency Fund](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/building-a-business-emergency-fund/) - Building a business emergency fund is essential for small businesses. When expected expenses or increased costs arise you need to be able to weather the storm. - [Brick and Mortar](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/brick-mortar/) - Discover how you can easily apply for funding from Merchant Growth to finance your brick-and-mortar business. We make it simple for small businesses to succeed. - [Merchant Advance Capital Salutes Bluedog Guitars, NAMM Top 100 Retailer 2014!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/bluedog-guitars/) - Join us in congratulating Bluedog Guitars for being named a top retailer by NAAM. Great award for an awesome company. - [Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Retail Culture](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/black-friday-small-business-saturday-retail-culture/) - Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are trends in retail culture. Contact Merchant Growth to see how you can grow your business during these events. - [Best Small Business Hiring Practices](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/best-small-business-hiring-practices/) - In today’s blog we look at hiring staff and employees for small businesses. At Merchant Growth we believe that people are the greatest asset for any business. - [Be Balanced: ENTREPRENEURIAL TIPS](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/be-balanced-entrepreneurial-tips/) - For today’s tips we discuss work life balance - personally and as a business owner. Contact us at Merchant Growth for help with financing your small business. - [Bad Credit Score and Business Loans](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/bad-credit-score-business-loans/) - At Merchant Growth a bad credit score doesn’t always disqualify you for a business loan. Ask us how you can get a better score and qualify for financing. - [Bad Credit Doesn't Mean Bad Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/bad-credit-doesnt-mean-bad-business/) - At Merchant Growth we know that bad credit doesn’t mean it’s a bad business to invest in. It can take time to build revenue. Contact us for financing solutions. - [BACK TO SCHOOL: Marketing Ideas for your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/back-to-school-marketing-ideas-for-your-small-business/) - In this blog, we share some back-to-school marketing ideas to help you boost sales, even if you don’t sell school supplies. - [Back-to-School, Back to Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/back-to-school-back-to-business/) - At Merchant Growth, the September back-to-school season is also a great time to look at where your business is heading as you get closer to the end of the year. - [The Art of Conversation](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/art-conversation/) - Discover the value in learning the art of conversation. At Merchant Growth we encourage small business owners to build community. Contact us for support. - [Amplifying Word Of Mouth Marketing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/amplifying-word-of-mouth-marketing/) - See our tips in this blog on how word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool for your small business. Contact Merchant Growth to discuss financing options. - [Alternative Business Lending Gone Public](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/alternative-business-lending-gone-public/) - In this post, CEO David Gens discusses the alternative business lending industry, with a focus on companies that are going public. - [Alberta Small Business Boom: Restaurants](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/alberta-small-business-success/) - Many small businesses in Alberta have benefited from financing. Restaurants are one such category. Contact Merchant Growth to find the right financing. - [Airbnb, Technology, Visuals and the Sharing Economy](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/airbnb_visual_sharing_economy/) - Let’s take a look at what it means to help create and participate in a sharing economy. Contact Merchant Growth for all your small business financing needs. - [A Guide to Small Business LinkedIn Success](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/a-guide-to-small-business-linkedin/) - Merchant Growth’s advisors give you advice on how best to use your small business LinkedIn profile to grow your business and announce your achievements. - [Approaching the Dangers of the Fintech Boom: A Response from David Gens](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/a-fintech-response-from-david-gens/) - Here’s some advice from David Gens about how to navigate the fintech boom and the benefit of alternative funding from Merchant Growth to grow your business. - [Consultative Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/a-consultative-approach/) - Merchant Growth takes a consultative approach when providing financing to small businesses. Contact us today to find out how we can support your goals. - [3 Step System to Keep Costs Low as You Grow](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/3-step-system-to-keep-costs-low-as-you-grow/) - Here are some tips to help you keep business costs low while you continue to grow. Merchant Growth is your one-stop shop for small business financing. - [3 Important Tips When Looking For Merchant Advance Funding](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/3-important-tips-when-looking-for-merchant-advance-capital/) - Merchant Growth is a leader in helping small businesses get the financing they need to grow. Here are 3 important tips if you’re looking for financing. - [Lenovo to Leverage Tabit’s Buy Now, Pay Later Solution For Its Small Business Customers](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/lenovo-to-leverage-tabit-b2b-bnpl-solution/) - Tabit launches partnership with Lenovo to offer Buy Now, Pay Later to B2B customers in Canada VANCOUVER, BC, March 14, 2023 /CNW/ - Tabit — Canada’s first B2B Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) solution offered at point-of-sale, announced today the launch of a new partnership with Lenovo. Lenovo will now offer their business customers Tabit’s BNPL payment method - [Behind the Lending: Debt Service Coverage Ratio](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/debt-service-cover-ratio/) - What is the debt service coverage ratio and why should small businesses care? This blog breaks down this key metric and explains how it impacts your business. - [Renewal Season](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-renewal-season/) - We work hard to provide solutions that help small businesses grow. Learn more about our merchant re-advance cycle and how we help businesses achieve success. - [The Best Kind of Leverage](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-best-kind-of-leverage/) - Want to get more out of your business? Here's how to use leverage to your advantage and achieve real results. - [Inventory Financing – A Note from our CEO](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/inventory-financing-a-note-from-our-ceo/) - Learn about the benefits of inventory financing! With merchant advances, you can get the capital you need to buy new stock and see a return on that investment. - [Dealing with the Canada Revenue Agency](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/dealing-with-the-canada-revenue-agency/) - It's never fun dealing with the CRA, but our tips will make it easier. Keep your business finances in order and you'll be able to breathe a lot easier. - [The Small Business Savings Crunch](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small_business_savings_crunch/) - It's more important than ever for small businesses to make saving a priority. Taking a look at the best business banking options is a great way to get started! - [Canadian Small Business Statistics](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/1004/) - Check out some interesting facts about small businesses in Canada, compiled by the Merchant Growth research team. - [Our Partner Program](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/our-partner-program/) - Are you looking for a way to promote your business and reach new customers? Read on to learn about how we use our partner program to bring in new business. - [Small Business Digital Checklist](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-digital-checklist/) - Creating a checklist of essential digital elements to regularly review for your small business helps provide order and allows you to have a clear action plan. - [Funding for Scaling a Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/funding-for-scaling-a-business/) - The most challenging period for entrepreneurs is when it is time to scale up. Read on to learn everything you need to know about scaling your business. - [How Your Personal Spending Habits Affect Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-your-personal-spending-habits-affect-your-small-business/) - Your small business is a reflection of you and your habits. Find out how your spending habits affect your business and what you can do to improve them. - [Business Growth vs Scaling a Business: Finding the Right Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-growth-vs-scaling-a-business/) - In this post, we discuss the differences between business growth and scaling a business to help you figure out your best financing options. - [Merchant Growth Acquires Lendified](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-growth-acquires-lendified/) - Merchant Growth together with its funding vehicle, Merchant Opportunities Fund, is pleased to announce the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Lendified. - [Business Line of Credit vs Credit Cards: Which Is Right for Your Small Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-line-of-credit-vs-credit-cards-which-is-right-for-your-small-business/) - Learn about the difference between a line of credit and a business credit card, and which one is right for your small business needs. - [8 Things to Consider Before Starting An E-Commerce Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/8-things-to-consider-before-starting-an-e-commerce-business/) - Are you thinking about starting an e-commerce business? Check out this blog post to discover the 8 things you should consider before taking the plunge. - [How to Create a Business Development Strategy](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-create-a-business-development-strategy/) - Do you have what it takes to create a successful business development strategy? This guide provides all the steps and information you need to get started. - [Strategies to Increase Your Small Business’s Productivity](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-productivity-increase/) - Advances in technology and changing customer expectations have created a need for higher productivity for businesses. Here are some ways to get there. - [E-Commerce Financing Options: What You Need to Know](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/ecommerce-financing-options-what-you-need-to-know/) - In this post, we break down some of the most popular financing options for e-commerce businesses to help you find the right funding solution for your needs. - [How to Market Your Restaurant for Holiday Bookings](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-market-your-restaurant-for-holiday-bookings/) - Learn how your restaurant can take advantage of holiday booking opportunities. Looking for a financing solution? Apply to Merchant Growth today. - [What KPIs Should Your Small Business Be Tracking?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/what-kpis-should-your-small-business-be-tracking/) - Improve your small business profits by tracking these KPIs. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. - [How To Calculate Bad Debt Expense](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-calculate-bad-debt-expense/) - In this post, we take a look at some of the most common ways to calculate bad debt expenses to help companies avoid the pitfalls of unpaid invoices. - [Business Growth: Extension vs. Expansion](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-growth-extension-vs-expansion/) - When choosing between expansion or extension, the best growth strategy depends on your current situation, your long-term goals, and your financial resources. - [How Scripts Can Help You Increase Sales](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-scripts-can-help-you-increase-sales/) - Answering the phone or a store greeting is the first & lasting impression made with any new or prospective customer. Not enough importance can be placed on this first bridge of communication - however most businesses have not properly prepared for these first conversations. This article from entrepreneur.com has some great insight & tips into preparing scripts that can - [Signs You Need Staffing Funding](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/signs-you-need-staffing-funding/) - In this post, we examine common signs that businesses need staffing funding and how your company can benefit from additional funds to cover the cost of payroll. - [What is an NSF and How Can it Affect Your Small Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/what-is-an-nsf-and-how-can-it-affect-your-small-business/) - Non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees can be costly for small businesses both in terms of additional expenses and larger impact. Learn more and how you can avoid them. - [Inventory Finance 101: How Does Inventory Financing Work?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/inventory-finance-101-how-does-inventory-financing-work/) - In this post, we break down various types of inventory financing to help small business owners get financing they need to reach their business goals. - [Merchant Opportunities Fund Increases BMO Credit Facility to $40 Million](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-opportunities-fund-increases-bmo-credit-facility-to-40-million/) - Merchant Opportunities Fund Increases BMO Credit Facility to $40 Million - [Benefits of a Merchant Cash Advance for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-cash-advances-for-small-businesses/) - Learn more about the benefits of merchant cash advances for small businesses, and how Merchant Growth can tailor their financing to match your needs! - [Fixed Term Loan vs. Line of Credit](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fixed-term-loan-vs-line-of-credit/) - In this post, we take a look at fixed rate loans and lines of credit to help business owners identify the right type of financing for their needs and goals. - [The Art of Making a Comeback](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-art-of-making-a-comeback/) - Struggling small businesses can turn their fortunes around with the help of Merchant Growth. Our financing solutions can help execute your turnaround strategy. - [How To Get New Business Equipment Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-get-new-business-equipment-financing/) - Don’t let a lack of equipment hold your business back. In this post, we discuss the advantages of business equipment financing. - [Should Your Business Have E-Commerce?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/6410/) - Learn more about why adopting an e-commerce component into your business model can provide distinct and profitable advantages. - [Choosing Between Merchant Cash Advances, Loans & Lines of Credit: How to Get Financing That is Right for Your Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/choosing-between-mca-loans-loc-getting-financing-that-is-right-for-your-business/) - In this post, Merchant Growth breaks down popular financing options to help you determine the best financing options for your business needs. - [Measuring Success in a Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/measuring-success-in-a-small-business/) - Use these factors to measure your the success of your small business. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. - [5 Current Challenges Facing Small Businesses and How to Overcome Them](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/current-small-business-challenges/) - Canadian small businesses are facing more challenges than ever. In this blog we break it down and provide solutions on how to best overcome them and move forward. - [2021 Merchant Growth Small Business of the Year Award](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/2021-merchant-growth-small-business-of-the-year-award/) - Learn more about this year's winner of Merchant Growth's Small Business of the Year Award, presented to Prairie Cannabis, of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. - [How You Can Better Manage Your Company’s Cash Flow](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-you-can-better-manage-your-companys-cash-flow/) - Merchant Growth offers practical advice on how you can better manage your company’s cash flow. These 3 tips could help your company flourish! - [How Referrals Are the Lifeblood for Many Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-referrals-are-the-lifeblood-for-many-small-businesses/) - When searching for products or services, a second opinion can go a long way. Here we discuss the importance of referrals and positive reviews for SMBs. - [Fintech Regulation Feature in the Globe and Mail](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fintech-regulation-feature-globe-mail/) - Merchant Growth comments on the topic of regulating financial upstarts and stifling innovations after being featured in a Globe and Mail article. - [Discovery Commerce Opens the Box To New Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/discovery-commerce-opens-box-new-business/) - Customers aren’t the only ones who like subscription packages. Merchant Growth explains how discovery commerce helps small businesses be more competitive. - [Business Loan Borrowing - Too Much or Too Little?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/right-amount-borrow-business-loan/) - How much money should you really be borrowing for your small business? Find out how much is enough by reading Merchant Growth’s latest blog post. - [Credit Card Fees: Not Just A Small Business Problem](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/credit_card_fees_small_business/) - Merchant Growth discusses how the costs of credit card processing are not just a small business problem, it’s also one for consumers to consider. - [Can Small Businesses Take a "Summer Vacation?"](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-summer-vacation/) - Should small businesses be able to take summer vacations? Find out the benefits of taking time off by reading Merchant Growth’s latest blog post. - [Business Loan Stacking: What You Need to Know](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-loan-stacking-need-know/) - Are you a business taking out a loan to cover the cost of an existing loan? Read all about loan stacking at Merchant Growth’s latest blog post. - [The Canada Post Dispute: A Small Business Challenge](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canada-post-strike-small-business-challenge/) - Merchant Growth analyzes the Canada Post dispute and its impact on small businesses. Learn how you can prepare your business for a potential labor stoppage. - [Courting the Finance-Savvy Small Business Customer](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/courting-finance-savvy-small-business-customer/) - Merchant Growth explains why appealing to a money-smart populace will help your business become a beacon for conscious consumers. Read on to learn more. - [Pokemon Go: A Great Catch for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/pokemon-go-small-businesses/) - Merchant Growth explains why Pokemon Go is a great catch for small businesses. Learn how you can use this GPS-enabled game to help your marketing efforts. - [The Good Cents Loan: Business Makes an Impact](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/good-cents-loan-business-makes-impact/) - Learn how Merchant Growth’s Good Cents Loan program can help small businesses do more for their community and make a long-lasting impact. - [Millennial Business Owners Are Thinking Long-Term](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/millennial-smb-owners-thinking-long-term/) - Merchant Growth explains how millennial business owners are embracing long-term plans for their businesses and contradicting commitment phobia stereotypes. - [Saying No: The Hardest Small Business Skill](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/saying-no-the-hardest-skill/) - Do you find saying “no” to someone is the hardest part of your day? Take a look at Merchant Growth’s tips for developing negotiation strategies. - [Is Your Bank Small Business Friendly?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/bank-small-business-friendly/) - Are banks really small business friendly? Will there be alternative banking solutions in the future? To find out more, read Merchant Growth’s latest blog post. - [Rainy Day Update: Content4Good and SkateBoss](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/rainy-day-skateboss-game/) - Learn about Merchant Growth’s Rainy Day Giveaway that provided $15,000 in creative services to help Content4Good launch the SkateBoss brand. - [The Canadian Underground Economy](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-underground-economy/) - If you're a small business owner or someone that's ever shopped at a small business then you need to read Merchant Growth’s Canadian Underground Economy blog. - [High Time for Alternative Lenders?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/high-times-alternative-lenders/) - Learn all about why Merchant Growth believes it's high time marijuana business owners search for alternative lenders to fund their booming business. - [Merchant Growth Secures C$4.1M in Equity Financing to Fuel Growth and Technology Development](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-growth-secures-c4-1m-in-equity-financing-to-fuel-growth-and-technology-development/) - Merchant Growth today announced it has secured C$4.1 million of equity capital, backed by multiple individual investors well known in the fintech space. - [Merchant Opportunities Fund Closes $27.5 Million BMO Credit Facility](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-opportunities-fund-closes-27-5-million-bmo-credit-facility/) - The Merchant Opportunities Fund today announced that it has closed a significant revolving debt facility with the Bank of Montreal (“BMO”). - [Merchant Growth Acquires Company Capital](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-growth-acquires-company-capital/) - Merchant Growth is pleased to announce the acquisition of the portfolio and business assets of Victoria, BC based, Company Capital Inc. - [Stop the Bleeding from Late Payments](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/stop-bleeding-late-payments/) - Merchant Growth explains why, in a small business climate where cash flow can be tight, late payments can be a major hindrance on small business success. - [Building Trust in Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/building-trust-small-business/) - Merchant Growth discusses the importance of trustworthiness for Canadian small businesses and how cultivating customer feedback can help establish trust. - [Greasing the Groove: Strengthen Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/greasing-the-groove/) - Merchant Growth shows how the philosophy behind strength training principles can be applied to small business management and set the stage for growth. - [Alternative Lending "Shadowed" By Mortgage Rules](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/alternative-lending-shadowed-mortgage-rules/) - Merchant Growth explains how the increasing transparency and legitimacy of alternative lenders has created a new, viable option for the average consumer. - [Equipment Leasing - The Next Step](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/equipment-leasing-the-next-step/) - Merchant Growth explains how an equipment leasing solution can help small business owners get the equipment they need, without disrupting their finances. - [Canadian Small Business Poised to Grow in 2017](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-small-business-grow-2017/) - Merchant Growth discusses the importance of responsive financial providers to support the anticipated growth of Canadian small businesses in 2017. - [Canadian Small Businesses Need to Keep Focused on Saving](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-small-businesses-need-to-keep-focused-on-saving/) - Merchant Growth explains why Canadian small businesses need to keep focusing on saving in order to reach their long-term financial and business goals. - [The Ethics of Influencer Marketing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/ethics-influencer-marketing/) - Merchant Growth discusses the ethics of influencer marketing and how the right influencers can help small businesses connect with their customer communities. - [Moving to Canada? Small Businesses Can Do It!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/moving-to-canada/) - Moving to Canada? Small Businesses Can Do It! Merchant Growth discusses what international startups stand to gain from moving to Canada. - [Fraud Awareness Week: The Role of Fintech](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fintech-fraud-awareness/) - Don’t let fraud take a bite out of your small business! Merchant Growth draws attention to the importance of International Fraud Awareness Week. - [Small Business Saturday: Service Beats Stress](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-saturday/) - Merchant Growth explains the importance of Small Business Saturday and why supporting local businesses and economies has benefits for all Canadians. - ['Tis The Season For Seasonal Hiring](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/seasonal-hiring-advice/) - If your small business is planning on doing some seasonal hiring this year, Merchant Growth offers some reminders on important regulations and legal compliance. - [Charitable Giving: A Small Business Approach](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/charitable-giving-business/) - Merchant Growth explains the benefits of charitable giving for small businesses and how they can help engage employees and customers alike. - [Pebble's Rocky Exit: Lessons For Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/pebble-rocky-exit/) - Merchant Growth relates the story of wearable-market upstart Pebble and offers some positive lessons Canadian small businesses can learn from their saga. - [Small Business Blog Tips](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-blog-tips/) - Merchant Growth examines the importance of blogs for small businesses and offers some tips and tricks to help your blog grow and succeed. - [Small Business: From Local To Hyperlocal](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-local-hyperlocal/) - Merchant Growth explains why it’s important for small businesses to connect with their communities and offers some suggestions to reach your local audience. - [Chills and Bills: Managing Utilities Costs](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/chills-and-bills-managing-utilities-costs/) - When it comes to your bottom line, don't underestimate your utility costs. Merchant Growth explains why efficiency improvements are worth considering. - [A Cashless Future for Small Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/a-cashless-future-for-small-business/) - Could a cashless future be right around the corner for your small business? Merchant Growth sheds some light on the trend towards cashless models. - [Employment Grows - And Shifts Direction](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/employment-gains-shifts-direction/) - Following the recent shift toward part-time job growth, Merchant Growth explains why small businesses should invest in support for part-time employees. - [Using Trade Credit: What's Best for My Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/using-trade-credit-whats-best-for-my-business/) - Merchant Growth provides an overview of the benefits and drawbacks of using trade credit in order to help you make the best decision for your business. - [The Flexible Small Business Budget](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/flexible-small-business-budget/) - Merchant Growth explains the limitations of static budgets and how flexible budgets prevent overspending and can help take advantage of opportunities. - [The Trump Effect: What Can Canadian Small Businesses Expect?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/trump-effect-small-business/) - Merchant Growth explains why Canadian small businesses should be strategically and financially prepared for changes brought on by the “Trump Effect.” - [Romanticizing Small Business Comes at a Cost](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/romanticizing-small-business-comes-cost/) - Small businesses are often romanticized, but it takes more than passion to succeed. Effective tools and financial support are critically important for success. - [Small Business Creativity is Critical to Success](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/creativity-critical-small-business-success/) - In order for small businesses to succeed, they need to be creative in their approach. Merchant Growth offers tips on how to embrace creativity and get results. - [Better Together: A Pride Tilt-Shift Story](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/better-together-pride-tilt-shift-story/) - Merchant Growth created a short film to address isolation and misunderstandings in the LGBTQ community to encourage positive social change. Watch it here! - [TFSAs Hold Unrealized Potential for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tfsas-hold-unrealized-potential-for-small-businesses/) - Merchant Growth explains tax-free savings accounts (TFSA) and why they are underused financial management tools for small business owners. - [Resolutions for small businesses to make a greater impact in 2018](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/resolutions-small-businesses-make-greater-impact-2018/) - Want your small business to have a positive impact in the world? Merchant Growth suggests some resolutions to set for 2018 that will help you achieve just that. - [Notes from our Head of Underwriting](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/notes-from-our-head-of-underwriting/) - At Merchant Growth, our underwriting team specializes in making financial decisions, choosing which small businesses to fund across the country. - [Getting Small Business Financing During a Pandemic](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/getting-small-business-financing-during-a-pandemic/) - More accessible and flexible than traditional lending, small business financing from Merchant Growth offers a number of flexible financial solutions. - [How to Get Funding for Your E-Commerce Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-get-funding-for-your-ecommerce-business/) - We discuss ways e-comm businesses can fund their future growth, offering solutions for Canadian small businesses that need quick access to working capital. - [10 Cost-Cutting Tips for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/6422/) - With prices rising and margins shrinking, there are many ways to reduce and optimize your business costs. Check out our suggestions and start saving today! - [How to Choose the Right Type of Business Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-choose-the-right-type-of-business-financing/) - Merchant Growth provides insight into some of the most popular business financing options to help you choose the right option to reach your business goals. - [9 Ways to Revamp Your Restaurant for Summer](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/9-ways-to-revamp-your-restaurant-for-summer/) - We discuss how a well-crafted ambiance has the potential to boost summer business through the roof, and nine ways to revamp your place for summer. - [Small Business Loans: Types, Financing Options and How to Qualify](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-loans-types-financing-options-how-to-qualify/) - Learn more about how small business loans work, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as alternatives to working with the big banks. - [Difference Between Merchant Cash Advance and Business Loans](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/difference-merchant-cash-advance-and-business-loans/) - Learn more about the difference between merchant cash advances and business loans, and how Merchant Growth can help connect your business with the cash it needs right away! - [Fintech Lender Provides Webinar To Help Small Business Tackle E-commerce](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fintech-lender-provides-webinar-to-help-small-business-tackle-e-commerce/) - Covid-19 has forced many small business owners to reevalute their business models and consider the integration of e-commerce as a possible solution. - [5 Challenges Small Businesses Will Face in the Cannabis Market](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/5-challenges-small-businesses-will-face-in-the-cannabis-market/) - There a many challenges that a small business will face when working in the cannabis market. Here we discuss five common ones, and how to succeed. - [Tips on Outsourcing Your Payroll](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/6434/) - Many small businesses are opting to outsource their payrolls. We’ve compiled some of our top tips and questions to ask when considering this option. - [How to Forecast for 2020](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/6331/) - Your sales forecast sets your standards and goals for the next year. Going in with an ambitious but achievable forecast can push your business to new heights! - [Why You Need a Tech Startup Mindset to Succeed in Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/why-you-need-a-tech-startup-mindset-to-succeed-in-business/) - We discuss the power of adopting a "tech startup mindset" in business, and the benefit of quickly learning from mistakes and implementing lasting solutions. - [5 Questions Banks Ask Seasonal Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/5-questions-banks-ask-seasonal-businesses/) - Learn more about the five common questions banks will typically ask seasonal businesses when discussing financial options and loans. - [Small Businesses are Driving Regional Economies (and that’s awesome!)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-businesses-are-driving-regional-economies-and-thats-awesome/) - Small businesses and local entrepreneurs have a unique ability to drive regional economic growth while maintaining a core built on community. - [Strategies for Small Business Success](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/strategies-for-small-business-success/) - Here we discuss some strategies for small business success, including elements like having friendly staff, excellent service and being consistent. - [David and Goliath: What Small Businesses Offer and Why They Can Beat the Giants](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/david-and-goliath-what-small-businesses-offer-and-why-they-can-beat-the-giants/) - Merchant Growth discusses how smaller businesses can compete - and win - when facing up against industry giants in competitive marketplaces. - [How to deal with difficult customers](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-deal-with-difficult-customers/) - Merchant growth discusses some strategies to deal with difficult customers, and how to avoid stress at your business, and in your personal life. - [Canadian Business Growth Fund Announced](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-business-growth-fund-announced/) - Canada's federal government announces the new Canadian Business Growth Fund. Apply to Merchant Growth for fast small business financing. - [Tips to Keep Your Small Business Digitally Secure](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tips-to-keep-your-small-business-digitally-secure/) - Keep your business digitally secure with these tips! Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. - [5 Tips to Become an Effective Business Leader](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/5-tips-become-effective-leader-within-small-business/) - Follow the path of an effective business leader with these tips. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier. - [5 Business-Boosting Tips That Won't Break The Bank](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/5-business-boosting-tips-wont-break-bank/) - Boost business and profits with these tips. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. - [Innovating your small business: are you asking the right questions?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-questions/) - Ask these questions when business is stagnant. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. Apply today. - [Forecasting The Future](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/forecasting-the-future/) - Prepare your small business' future with forecasting and analytics. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier. - [Preparing for Climate and Weather - The Oldest Kind of Business Analytics?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/preparing-climate-weather-oldest-kind-business-analytics/) - Merchant Growth explains how climate and weather are some of the world's oldest business analytics. We are Canada's fastest alternative financier! - [Chargebacks: Avoiding "Friendly Fraud"](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/chargebacks-avoiding-friendly-fraud/) - Learn how to manage and reduce chargebacks. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. - [Taking Action Against Distractions](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/taking-action-distractions/) - Sharpen your focus by eliminating these distractions. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. - [Among Boomers, Small Business is Booming](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/among-boomers-small-business-booming/) - Merchant Growth explains how small businesses are booming for baby boomers. We are Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. - [The Federal Budget: Small Business Perspective](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/federal-budget-small-business/) - Merchant Growth breaks down the 2017 Canadian federal budget from the small business perspective. We are Canada’s fastest alternative financier. - [The Impact of Unpaid Invoices](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/impact-unpaid-invoices/) - Here are a tips to help mitigate the impact of unpaid invoices. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. - [Bankruptcy: The Myths and the Facts](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/bankruptcy-the-myths-and-the-facts/) - Know the myths and facts when filing for bankruptcy. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. - [Defining The Customer Persona: An Essential Small Business Skill](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/defining-customer-persona-essential-small-business-skill/) - Leverage the customer persona to improve your ROI. Merchant Growth is Canada’s most friendly alternative financier for small businesses. - [Merchant Advance: Cost Comparison](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-cost-comparison/) - As more people across Canada begin to utilize Merchant Advances many continue to wonder whether the cost is worth it. At first glance cost is often seen as more expensive then other lending alternatives However this article compares Merchant Advances to other alternatives in the space to help gain perspective on this issue. Compared to Bank - [Importance of Credit as a Business Tool](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/ideas-for-low-credit-ratings/) - The Globe and Mail recently posted an article that discusses the importance of credit to small-medium sized businesses. The article states that when utilized properly credit is an invaluable tool for a growing company - however attaining credit from any major institution has become very difficult. The last paragraph of the article is called "look outside the lending box," we feel - [7 Simple Ways to Whip your Business Website into Shape](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/7-simple-ways-to-whip-your-business-website-into-shape/) - How important is your company's website? The answer - very important. Your company's site is often the first point of contact with new potential customers, as well as the main point of reference for returning ones. Therefore it is incredibly important to keep your website up to date and properly serving your customers. The following - [Top 10 tips to improve your leadership skills](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/top-10-tips-to-improve-your-leadership-skills/) - You can tell when a company is lead by strong leadership vs. one that has a ramshackle hierarchy. This article from the Globe and Mail has a great list of 10 tips to help your company improve by providing a strong leader at the head. Some of the items are easy like verbalize your mission - [Merchant Growth Announces New Executive and Board Appointments](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-growth-announces-new-executive-and-board-appointments/) - Meet Merchant Growth's latest executive and board appointments. We are Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. - [How Local Restaurants Have Adapted During COVID](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-local-restaurants-have-adapted-during-covid/) - Read about the ingenuity of local businesses during the pandemic. Does your business need financial help? Get fast funding from Merchant Growth today. - [David Gens: Canadian small businesses need a rent subsidy in our COVID-19 times](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/david-gens-canadian-small-businesses-need-a-rent-subsidy-in-our-covid-19-times/) - Our founder, David Gens, discusses rent subsidies for Canadian business during COVID-19. Apply to Merchant Growth for alternative lending solutions. - [Colin Chisolm Director of Collections Talks About Debt Flexibility](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/colin-chisolm-director-of-collections-talks-about-debt-flexibility/) - Our very own Colin Chisolm, Director of Collections, talks about debt flexibility with Michael Eppel of CityNews Toronto. Listen to the conversation here. - [A message from our Chief Revenue Officer](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/a-message-from-our-chief-revenue-officer/) - Merchant Growth's Chief Revenue Officer delivers a message. Contact us to learn more about alternative financing solutions for small businesses. - [Merchant Advance Capital Rebrands as Merchant Growth](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-growth/) - Merchant Advance Capital rebranded as Merchant Growth, but we are still Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. Contact us to learn more. - [[PRESS RELEASE] Merchant Advance Partners with EVO Payments Intl.](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/press-release-merchant-advance-partners-evo-payments-intl/) - Merchant Growth announces a partnership with global payments processor EVO Payments International to provide collateral-free financing to SMBs across Canada. - [Effective Branding for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/effective-branding-for-small-businesses/) - Want your branding to have more impact? Learn more about effective branding for small businesses with these tips from Merchant Growth. - [Merchant Growth Offers E-commerce Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/ecommerce/) - Learn more about our new e-commerce financing platform to support the unprecedented growth of e-commerce businesses amid COVID-19. Apply today - [Personal Credit Score vs Business Credit Score, What’s the Difference?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/personal-credit-score-vs-business-credit-score-whats-the-difference/) - Understand the difference between a personal and business credit score. Contact Merchant Growth to learn more about our alternative lending solutions. - [How to Navigate Social Media](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-navigate-social-media/) - Navigate social media like a pro with this mini guide. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. - [How to Standout on Social Media](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-standout-on-social-media/) - Follow these steps to help your small business stand out on social media. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier. - [Free Small Business Tools That Can Help You Be More Productive](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/free-small-business-tools-that-can-help-you-be-more-productive/) - Take advantage of these small business tools to increase productivity. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier. - [Google AdWords for Small Business – Can online advertising grow your business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/smallbizads/) - Here's why you should add paid search to your small business marketing toolbox. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier. - [CLA and Merchant Growth Spearhead Fight for Small Business Resources in COVID-19 Crisis](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/cla-and-merchant-growth-spearhead-fight-for-small-business-resources-in-covid-19-crisis/) - The Canadian Lenders Association & Merchant Growth fight for small business resources in the government's response to COVID-19. Read on to learn more. - [Small Businesses Killing it on Social](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/6351/) - Adapt these social media tricks for your brand. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. - [How to Make the Most of Holiday Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-make-the-most-of-holiday-business/) - Leverage these year-end consumer habits to make the most of holiday business. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. - [BC Provincial Election: Are Small Businesses Being Heard?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/bc-provincial-election-small-business/) - Merchant Growth questions whether or not the voices of small businesses are being heard in British Columbia’s provincial election campaign. - [Vancouver Startup Week!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/vancouver-startup-week/) - Merchant Growth discusses the excitement surrounding Vancouver’s Startup Week and why SMB owners should check out this year’s panelists and participants. - [David Gens: Canadian small businesses are still looking for a rent subsidy they can access](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/david-gens-canadian-small-businesses-are-still-looking-for-a-rent-subsidy-they-can-access/) - David Gens discusses the challenges faced by small businesses as a result of COVID-19 and suggests some measures to help them survive. - [Three Things Canadian Brick-and-Mortar Retailers Should Learn from COVID-19](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/things-retailers-learn-from-covid-19-canada/) - Merchant Growth shares three lessons that brick-and-mortar retailers should learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to not only survive but also thrive. - [Tips for Surviving Coronavirus as a Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tips-for-surviving-coronavirus-as-a-small-business/) - Merchant Growth shares five tips to help small companies overcome the challenges and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. - [Mastering Community Involvement For Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/mastering-community-involvement-for-small-businesses/) - Merchant Growth explains why focusing on community engagement should be part of your company’s business model. Read on to learn more! - [3 Small Business Tips to Help You Grow](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/3-small-business-tips-to-help-you-grow/) - Merchant Growth offers 3 small business tips that can help companies from all industries lay the groundwork for success in the era of COVID-19. - [Why Do Online Business Loans Cost More Than The Bank?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/why-do-online-business-loans-cost-more-than-the-bank/) - Why do online business loans cost more than the bank? Merchant Growth discusses the factors that influence the cost of borrowing online. - [What Are Small Business Lenders Looking At?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/what-small-business-lenders-are-looking-at/) - Merchant Growth discusses the 5 C’s of credit that matter to small business lenders - character, capacity, capital, collateral & conditions. - [Small Business Loans: 6 Reasons Why Your Business Should Get One](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/6-reasons-your-business-should-get-a-small-business-loan/) - Merchant Growth reveals 6 reasons why your company should look online for financing instead of pursuing traditional small business loans. - [Personifying Customers: The Zero Moment of Truth](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/zero-moment-of-truth/) - As the owner of a small business, understanding your customer can be key to creating new connections and improving retention. Simply put, you probably already have a fairly good demographic idea of who your customers are: this helps you market effectively to the right people and make them the focus of many critical decisions that - [Discover the Top 10 Small Business Resources of 2011](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/discover-the-top-10-small-business-resources-of-2011/) - Who doesn’t like a tool that helps business owners be more efficient? The Globe and Mail has compiled a top ten list of tools & resources for entrepreneurs from 2011 and they are worth sharing! I gave the list a quick spin – & some I know about and use, however there are a few - [Guide to Generating Leads on LinkedIn](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/guide-to-generating-leads-on-linkedin/) - Generating quality leads is an important aspect of many companies, however the act is more difficult than can be expected. Social media is a growing facet of lead generation, but most platforms meant for socializing. This is a difficult arena for companies trying to accomplish specific and targeted lead generation. However this great article from - [BC Voters Extinguish HST](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/bc-voters-extinguish-hst/) - BC voters have decided to scrap the HST implemented by former Liberal Premiere Gordon Campbell in 2010. There are many different perspectives associated with this decision and endless speculations on what the ramifications on the economy will be. What is your opinion? This article from the CBC gives the fast and dirty about the referendum - [The Importance of Working Capital](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/importance-working-capital/) - One of the key reasons many small businesses apply for loans or other forms of financing – including Merchant Advances – is to supplement their working capital. This value is critical in assessing the financial performance and stability of any business, and serves as a strong indicator of operational efficiencies. Read on to find out - [Apple Pay Keeps The Cards Away: The iPhone 6's Business Gambit](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/apple-pay/) - These days, news of an upcoming Apple press conference is treated with the excitement and reverence often associated with a red-carpet Hollywood event: tech sites and blogs buzz for weeks prior to the date, speculation flies, and crowds of reporters ask not “who are you wearing?” but “what are you showing?” Of course, yesterday’s announcement - [Canada Posts Strong GDP Growth](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-gdp-growth/) - It was announced today that Canada's GDP grew at an annualized 6.1% pace in the first quarter of this year. Although it is growing off of a small recessionary base, it is impressive to see our country's economy grow at rates that we usually only hear about in emerging economies. Analyzing Canadian GDP Growth As we - [The Value of Mentorship](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/value-mentorship/) - I vividly remember my first day assisting with a professional studio recording. It was time to put a year's worth of training to real use, and I showed up bright and early to greet the session producer with all the morning's necessities put in order. I was going to own it. Best assistant ever. Twice the brains, - [Is a Short-Term Online Business Loan Right for your Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/is-a-short-term-online-business-loan-right-for-your-business/) - Is a short-term online business loan right for you? Read this post to learn about the advantages and drawbacks of unsecured short-term business loans. - [Case Studies: How to take your Business to the Next Level](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-studies-how-to-take-your-business-to-the-next-level/) - As the economy continues to be a bit shaky we all have to look at our own businesses, to be sure that the foundation is solid and that we are maximizing current potential. This great article from entrepreneur.com has 3 proven ideas to help give your business that extra push. Thees case studies provide give a - [The Common Uses of Business Funding](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-common-uses-of-business-funding/) - A MAC merchant advance or business loan can be used for a variety of business requirements. There are no limitations to how you spend your merchant advance or business loan – use the funds as you see fit. Popular uses for a business funding include: Inventory, Renovations, Expansion, Paying Bills, Marketing, Acquisitions, Working Capital, and - [MAC's Head Office - Fairview House](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/macs-head-office-fairview-house/) - As you may know, Merchant Advance Capital's head office is currently located at 1151 West 8th Ave, Vancouver, BC, also known as the Fairview House. The house is stunning and beautiful; but the house and the view cannot just be explained with words. Here are some pictures of the spectacular view from our office across - [Small Business Tools and Technologies](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small_business_tools/) - Any and all small businesses - from auto repair shops to dog groomers to online purveyors of beef jerky - are now, whether they like it or not, connected to the sweeping second-hand of technological progress. It follows that there exists a huge box of online and downloadable small business tools scattered here and there, - [Grow Your Business With a Merchant Advance](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/grow-with-merchant-advance/) - As a business person, you are constantly taking new risks. From the very first step that you take to start your own business you are taking a big risk. And big risks can pay off handsomely. Not to mention it allows us to do what we really want to do everyday. Entrepreneurship is both risky - [Writing Your Small Business Origin Story](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/writing-your-small-business-origin-story/) - Your intrepid blogger recently returned from the cinema, having gone out to indulge in blatant nerdery and general action-adventure escapism courtesy of the new Avengers film. Verdict: not bad! Lots of robots! James Spader! Though, I started to think: superhero movies are a billion-dollar genre. Many of these films focus on the early days, the so-called "origin - [Accountability and Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/accountability-small-business/) - You may recall that the Merchant Advance Blog has, in recent posts, tackled the intriguing topic of customer-centricity and its effect on your business model, as well as the thorny and mechanics of in-app purchasing and online commerce. We recently happened upon an interesting post by Market Culture blogger Christopher Brown, in which he highlights an - [New Marketing Initiative for GTA's Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/new-marketing-initiative/) - We love this! Facebook Canada is giving a leg up to small businesses looking to further their marketing initiatives, who are located in the Greater Toronto Area. As part of this program, Facebook will pair teams from 10 of Canada's top media agencies with one of Toronto's local businesses. In six weeks time, the - [Merchant Advance Capital Team Retreat](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-capital-team-retreat/) - Thursday August 22, 2013 Happy employees work better. And longer, and more efficiently. With these words of wisdom in mind, the Merchant Advance Capital team hit the road for two days of team building and strategic exercises in Portland, Oregon. The trip was a huge success and the team was able to set aside time to - [Survey Encouraging for Canadian Entrepreneurship](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/survey-encouraging-for-canadian-entrepreneurship/) - A new Canadian study has encouraging data for the future of our nation's entrepreneurial zest and creativity. The Bank of Montreal recently ran a survey in which post-secondary students were prompted to disclose whether or not they'd have any interest in starting their own efforts at Canadian entrepreneurship after graduation. The results are promising. Of - [Support Your Local Musicians](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/support-your-local-musicians/) - Support Your Local Musicians Sneak peak of the MAC team supporting local musicians from The Peak Performance Project. Follow us on twitter @advancecapital for more sneaky selfies! - [Sneak Peak - MAC Office Swag](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/sneak-peak-mac-office-swag/) - We're preeeeeeeeetty excited about our new office gear. Whilst prepping for some community involvement later this year, we decided to treat ourselves to some office swag. What do you do to amp up business morale? Follow us on twitter for all our wacky workplace pics! @advancecapital [feather_follow] - [Small Business in Canada is Big Business!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-in-canada/) - It really is. With entrepreneurial pursuits on the rise now more than ever, we're impressed by the following stats. As stated, one of the most important factors in a small business's success is quick and easy access to financing. At Merchant Advance Capital, we try our best to aid budding young entrepreneurs as they - [Work-Life Balance and the Holidays](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/holiday-work-life-balance/) - The Holidays are approaching! What are your work priorities? What are your personal priorities? Can you achieve work-life balance? The month of December will be a whirlwind of focus outside the work area and inside the shopping malls. Whether you own a 50-employee company, 1-man business, or anything in the middle, the Holidays will be - [Working From Home?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/working-from-home/) - If you are one of many people who works from home you probably know that the holiday season can be a very stressful time. This is the time of year that almost every business owner is equally as busy with their personal lives as they are with their work lives. How are you supposed to - [Marketing your Business for the Winter](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/marketing-business-winter/) - We understand that the winter season affects businesses during this time of year; and we, at Merchant Advance Capital, are always here to help. The Winter months are where employees are usually slower, and implementing the following marketing tactics below will successfully improve your business during the winter months. Change Your Messaging Use this - [Life is a Half-Full Optimist's Glass](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/life-half-full-optimists-glass/) - Positivity is an essential quality for a workplace. Whether you are in an office, in a shop, or in a restaurant, optimism allows us to focus on the possibilities of what we can achieve and seek in all situations that we face. Being optimistic can be very helpful in achieving career goals that are set - [MAC Christmas Tree](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/mac-christmas-tree/) - 2 Days Left until Christmas Day! We are really excited! Our lovely MAC Christmas Tree is growing by the number of Christmas cards that we receive from business owners. We appreciate all the cards that have been sent! Our owner of Merchant Advance Capital, David Gens, is also the owner of the lovely ornaments that - [How To Ensure Success in 2014!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/goals-can-decrease-motivation/) - Since you were a kid you have been encouraged to create goals for yourself. Most people do this or encourage kids to do this so that they look ahead and really think about what they would like to achieve in the future months, year or years to come. Setting goals is something encouraged by teachers, - [Reflect on 2013 and say Hello to 2014](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/farewell-2013-hello-2014/) - The new year of Two-Zero-One-Four has dawned upon us. Have you created goals last year? Did you achieve them? Did you not achieve them? Reflecting back to 2013, has your business improved? Have you made paramount decisions to help improve your business? This new year entails all of the good but unfortunately all of the - [Shortest SEO Tutorial Ever](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/shortest-seo-tutorial-ever/) - Have you put any thought into SEO? As more and more people rely on the internet to find the appropriate businesses for their needs - SEO has become a very powerful tool. Having a strong google ranking can give your business the ability to reach exponentially more potential customers than other marketing platforms. More importantly SEO is targeted, - [Mo Money, Mo Problems?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/mo-money-mo-problems/) - Sometimes when you are running a small business it can be tough to afford employees. As a business owner it can be easy to try and take on the workload yourself in order to try and save a little cash, but this can result in a very small amount of free time and a lack - [5 Small-Business Resolutions for 2k14](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/5-small-business-resolutions-2k14/) - Resolutions can always be time consuming to think about. More importantly, why should we make business resolutions? We have some resolutions for you to think about and choose from to apply to your business: Minimize the Surprises.This means planning for the worst while hoping for the best. Every business has a challenge to overcome; it's - [Re-thinking your Morning Routine](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/re-thinking-morning-routine/) - If you are like the majority of people who work in the morning then your routine probably goes roughly like this: Wake up, make coffee, then drink that coffee while glancing at your emails in preparation for the day ahead. The team here at Merchant Advance all agreed that their morning routines went something like - [Four Questions to Ask Before Setting Prices](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/four-questions-to-ask-before-setting-prices/) - As a consultant helping businesses figure out pricing strategies, too often I see companies want to tinker with prices before understanding the overall strategies that should guide such decisions. Basically, they put the cart before the horse. Prices should always be based on how much customers actually value the products or services. But how can you know - [5 Social Media Statistics](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/5-social-media-statistics/) - If you're overseeing the social media content for your business, it may be helpful to know some social media statistics. Below are 5 statistics that might make you reevaluate how you're managing social media websites: 1. THE FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC ON TWITTER IS THE 55-64 YEAR AGE BRACKET • this demographic has grown 79% • the 45-54 - [Misspellings of 2013 & Fun Spell Checker Poem](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/misspellings-2013-fun-spell-checker-poem/) - We all have made grammatical/spelling mistakes, but ensuring that we don't frequently make mistakes in a work environment will help with communication, comprehension, and reputation. Employees who work with computers and avid texters will understand the misspellings of 2013 below: PERJUDICE and PERDJUICE for prejudice (think "pre judge" not "smoothie of perdition") PERCISE for precise - [New Video: Learn how a Merchant Advance works in One Minute](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/new-video-learn-how-a-merchant-advance-works-in-one-minute/) - New Video Alert! Merchant Advance Capital is doing our best to make our service more accessible to business owners across Canada. The more we speak with new clients, or people just wondering about our service the more they become curious and want to know more! Therefore we have stepped up our efforts to increase share-abilty, as - [8 Interesting Facts about Famous Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/8-interesting-facts-famous-businesses/) - Have a read of 8 Interesting Facts about Famous Businesses below: - [What is MAC's Merchant Advance Program?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/macs-merchant-advance-program/) - What is MAC's Merchant Advance Program? The merchant advance program converts future cash flow into immediate cash. The balance (the amount that a merchant has been funded) is paid off automatically through a portion of future debit/credit card sales daily. Your payments are based on a small fixed percentage (what we call a "withholding percentage") - [Concerned Over Merchant Fees - US Lawsuit to Make Some Waves](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/concerned-over-merchant-fees-us-lawsuit-to-make-some-waves/) - This article is from the United States, however it does discuss an issue that hits close to home with many of our clients - Merchant Fees. If you are staring at your merchant processing statements each month and trying to make sense of the fees that have been debited from the account you are not - [TGIF (Thank God It's Friday)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tgif-thank-god-friday/) - Are you excited for the weekend?! Employees (and employers) are always relieved and excited for the weekend to catch up on hobbies, friends and family, or relaxing from the work week. Use this time to develop your skills, your experience, and your knowledge; all of this will help develop your work habits to make work - [Fictional/Non-Fictional Business Cards](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fictionalnon-fictional-business-cards/) - If, like us, you enjoy the realities created within films and TV shows, you'll also take a great deal of pleasure by checking out these fictional, but non-fictional business cards. This is quite an interesting oxymoron. Focusing on an aspect of characters' lives that don't generally get much of a look-in, these creations allow us - [HSBC Closing Bank Accounts of Small Business Owners](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/hsbc-closing-bank-accounts-small-business-owners/) - A MESSAGE TO OUR MERCHANTS (Mainly in British Columbia): We hope our merchants that have business bank accounts with HSBC have not received this letter, but if you are in this situation, do not worry. All you need to do is to switch to a new bank. Once you have switched to a new bank, - [Royal Baby Welcome!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/royal-baby-welcome/) - July 24, 2013 Congratulations to the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge for parenting the newest heir to the British throne! Canadians across the Country are welcoming baby George into the world during this wonderful time in British Commonwealth history. The MAC Team is proudly Canadian and can't wait to follow the new Prince's escapades as - [Guinness, Subway, and Tim Hortons Beats the Winter Blues](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/guinness-subway-tim-hortons-beats-winter-blues/) - Most industries tend to capitalize on a key season. Stores extend their hours for holiday shoppers, fitness centres cater to the January health kick and outdoors-focused retailers ramp up their camping and backyard promotions as spring leads into summer. So what do brands do when there’s no obvious season to leverage? The holiday season is - [Chinese "Neigh" Year 2014 - Year of the Horse](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/chinese-new-year-2014-year-horse/) - Merchant Advance Capital greets all businesses and business owners a Happy Chinese New Year! Happy New Year sayings in Chinese are: "Gong Xi Fa Cai" (Mandarin) and "Gong Hey Fat Choy" (Cantonese). This Chinese New Year is the Year of the Horse. The 12-year-cycle of animals that make up the Chinese Zodiac. These interact with - [Tips on Effective Email Marketing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tip-on-effective-email-marketing/) - Email marketing is a common tool for small businesses to reach their customers and keep them up to date on the company's latest & greatest. However it only takes looking at your own inbox to see that it gets a bit crowded in there - so how do you make your business's email more attractive - [Small Business Owners in British Columbia are Optimistic](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-owners-british-columbia-optimistic/) - Business confidence across the province dipped slightly in January compared with one month prior, but British Columbian entrepreneurs still remain the most optimistic in the country. B.C.'s confidence fell by 0.8 points to 71.8 in January, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business announced in its latest Business Barometer report. This still remains one of the - [Cryptocurrency and Web Culture: Wow. Such Market?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/cryptocurrency-crowds-wow-market/) - For those who spend time on the internet, particularly hanging around effervescent pop-culture news nodes like Reddit, pictures of a funny-looking dog and non-sequiturs like “wow, such lol” written in brightly coloured Comic Sans are probably verging on old hat by now. The adorable and amusing “doge” (it’s pronounced kind of like “dough” with a - [Merchant Advance Industry Paper](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-industry-paper/) - It's not often that a comprehensive academic piece of work is released detailing our industry, so we are very excited to share this whitepaper on the merchant advance industry. Our CEO David Gens had a hand in writing it and it does a great job of explaining how merchant advances fit into the business financing - [Youth Financial Literacy](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/youth-financial-literacy/) - Everyone remembers their first paying job - the thrill of being called back, the interview butterflies, the sudden surge of apparent maturity and all the adjustments that come with entering into the workplace for the first time. Perhaps that first pay stub is secreted away somewhere for safekeeping, a reminder of where we started - [Personal Finance Lessons From Harry Potter](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/personal-finance-lessons-from-harry-potter/) - As Harry Potter mania grips the world with the conclusion of the eight-part motion picture series hitting theatres, it seems as though everyone has a bit of "HP" on the brain. I stumbled across this fun little article on Rob Carrick's Globe and Mail financial reader page. I guess as everything the Harry Potter franchise touches turns to gold, - [The Key to a Productive Team? Have a Little Fun!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-key-to-a-productive-team-have-a-little-fun/) - This is an idea I think all businesses can agree on, the importance of mixing business with pleasure. Summertime productivity does not have to be challenge when you feel as though you are working with friends rather than just coworkers, get to see the social side of the boss, and being able to look forward - [The Powerless Penny](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-powerless-penny/) - We can’t believe it! After all the Tim Horton’s transactions we've been through with the Canadian penny, it’s hard to imagine its extinction from our pockets and change purses. Although the Royal Canadian Mint hasn't been producing pennies in months, today is the first official day that it will stop shipping them to banks and retailers nationwide. Apparently - [Vitamin Daily Goes to Social Media Camp [Guest Blog]](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/vitamin-daily-goes-to-social-media-camp-guest-blog/) - We're happy to welcome a contribution from the the bright and talented wordsmiths at Canadian online lifestyle magazine Vitamin Daily to the pages of the Merchant Advance Blog today. Check them out for a daily dose of all things fashionable, beautiful, sociable, original, delicious, and local! As an entrepreneur, you are likely likely always looking for tips on how - [Merchant Advance and the Small Business BC Awards](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-and-the-small-business-bc-awards/) - Small businesses here in Merchant Advance's home province of British Columbia work tirelessly to build recognition and trust within their communities, and it goes without saying that they should be lauded for those efforts! Whether your business is a cutting-edge innovator, a community partner, an online marketing wizard, a valuable mentor for young workers, or - [Hillary Clinton Courts Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/hillary-clinton-courts-small-business/) - Though the Merchant Advance team generally strives not to be overly political - least of all here on the blog - we can't help but take notice of leaders with an appreciation for the small business marketplace and its valuable role as a binding agent for the economic and social fabric of nations. It was a - [Step Inside Our New Toronto Office!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-capital-toronto-office/) - Welcome to our New Digs! This development has been a long time coming. Merchant Advance Capital is very proud to be able to announce the opening of our Toronto office, where a dedicated team will be handling the sales side of our business and expanding our ability to reach new clients more efficiently and in - [Grow With the Flow - Social Media for Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/social-media-for-small-business/) - Connecting with customers is hard. Being approachable and relevant to your target audience might seem easy, but assessing the needs of your consumer is a complicated matter. How do you track their priorities, monitor their concerns and keep tabs on their interests? Mind reading is ideal. If your ESP skills aren't up to par, consider using social - [Business Confidence On the Rise](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-confidence-up/) - It’s a good time to be a small business owner in Canada! Many entrepreneurs have been outspoken about their economical struggle over the past few years and it’s no secret that many companies are still coming to terms with inevitable financial losses. While it's somewhat comforting to know that Canada didn't get hit nearly as hard - [Loans, With a Side of Emoji: WeChat To Offer Loans By Text](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/loans-with-a-side-of-emoji-wechat-to-offer-loans-by-text/) - Note: This Blog Originally Appeared at the UrLoan.com blog. Would you sign up for a loan from your text message service or favourite social network? That’s the question that China’s Tencent Inc, makers of the popular WeChat messaging app, are asking users with their introduction of a new feature called Weilidai — which literally means - [Internal Fraud, Theft & The Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/internal-fraud-theft-business/) - Small business owners have a lot on their plates these days. The pressure that entrepreneurs face to ensure smooth sailing on a daily basis can be overwhelming, and may lead to a slew of negative consequences in other aspects of their lives. Hiring additional personnel is an inevitable and exciting part of a business’s growth; and - [Creating a Green Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/green-small-business/) - It’s everywhere, and it won't be going away. ‘Going green’ is a lifestyle choice that millions of people worldwide are embracing whole-heartedly in their personal and professional lives. Jumping on the band-wagon is important for Canadian small businesses, as consumers are avidly seeking greener campaigns and appreciate brands with like-wise motivations. >Making eco-friendly choices for - [Sandwiches and Other Meals: A Guide to Workplace Feedback](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/sandwiches-meals-guide-workplace-feedback/) - In the small business world, feedback can be an extraordinarily powerful force. Customer feedback is one of the most important forms of information a small business owner can collect about how to improve their business model, and, as the blog has previously discussed,efficient delivery of two way communication between businesses and their customers is easier - [Small Business Job Credit to EI Announced](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-job-credit-announced/) - Small Business Job Credit Modifies Employment Insurance Premiums The Canadian Government announced yesterday that a major change will be made to small business Employment Insurance premium. The Small Business Job Credit applies to all Canadian businesses currently paying at most $15,000 in premiums between 2015 and 2016. When it is paid out at the beginning - [Serial Entrepreneurs: If At First?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/serial-entrepreneur/) - Earlier this month at the blog, we reviewed Megan McArdle’s The Up Side of Down – a book that takes a unique perspective on the social, psychological and economic lessons that we can learn from failure. McArdle’s book, which we judged helpful to the small business owner overall, thrives on its use of examples culled - [Small Business Blogging Tips](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-blogging-tips/) - In today’s small business marketplace, creating personalized content, participating in the sharing economy, and developing meaningful connections with your customers are some of of the major goals of any marketing or promotional effort. A blog (like the one you’re currently reading – aha!) can be a great way to do this: it lets you tailor - [Happy Valentine's Day!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/happy-valentines-day/) - We’ve been so busy that we almost forgot to stop and celebrate this day of romance and festivity. The team at Merchant Advance Capital has so much love and respect for all our hardworking clients and applicants with whom we've been lucky to establish some pretty awesome relationships over the years. We want to extend our best - [Merchant Advance Capital Press Coverage](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-capital-press-coverage/) - We're so proud of Merchant Advance Capital CEO David Gens for his expertise in the field of merchant advances! With only six years of exposure in the Canadian market, the industry is quickly gaining traction and is being recognized for the unique financial flexibility that its able to extend to merchants. David has been a - [Marketing and Social Distribution](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/marketing-social-distribution/) - Last week, the blog took a look at the important operational and financial considerations that small businesses need to make when they go from small-batch to big distribution. Today, the focus shifts to the other side of the coin: generating the energy and buzz necessary to make the leap to a wider market, without seeing - [MAC & The Media](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-capital-pivotal/) - Kudos to Pivotal Payments for this awesome feature in their Industry News section! As a pioneer of the Merchant Advance industry in Canada, we're always pleased to be acknowledged by fellow businesses who work in the Canadian finance arena. Read their insightful profile of our business after the break. Merchant cash advances offer added flexibility - [The New Face of Facebook Advertising](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/facebook-advertising-changes/) - Putting a Price on Sharing The Merchant Advance Blog has previously extolled the virtues of social media as a place for small businesses to get the word out about the great work they’re doing. Proper use of sites like Facebook can connect you to a huge community of customers as well as provide the potential - [Peer to Peer Lending vs. Merchant Advance](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/peer-to-peer-lending-vs-merchant-advance/) - As a witness to (and key member of the target market for) the Napster boom and also to its somewhat grim aftermath, my biggest mental connection with the phrase “peer to peer” is likely one that follows it with the words “file sharing.” Oh, the movies I’ve downloaded! But, I digress. More importantly , “peer - [Four Ways to Use Merchant Advance Funding](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/five-ways-use-merchant-advance-funding/) - Every business has different needs. For some, maintaining an up-to-date inventory is of the utmost importance. For others, working capital is best invested in expansion and marketing. As the owner of a small business, it is up to you to decide how best to develop and make use of the financial resources at your disposal. - [The Upside of Down: Book Review](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/upside_of_down_review/) - Falling Up Failure is hard. Coming to understand your failings and eventually getting back on your feet can be even harder. In this instalment of the Merchant Advance Capital blog, we will take a look at the recently released book The Upside of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success, which examines how and why - [Take Time Off, Without Downtime](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/take-time-off-without-downtime/) - One of the things that makes small businesses unique is the amount of personal blood, sweat and tears their owners and employees are dedicated to putting in, day after day. At Merchant Advance, we know that you work hard to make your small business stand out from the crowd, to make your customers feel like - [Social Media Savvy Guide](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/social-media-savvy-guide/) - The Business Development Bank of Canada has long been a valuable resource for entrepreneurs. We love their new Small Business Guide to Social Media, which offers helpful suggestions to zealous young business owners. With loads of helpful hints and tricks of the trade, we think it would add tons of value to your social - [Small Business Financing: Debt or Equity?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-financing/) - There are a multitude of small business financing options, but most of them break down into two categories: financing by debt or equity. In debt financing, businesses take out loans to fund their development, with the main cost being associated with the interest accrued on those loans. The advantages of debt financing are mainly that: - [The Convenience of Merchant Advances](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-convenience-of-merchant-advances/) - There are a lot of great benefits of merchant advances (also sometimes referred to as a merchant cash advance or small business loan alternative). One of the best benefits is the convenience. This comes in a few different forms. The Merchant Advance application process First of all, right off the bat the business owner does - [How We've Helped the Health and Wellness Industry](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-weve-helped-the-health-and-wellness-industry/) - New Years Resolutions. We've all got em', and they usually rally around our personal ambitions and our ongoing efforts to better ourselves. With January long behind us, healthy living has become a brand in itself these days, with consumers willing to dish out the big bucks in order to pursue their health and body-image - [Merchant Advance ON THE RUN at the Scotiabank Half Marathon!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/scotiabank-half-marathon/) - Running to Better Teamwork: The Scotiabank Half Marathon We're still super sore today from our team participation in Vancouver's annual Scotiabank Half Marathon. Even though it was three days ago, our legs are still not happy with us. The event is only one of Vancouver's many marathons, and drew more than 7,000 eager runners to - [Happy Canada Day!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/happy-canada-day/) - Happy Canada Day to all our merchants and small business owners in this awesome country! Here are some cool Canada Day facts on this day of celebration. Celebratory Canada Day Facts Canada day celebrations were originally organized by the federal government, in an effort to promote financial support of local festivities across the country. - [Stanley Park - MAC](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/stanley-park/) - August 23, 2013 In honor of Stanley Park's impending 125th birthday celebration this week, we thought we'd write a blog commending Vancouver's largest and favorite public park. THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT STANLEY PARK: 1. Treading on the dead Few people know they are walking on unmarked graves at the eastern end of the - [Alternative Financing Market Keeps Growing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/alternative-financing-market-keeps-growing/) - At Merchant Advance Capital, we love when National publications run stories on our industry. Unlike some of our competitors, we're not afraid of the publicity and lavish a chance to demonstrate to the public how we help small - medium sized businesses Canada-wide to succeed. Check out the Globe and Mail's article below, which details - [Why Everyone Should Strive To Be More Like George Bailey](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/everyone-strive-like-george-bailey/) - Christmas time is here and with it comes the season of movies about love, family and holiday spirit. If you work full time like the majority of the population you are probably extra busy this time of year, spending most of your free time running around shopping for gifts or preparing for you holiday parties. - [Vancouver MAC Office View Update --- February 5, 2014](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/vancouver-mac-office-view-update-february-5-2014/) - Blue skies and sun is what we always wish for when working/living in Vancouver! Spring is here and we are excited for summer! Readvances/renewals are usually popular around this time for businesses who need to renovate/stock up on inventory before the summer season hits. If you have any inquiries about our merchant advance process or - [The Merchant Growth Difference](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/we-are-merchant-growth/) - Notes from our Head of Underwriting Neil Thompson - [Entrepreneurial Drive](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/entrepreneurial-drive/) - Entrepreneurialism is a unique pursuit. Experiencing the ups and downs of building a business is not for everyone - many prefer stability and not having to worry about business risks and issues that come up when owning a business. But for those of us who desire to create things, nothing beats the satisfaction of building - [Our Target Market](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-cash-advance-target-market/) - In the US, the merchant cash advance industry has been around for around 12 years or so, and has seen rapid development particularly in the last 6 or 7 years. As a result, today there are a number of providers that offer different innovative services and that target different levels of risk within their portfolios. - [The Merchant Advisor - October](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-advisor-october/) - Merchant Advisor: October Edition Below is the October release of Merchant Advance Capital's monthly email newsletter, the Merchant Advisor. Sign up today at our site for new thoughts and messages every month! - [The Merchant Advance Snapshot Contest - Win $5000!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-snapshot-contest-win-5000/) - Your Small Business Could Win! Today marks the launch of our Snapshot Photo Contest! It's time for a small business photo expedition. Grab your camera, phone, tablet or Daguerreotype and take an amazing photo on the job - then get to Twitter and share it with us! Show us what makes your business unique! The - [Snapshot Contest Wrap-Up](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/snapshot-contest-wrap/) - Thank You to all Snapshot Contest Participants! The entries have been tabled from far and wide, from businesses of almost every conceivable kind. We asked that you strike out, cameras in hand, and document "a day in the life" as a business owner - and we could not have expected such a great response. For - [Snapshot Contest: And the Winner Is....](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/snapshot-contest-winner/) - Once again, we thank all the entrants to the inaugural edition of the Merchant Advance Capital Snapshot Contest! The announcement video is below - click to find out which of our group of intrepid small business shutterbugs will walk away with $5000 cash! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA8ZDToaOU0 That's right, it's Yaletown L'Antipasto! Right here in Merchant Advance Capital's hometown of - [Merchant Advance Capital Relocates Downtown](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-capital-relocates-downtown/) - Pardon Our Dust... Merchant Advance Capital has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the home office of founder David Gens. For the past several years, our offices have been located at the beautiful and historic Fairview House: built in 1892, it ranks among Vancouver’s oldest standing buildings. We’ve worked to serve the - [The Merchant Advisor: New Perspectives](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-merchant-advisor-new-perspectives/) - Welcome to another edition of the (expanded director's cut of the) Merchant Advisor Newsletter! We welcome all our clients, friends and fellows in the small business universe to June with us. This month, our thoughts turn to new ideas for a new generation of small businesses. As summer begins in earnest, some of the common - [Merchant Advance in Globe Fintech Feature](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-in-globe-fintech-feature/) - Over the past week, Merchant Advance was glad to have been featured by The Globe and Mail Small Business column! In case you missed the article, we have a link to it here: David Gens is among a panel of interviewees on the subject of emergent financial technology, or "fintech," in Canada. Technology is making - [Five Small Business Loan Myths Debunked](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/five-small-business-loan-myths-debunked/) - With so many options for small business loan funding - and even more blogs and commentators analyzing those options - out there, some information about the way small business lending works is bound to be muddled in the grand scheme of things. Some of this information will inevitably filter down to small business owners looking - [The Merchant Advance Rainy Day Giveaway](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-merchant-advance-rainy-day-giveaway/) - If you've looked out the window in Vancouver recently, you may wonder where the sun has gone... the weather's not looking the greatest. Case in point: But fear not! Though the winter weather may be dampening your spirits, Merchant Advance Capital is teaming up with Yulu PR, Skyrocket and Bowery Creative to launch the Rainy - [Merchant Advance Capital visits LendIt USA](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-capital-visits-lendit/) - The fintech industry is a relatively small community within the larger sphere of financial services and banking, and new players are emerging on the scene at an accelerating clip as greater availability of venture capital and financing is extended to entrepreneurs. This is especially the case in the United States, where regulatory environments are adapting - [Merchant Advances Rock the Retail Industry](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advances-rock-the-retail-industry/) - With the introduction of our first ever business loan product, Merchant Advance Capital is able to provide funding to almost any business across Canada. As we've grown, been fortunate to provide funding to many prosperous businesses and we've been able to adapt our business qualifications for our funding program accordingly. As many unique and exciting - [Happy Independence Day, America!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/usa-independence-day/) - Happy Independence Day, neighbors! Not to rub it in or anything, but the Merchant Advance team thought this would be a good time to reflect on what makes Canada such an awesome place to live. Below are a few reasons why we rock: 1. We live longer: Canadians born today will live an average - [We Love West Coast Business!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/west-coast-business/) - The Merchant Advance team has traveled all over the country, and our backgrounds are as diverse and overlapping as any. However, we have to say that our own backyard holds a special place in our hearts: we love west coast business. While the economy of the country is still in flux, BC has been fortunate to - [HSBC New Business Funding Announced](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/new-business-funding-announced/) - HSBC Bank Canada recently announced a new small business funding program. It will lend $1 billion over the next 18 months to support Canadian small and medium size businesses to assist with international growth. But not all businesses will qualify. To take advantage of funding, firms must have an annual revenue of $3 million - [Tired from the Holidays?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tired-holidays/) - Christmas has finished and Boxing Day shopping has now reverted back to normal prices for the upcoming New Year of 2014. Shopping on Boxing Day was pretty chaotic! Sure there were some good deals at the mall, but is it worth it to wake up early to purchase the good deals and discounts? In addition - [Puck Luck: Hockey's Economic Effects](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/puck-luck-hockeys-economic-effects/) - Among this blog-writer's many vices is a particularly enthusiastic appreciation for the National Hockey League. I'm not what Jerry Seinfeld might call a "face-painter" but I do love the game of statistics inherently built into Canada's national pastime. I participate in annual pool competitions, trying to suss out which precise combinations of players across the - [Small Business Trends: 2014 a Breakout Year for Alternative Lending](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-trends-2014-breakout-year-alternative-lending/) - In a recent article for Forbes, Rebecca Bagley listed her top trends for small businesses to watch in 2015. What was at the top of the list, you might ask? "Alternative Capital Flows Will Gain Traction." "First and foremost, small businesses need cash to grow. But the traditional lending market isn’t working for everyone. Therefore, it’s likely - [Thoughts on Automated Underwriting - No Robots](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/thoughts-automated-underwriting-no-robots/) - Without sounding like too much of a fanboy, your blogger can safely say that The Economist is one of his favourite reads. It's a weekly digest on the world that tackles topics that often range far beyond the financial or economic. You should read it. In my perusal of the magazine's latest issue, I came upon this - [Canadian Retail: Staying on Target](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-retail-staying-target/) - The Canadian retail landscape has endured a series of shakeups in recent weeks, with large chain retailers Sony, Target and Mexx announcing plans to close stores across the country. Other medium to large-scale retailers such as clothiers Jacob and Smart Set have suffered similar fates. These closures are a rather gloomy way for Canadian retail - [Credit Processing: Cash No Longer King for Small Businesses?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/credit-processing-cash-no-longer-king-for-small-businesses/) - "Cash is king" goes the saying when it comes to business practices. While it still holds true that maintaining a steady cash flow is extremely important for the health of your small business, the value of that expression may be changing for your customers. The King Dethroned In a study for the Bank of Canada, Ben - [Student Debt Impacts Small Business Jobs](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/student-debt-impacts-small-business-jobs/) - It's no secret that North American students are increasingly challenged by the pressures of debt used to finance their post-secondary educational pursuits. The Canadian Federation of Students pegs the average student debt at$27,000, which is close to the nearly $26,300 many students said they expected to owe after graduation in a recent BMO survey. A - [Small Business Owners See Improved Quality of Life](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-owners-see-improved-quality-of-life/) - Another Monday dawns on the small business world, and as you reach for that cup of coffee and start your day, you may be feeling a little bedraggled. However, there's reason to cheer up: according to recent and historical survey data, being a SMB owner means that the Monday blues might be counterbalanced by a significant - [Relationship Lending: Building a Better Loan With Data](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/relationship-lending/) - Just like a personal relationship, a great lending relationship takes time to build. It depends on compatibility between the people involved, and it's not always straightforward. Relationship lending is improving access to funding for small businesses while building support for local economies - and generating unique types of data and information that can benefit the - [Breaking Down the Google Payday Loan Ban](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/google-payday-loan-ban/) - There are few things that simply can't be advertised for on Google AdWords. The no-go list is short, and includes guns, drugs, explicit content, and any kind of counterfeit or phishing site. Just yesterday, Google added a new stricture to its advertising policy: no more payday loans. In a statement by David Graff, Director of - [How to Increase Online Sales](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-increase-online-sales/) - Online sales have become the new store-front for many business owners, however changing up your online shop window has become quite evolved. Increasing online sales can be a big job - but prioritizing and categorizing the approach can greatly simpify the matter. This great article from entrepreneur.com has 12 great tips to stimulate online sales. The mantra "test - [The Reasons why a Growing Business NEEDS a Strategic Plan](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-reasons-why-a-growing-business-needs-a-strategic-plan/) - Do you feel like you are scrambling to stay on top of your business? Then you may want to consider writing a strategic business plan to draft out your companies goals, and a timeline associated with achieving those goals. This short article from Smallbusinessbc.com has a great step by step guide to writing a strategic plan, as well as - [When Should a Small Business Hire a Finance Chief?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/when-should-a-small-business-hire-a-finance-chief/) - Interesting article from the NY Times about the timing and advantages of bringing a CFO onto your executive team. At Quickoffice, which sells software that allows users to create and edit documents on mobile devices, Alan Masarek always enjoyed getting deep into the numbers of his business — almost as if he were chief financial officer instead of chief - [10 Great Tips to Produce Better Content Marketing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/10-great-tips-to-produce-better-content-marketing/) - If you have heard of the term “content marketing” you are not alone – as this is the new king of online marketing. Fresh and relevant content is the key to help search engines find your website and make it more accessible to prospective customers. The problem with content marketing though is that it is a lot - [Merchant Advance Capital Team has Hit the Floor !](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-capital-team-has-hit-the-floor/) - Usually the Merchant Advance Capital team is busy up in our Vancouver office making phone calls and crunching numbers, but last week we switched gears and hit the floor - the BC Hospitality trade show floor that is! It was two fun days of chatting and networking with restaurant and other small business owners alike. As Merchant - [Five Daily Must-Dos to Keep your Business Humming](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/five-daily-must-dos-to-keep-your-business-humming/) - This is a quick read that really hits the mark. As businesses grow and new stresses seem to take over your days, keys parts of your business can fall by the way-side. This article has 5 daily Must-Dos to keep your business strong. None of these items are too difficult and therefore can be easily - [Top Ten Small Business Web Site Marketing Tips](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/top-ten-small-business-web-site-marketing-tips/) - Many small business owners struggle with the seemingly overwhelming task of managing their web site. There always seems to be so much to do, yet no time to do it all (something we know all too well). This brief primer should help to highlight the key aspects of web site management that will help them - [Reflect on 2011 to Improve Marketing Strategies for 2012](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/reflect-on-2011-to-improve-marketing-strategies-for-2012/) - While preparing for the end of 2011 take some time to reflect on the marketing decisions made throughout the year and what effects they had (if any)! Was there one certain marketing campaign that you really noticed a strong response, while others were less then flat? This article from the Globe and Mail has 5 important marketing - [Optimize your Business Blog with these 5 Effective SEO Strategies](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/optimize-your-business-blog-with-these-5-effective-seo-strategies/) - So you've started a business blog, providing authoritative insights about the latest news and most pressing issues in your industry. With such great content, your blog should be raising your company's profile and generating more customers. That is, of course, if anyone is actually reading it. The trouble with blogging is that having great content - [Youtube Videos](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/youtube-videos/) - This week's blog post is off-topic, but hey, this is our blog so we can write about whatever we want! We all could use some quality entertainment and what better place to look than on youtube. The headline article these past few days has been the gulf oil spill and how it seems as though - [The Importance of Transparency](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-important-of-transparency/) - In any type of business dealing, transparency is important. There should be no hidden arrangements or ulterior motives - the terms should be clearly laid out. We believe that this is particularly important in the financial services industry, and unfortunately, we think that our industry often lacks transparency. Financial products and services are often very - [Seeing The Impact of Growth Capital](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-impact-of-growth-capital/) - At Merchant Advance Capital, we love seeing the ways that our financing solution is being put to work. As we've mentioned before in past blog posts, the way that our cash advance money is used is of importance to us. But there are no restrictions by any means. We believe that the business owner has - [What Can You Qualify For?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/what-can-you-qualify-for/) - For many business owners, a merchant cash advance is a new and unheard of financial solution. The industry is still very new, especially in Canada, and many people still think that the bank is the only place they can go to get financing for their business. Usually, the first thing that's asked by someone who's - [Filling a Gap](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/filling-a-gap/) - For everyone who is new to merchant cash advances, it is important to put things in context and see what the financial solution brings in the big scheme of things. What merchant cash advances do is they open up a new financing source for small businesses that was previously unavailable. A good way to contextualize - [Visiting Our Nation's Capital](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/visiting-our-nations-capital/) - This past week I visited Ottawa for my first time, and I must say, I was quite impressed by the city. We are based in Vancouver and I often end up going to Toronto but I never made it up to Ottawa. I was visiting a friend of mine who is working in the Canadian - [Payment Processors](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/payment-processors/) - A question we often hear from people is "do I have to switch payment processors in order to work with you guys?". The answer to this question is no! At Merchant Advance Capital, our solution has been designed to work with all major processors in Canada. We have heard tales about other merchant cash advance - [Holiday Season](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/holiday-season/) - The holiday season is here everyone! We have been financing many retail businesses lately in order for them to have the inventory they need to make the most of this holiday season. As anyone in retail knows, the holiday season can make or break a retailer's entire year - it is by far the most - [Happy new year!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/happy-new-year/) - From everyone at Merchant Advance Capital, we wish everyone all the best in 2011! So far it seems as though we are onto a great start. There's positive economic news in both the US and Canada and stock markets are doing well! It is an encouraging sign. It is almost hard to believe the intensity - [Great times at the 2011 BC Foodservice Expo!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/great-times-at-the-2011-bc-foodservice-expo/) - This past Sunday & Monday we spent our days at our booth at the BC Foodservice Expo - Western Canada's largest hospitality trade show. We had a blast! Thanks to everyone who came by the booth, and thank you to those who entered our draw to win an iPad. A big congratulations to the winner - [Summertime, and the living is easy](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/summertime-and-the-living-is-easy/) - Hello dear friends! The summer is coming. I can tell because my springtime allergies are back in full-force and the weather is getting warmer. We have had a couple beautiful days recently in Vancouver and it is an encouraging sign of better weather to come. Better weather brings a lot of business to many foodservice - [Understanding the cost of a Merchant Cash Advance](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/understanding-the-cost-of-a-merchant-cash-advance/) - Something that comes up when discussing our merchant financing services is "how much does this cost me?". In today's blog post we hope to remove the mystery and help business owners understand how this cost is calculated, and furthermore, why it is what it is and whether it is worth it. In a merchant cash - [Retailers Need a "Secret Weapon"](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/retailers-need-a-secret-weapon/) - It's not uncommon to meet owner-operated retailers who are trying to follow the strategy of being good at everything. Unfortunately, this approach does not work all that well. There are far too many smart, aggressive retailers offering their customers shopping alternatives that are superior in– assortment, price or service – while being at least competitive - [The Google Game of Online Marketing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-google-game-of-online-marketing/) - Google seems to be the crux of many small businesses for online advertising. However if you (like me) felt completely overwhelmed when first stumbling on to Google advertising platforms - then this article from Smallbiztrends.com might help. The article touches on how Google is updating it's methods of finding and ranking sites. Use the tips provided and evaluate your - [The How-To's of Webinar Hosting](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-how-tos-of-webinar-hosting/) - A great new way to communicate, learn, & network is through online Webinars. (If you are wondering what a webinar is, click here to catch up.) As said previously a webinar can be a fun and powerful tool to spread ideas and represent the face of your company. This article from the Globe and Mail has some useful - [PR Budget Flexibility: How Limber is your Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/pr-budget-flexibility-how-limber-is-your-business/) - How does your company approach building the annual budget? If all funds are spoken for at the start of the year, there is no room for creative "moment-in-time" strategies. The article below from the Globe and Mail approaches this topic in relation PR budgets; suggesting that 30% should set aside for unforeseen moments of opportunity. I definitely agree with this method - [Essential Marketing Tips for Small Business Owners](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/essential-marketing-tips-for-small-business-owners/) - Marketing for your small business can be expensive and confusing! With what seems like countless marketing options and little return to no return the whole ordeal is frustrating for many small business owners. However Businessknowhow.com has compiled 7 quick and simple marketing tips to help small business owners. I found these cost effective and overall - [Support Local Merchants: Shop Local](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/support-local-merchants-shop-local/) - As a consumer, you make choices every day between competing businesses. The choice of where to spend your money sends a signal through the marketplace that ultimately influences which types of businesses will succeed in your community and which will falter. Along with thousands of other consumers, your purchasing decisions can have significant impacts on - [The Work Week, Reimagined](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/work-week-reimagined/) - The idea of a five-day work week has been fairly standardized in North American society (and indeed in much of the world) since Henry Ford introduced it in his auto factories in the mid nineteen-twenties. "Leisure," Ford wrote, "is an indispensable ingredient in a growing consumer market because working people need to have enough free time to find - [How Do I Get Funding?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-video-blog-series-2-get-funding/) - Today brings the release of the second in our series of Merchant Advance Video Blog posts on Youtube, featuring Merchant Advance Capital CEO David Gens. This week's video addresses one of the most important questions we receive: How Do I Get Funding? What steps need to be taken to apply for, and receive, merchant advance funding? As it turns out, - [Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40: David Gens](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/top-40-under-40-david-gens/) - Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40 A little while ago, the blog reported on CEO and founder David Gens' induction into the 2014 Top 40 Under 40 in Vancouver. The fine folks at Business in Vancouver have written up a profile on David, which we are glad to share with you here. Click the - [Christmas Eve](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/christmas-eve/) - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas... And all through the (Merchant Advance) house, not a keyboard was clicking. Or even a mouse. Proposals were filed in the cabinets with care, in hopes that approval stamps soon would be theirs. Alright, that was fun. It's CHRISTMAS EVE! Your small business has worked hard all year - it certainly - [The Importance of Building a Customer Database](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-importance-of-building-a-customer-database/) - Customer retention is one of the most important parts of a successful small business. However many simply forget or do not optimize their loyal customer base. This article from the Globe and Mail neatly outlines why is it important to collect customer information & build a database as your business grows. Collecting contact information allows you to connect - [Tips to Increase your Sales at No Cost](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tips-to-increase-your-sales-at-no-cost/) - Looking forward into the new year, are you brain storming ways to increase sales flow? Without spending too much on new marketing campaigns or advertising, a simple solution may be just reinvigorating your sales team! The following article from entreprenur.com has some great tips on mixing up daily routines to shake up your sales staff. If people do - [Small Business Tips: How to Approach Daily Deal Promotions](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-tips-how-to-approach-daily-deal-promotions/) - Brainstorming marketing ideas for your small business? A very popular trend that is making the rounds are the "daily deal" promotions. However these daily deals are not a good fit for every business, and depending on which company you choose to work with, the terms can differ greatly. The following article from globeandmail.com has 6 - [Business Tips: Shop Local & Make Your Business Unique](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-tips-shop-local-make-your-business-unique/) - If you're a small business owner and are having trouble competing with big chain establishments in your area, you are not alone. Many of our clients are independent business owners who struggle with this battle on a daily basis. The article below has quite an interesting spin on how to differentiate yourself from the pack. Rather then competing - [Seven Business Books to Inspire You on Spring Break](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/seven-business-books-to-inspire-you-on-spring-break/) - Ah, spring. It's a time of year when business picks up... just when the kids get out of school and it's harder to get work done. It's still important to use this time productively, even working in a little reading time while you hang with your family. This season, my business bookshelf is once again stacked high with - [Retail Marketing Ideas: 3 Tips to Increase Foot Traffic](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/retail-marketing-ideas-3-tips-to-increase-foot-traffic/) - Retail companies heavily rely on foot traffic for sales. Therefore it pays to be constantly updating and developing marketing strategies to increase traffic & grow revenues. Being proactive in this space can have great benefits while keeping you ahead of the competition. Here are 3 retail marketing tips to stay ahead of the pack. 1) - [Getting More Profit for Your Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/getting-more-profit-for-your-business/) - Profit is important to every business - however we often get distracted by so many other things that the importance of profit can get overlooked. As all businesses need profits to succeed, many of our clients use their Merchant Advances to help them maximize profits while expanding - keeping out of the cash flow crunch - [Stop Wasting Time: 7 Crucial Time Management Lessons](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/stop-wasting-time-7-crucial-time-management-lessons/) - Good time management is something that I think everyone - especially small business owners struggle with. Prioritizing can be difficult if you are currently putting out fires or micro managing employees. This short article from Entrepreneur.com has some great lessons to help streamline your day. Read, apply, and then enjoy some new free time! Fourteen months after starting - [Small Business New Year's Resolutions: 2015](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-new-years-resolutions-2015/) - There are those people who make New Year's resolutions (I'll go to the gym more... I guess?) and then there are those who make New Year's Resolutions. The kind that stick. The kind that get you moving, set you on a course, can be tracked along the way and ultimately result in the accomplishment of - [Confronting Workplace Bullying in Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/confronting-workplace-bullying-in-small-businesses/) - Small businesses are unique in that they can place employees in close proximity to one another, forming bonds that are almost familial in nature among teams working together to create success. However, in the small business setting, as in any family situation, conflict and antagonism can develop and disrupt the relationships between employees and/or their - [Day-to-Day Growth: Effective Processes Make a Difference](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/day-to-day-growth-effective-processes-make-a-difference/) - I came across this article today and by chance just after our office had finished a meeting on "processes". Building processes and systems are painstaking and time consuming (as mentioned in the article) however once in place they make all the difference in the world. Employees are then armed with a complete understanding of task - [Success Tips: Keeping Things Simple](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/success-tips-keeping-things-simple/) - Keeping things simple may be the easiest key to success. The following article has some great examples of brands that have strengthened themselves by limiting consumer choice, but keeping quality levels high. The overall consensus is that Less done well is better than More done poorly. Review your menu, service options, or store stock and - [Need a Website? Here's Where to Start](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/need-a-website-heres-where-to-start/) - So you need a website. If you’ve never gone through this process before, or even if you have, chances are you have a lot of questions. Here are seven tips to point you in the right direction: What is your message? This is the basis for all marketing, and if you have a marketing strategy, you’ll - [Small Business Tip: Do Not Hide From Accounting](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-tip-do-not-hide-from-accounting/) - It's not old news that most people dislike the tediousness of bookkeeping and accounting. This is an especially true for those who are motivated by the excitement of product, services and everyday dealings of running their business. However there is something to be said for learning to love accounting - An article in the Globe - [Secrets to Higher Productivity](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/secrets-to-higher-productivity/) - As a small business owner you are no stranger to juggling multiple tasks while your to-do list grows and grows. There are only 24 hours in a day so making the most of your time means separating perfectionism from productivity. This article highlights 2 items (we 2 added to more) to make this happen ORGANIZATION PERFECTION NOT - [3 Tips to Spark New Ideas](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/3-tips-to-spark-new-ideas/) - How often are you struggling with coming up with new and fresh ideas? Being progressive and innovative in your space keeps customers and staff energetic and interested. Brainstorming meetings are an integral part of churning out new ideas, however they can often be a waste of time if not managed properly. This article has 3 great tips help - [Happy New Year !](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/happy-new-year-2/) - Now that most of us have begun recovering from the holidays we would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! 2012 was a big year for Merchant Advance Capital as we met and provided more funding to more merchants then ever before! We saw many of our clients succeed with massive growth throughout 2012, - [Need Funding for your Small Business? You are Not Alone!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/need-funding-for-your-small-business-you-are-not-alone/) - 2013 has started off with a Bang here at Merchant Advance Capital! We are speaking with more and more merchants everyday who are in need of capital to grow their businesses. We often pick up the phone to a business owner posing this question: "all right, I keep hearing about this Merchant Advance Program as an - [Supplier Relationship Management - A Primer](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/supplier-relationship-management/) - Finding a reliable and competitively-priced supplier is vital to the success of your business. Good businesses practices are always a two way street, and your business relationships will flourish if you make it a habit to treat your suppliers with consideration and respect. It's easy to fall behind on supplier payments when there are - [Small Business Funding Made Simple](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/simple-small-business-funding/) - Interested, but still a bit confused about how our funding program works? This bite size video breaks down our service for you. It's still relatively new in Canada, but business owners across the country are recognizing the value in the program and the opportunity it holds for small business funding. Click and view the video - [Financial Planning & The Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/financial-planning-the-small-business/) - Financial planning. It's important! Running a successful business often requires owners to carefully plan and review their finances. Most companies use some form of accounting for identifying, measuring, analyzing and reporting their financial information. Keeping track of the daily expenditures of the business will give you a real insight as to what expenses are - [Defining Small Business SEO](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/seo-really-what-does-it-mean/) - For business owners, the ongoing small business SEO discussion is of great importance. Specifically, small business websites do on-site SEO poorly or not at all, leaving large amounts of search traffic and potential customers on the table. The lack of small business on-site SEO is more about discipline, time management, repetition, and know-how. Here is a - [Punch-Drunk Money Management](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/punch-drunk-money-management/) - With the imminent arrival of the Thomas Pynchon novel Inherent Vice in theatres, your blogger has been on a tear watching and re-watching the films of esteemed American director Paul Thomas Anderson. There are some real gems to be had in his catalogue: Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, and The Master to name a few. A night - [Funding for Small Agricultural Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/funding-small-agricultural-businesses/) - At the blog, we often discuss the challenges that face small businesses in the retail sector as well as other traditional "brick and mortar" business models. However, we haven't mentioned one of the most important Canadian business sectors - one for whom locality and the gap between small and big business approaches has created significant need - [Planning Business Events: Focus on Information](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/planning-business-events-focus-on-information/) - This week in Merchant Advance's hometown of Vancouver, many independent retailers in the Gastown neighbourhood participated in a co-ordinated event: the Gastown Shop Hop. Businesses kept their doors open late into the warm spring evening, offering sales and other incentives along a three-block stretch of the city's most pedestrian-friendly environs. For a small business, creating a - [Merchant Advisor: Pan Am Games a Small Business Boon](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advisor-pan-am-games-a-small-business-boon/) - Summer is in full swing, and the attention of many Canadians - as well as viewers and visitors from around the world - is turned to Toronto for the Pan Am Games and Parapan Games, which run from the 10th until the 26th of July. As the Games’ sporting spectacle unfolds, it also offers a - [Business Confidence vs. Agile Management](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/business-confidence-vs-agile-management/) - Hold on to your hats: according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, small business confidence dropped in July to its lowest level in six years. Small business confidence is now at a point just below the marker that indicates zero real GDP growth: July's score of 58.2 indicates that while a slim majority of business owners - [Ch-Changes: Versatility and Adaptation in Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/ch-changes-versatility-and-adaptation-in-small-business/) - Your small business may focus of the day when it will be recognized as a local institution: a place where those in the know go to find what they need, with the history and the legacy of service that will attract customers both old and new. There's a perceived degree of commitment required in the pursuit of - [[VIDEO] Loans 101 - How Long Does It Take to Get Funded?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/video-loans-101-how-long-does-it-take-to-get-funded/) - Our Loans 101 video series is back and better than ever! This edition of the series, which should herald a return to more frequent updates, features Merchant Advance CEO David Gens addressing one of the most important questions we get from Canadian small business owners every day: how long does it take to go from - [Rainy Day Wrap-Up](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/rainy-day-wrap-up/) - The Merchant Advance Rainy Day Giveaway has been a huge success: we want to first and foremost thank all of our many entrants for the creatively engaging and thoughtful proposals they put forth about the most innovative ways they could grow and evolve their small businesses. But in the end, we had to pick only - [Preparing for the Holiday Season](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/preparing-holiday-season/) - Every year, the holiday season seems to sneak up on consumers everywhere (and it often does so earlier and earlier, as we're all eerily familiar with.) However, for businesses of all kinds, lacking preparedness for the holidays is simply not an option. For many small businesses in particular, the end of the calendar year - [2016 Small Business Predictions](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-predictions-for-2016/) - The turn of a new year is nearly upon us. With holiday marketing and promotional efforts likely squared away and awaiting deployment, many small businesses have the time to look back at the events of the past year and also to look forward to the next. From our perspective, here are some of the ideas - [Four Benefits of Small Business Collaboration](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/five-benefits-of-small-business-collaboration/) - As a small business owner, your instincts are honed to seek out competitive advantages in your niche. You work hard to offer your customers reasons to keep coming back - and to choose your business over large scale enterprises. However, the difference in economies of scale between SMEs and big-box businesses can often be difficult - [Unwrapping Small Business Red Tape](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/unwrapping-small-business-red-tape/) - Owners of small businesses may occasionally be frustrated by regulatory challenges, obscure processes or poor service when it comes to dealing with their local governments or cross-border business management. In light of this, the inquiring minds at the Canadian Federation for Independent Business (CFIB) have released their annual "Small Business Red Tape Report Card" - - [Small Business Cash Flow Tips for Canadians](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-cash-flow-tips-for-canadians/) - Whether you are just starting out, or your business has been around for multiple generations, cash flow is the most important metric by which a small business may either prosper or decline. No matter how great your profit or popular your enterprise, small business cash flow management is critical to understand and master. Products like the - [Defining the Micro-Multinational Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/defining-the-micro-multinational-small-business/) - As small business confidence continues declining in Canada (as measured by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses), the question for many businesspeople is “what can I do about it?" According to recent data, the answer to this important question appears to lie outside our own borders. Canadian SMBs who export overseas are currently benefiting from - [SMBs Focus Hiring on New Graduates](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/hiring-new-graduates/) - As spring approaches, a new wave of students will graduate their places of education and enter the quest to join the workplace. For new grads in a variety of programs, the situation can be a tense one: as rates of acquisition of student debt continue to rise, many students will look to find valuable work that - [Digital Loyalty: Starbucks, Payments and Lots of Lattes](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/digital-loyalty-starbucks-payments-and-lots-of-lattes/) - The world of business banking may have just become significantly more grande: a new report, originally featured by Businessweek, shows that worldwide coffee chain Starbucks has become one of the world's more sizeable stores of wealth. The value of cash stored in Starbucks' mobile payments app and gift cards was noted in an internal report to - [Olympic Games Promotions: A Balancing Act](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/olympic-games-promotions-balancing-act/) - The 2016 Summer Olympics are days away from kicking off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. No Olympic Games is without its share of controversy, but the particular focus on Brazil's ability to remain economically stable in light of the tremendous costs of running the Games has made it a portentous year for critics. Nonetheless, the - [Resolutions for small businesses to make a greater impact in 2018](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/resolutions-small-businesses-make-greater-impact-2018-2/) - The end of the year is a great time to reflect on the past twelve months and identify your business priorities for the year ahead. Here in Canada, a trend we’re seeing is businesses increasingly looking to do more than simply make a profit. Business owners want to make a difference, whether to their - [The Family Business: Ownership Changing Hands](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-family-business-ownership-changing-hands/) - The good ol’ family business. The majority of Canadian small business ownership is passed down from one generation to the next, making entrepreneurial pursuits especially enticing for zealous young successors. With an increasing number of small business owners approaching the age of retirement, many are taking the necessary steps to ensure that their golden years - [Small Business Technology](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-technology/) - Business technology is changing. Savvy young entrepreneurs have used the technology craze as an opportunity to gain an advantage over seasoned competitors who utilize a more 'traditional' approach to business practices. The advantage, it seems, is innovation. Offering a modern edge or a fresh perspective through application of small business technology can be a powerful tool for budding - [Recipes for Restaurant Funding Success](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/recipes-for-restaurant-funding/) - Ever been to a really great restaurant, one that has quality food AND service? Running a restaurant is hard work, but most restaurant owners find the reward is worthwhile. It's satisfying to see customers visit time and time again, and building long lasting relationships with patrons is part of the experience. There are certain - [Promoting Your Small Business on Facebook](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/promoting-your-small-business-on-facebook/) - Facebook is a source of frustration and guilt for many smaller business owners and solo entrepreneurs, who wonder how to make it work for their business. Read on for our guide to promoting your small business on Facebook. Social media involvement can serve as a powerful lead generator, but not in the way most - [How To Use Twitter For Small Business Promotion](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/twitter-for-small-business/) - Are you still getting the hang of Twitter? Not seeing the amount of audience interaction and engagement you hoped to see? It's difficult to succeed at setting up Twitter for small business use, and it's not something that can happen overnight. Developing and growing a social media campaign can take loads of your time and - [When Does Outsourcing Make Sense?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/when-does-outsourcing-make-sense/) - Outsourcing technology is a great way for startups and small businesses to cut costs and boost productivity. Instead of allocating resources to implement and maintain new IT systems, outsourcing enables startups and small businesses to focus on more important things, such as their products and customers. Sometimes, however, outsourcing can cost small businesses more - [Key Qualities of an Entrepreneur](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/key-qualities-entrepreneur/) - Many things could be said to define the key qualities of an entrepreneur. Certainly more than we can list here, but hey - it's a good start! Feel free to email us any suggestions of what you think sets the bar truly high for these individuals - we'll be happy to include your thoughts on our - [Recent Canadian Grads and Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-grads-and-small-business/) - We recently wrote an article about the heightened interest in entrepreneurial pursuits amongst young grads. While their budding motivation is inspiring to Canadians nationwide, not every student wishes to embark on their own business endeavor. When hiring for your small business, consider recent grads. These young people are motivated and come equipped with the necessary - [Your Business's Digital Presence](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/your-business-digital-presence/) - Your business's digital presence. It's important. Whether or not you're actively engaging in your business's social media, you care about your online presence. It would be ludicrous to ignore the rants and raves that are happening in real time as they relate to your business and your branding. Staying consistent with your social media - [Investing in Growth](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/investing-in-growth/) - Earlier, we discussed our consultative approach in the merchant cash advance industry and gave an example of a situation where a merchant cash advance may not be the right fit as a financing solution for a business. This leads us into the logical follow-up question, "What is the best circumstance for a merchant cash - [Small Business Economy](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-economy/) - November 6, 2013 Thank goodness that small business owners are thick-skinned and resilient. In the last few years, Canadian business economy has seen a bevy of hospitality towards small businesses and their persevering owners. In order to be as prepared as possible for the future, we've compiled some suggestions. 1. Keep your employees up to - [The Merchant Advisor: Creating Canadian Connections](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advisor-creating-canadian-connections/) - Greetings from the team at Merchant Advance Capital! Among the many merchants we work with - in all different industries, of many shapes and sizes - one of the things that gives us great confidence in our assessment of the stability and health of a business is an appraisal of their identity on the web. - [Payment Processing Squares the Circle: Expanding the Horizons of Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/squaring-circle-alternative-payment-processing-expanding-horizons-small-business/) - Merchants in the United States have become increasingly acquainted with a new-look point of sale system - rather than a terminal with PIN pad, more and more retailers’ front desks are sporting iPads connected to the minimalist hardware and companion app of the system called Square. Canadian businesses, too, are gaining increasing access to - [Meet Merchant Advance](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/video-marketing-comes-age-small-businesses/) - Sometimes, an idea will move through its environment less like a ripple in a pond, and more like a leak finding its way through the cracks and crannies of a wall until it can burst out with great force. Concepts that start off as "niche" and hard to grasp can grow to take over - [Personal and Business Credit Scores](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/personal-business-credit-scores/) - Your credit score is an important part of your quantifiable identity as a businessperson. As far as the numerical factors that influence most lenders' decisions as to whether or not they may provide funding for a given business, both the personal credit score and the business credit score associated with a given small business are - [Tell a Compelling Small Business Story](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-story/) - From the Dog-Eared File of Interesting if Somewhat Useless Facts About Your Blogger: Entry #341. My favourite film of all time is likely The Royal Tenenbaums. It would take far to long to explain exactly why this is the case, and this isn't a film studies blog. But the gist of it is that this film, - [The Merchant Advisor: September Edition - Small Business Investment](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-merchant-advisor-small-business-investment/) - Welcome to another edition of the Merchant Advisor - Merchant Advance Capital's monthly newsletter! As is customary, the Blog edition of the Merchant Advisor brings you the longer form version with lots more space at hand to discuss issues and ideas relevant to inquiring small business minds. Without further ado: read on for some encouraging news on Canadian - [Online Business Lending: Data-Driven Approaches](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/online-business-lending-data-driven-approaches/) - As an organization, Merchant Advance Capital is proud to offer small businesses the chance to obtain funding that traditional bank lending may not be able to provide. We have spoken at length on this blog about what makes our methods different from those employed by providers of traditional loans, primarily: Rapid Funding through Online Application Flexibility of - [What Can I Use A Merchant Advance For?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-video-series-can-use-merchant-advance/) - Today, we are proud to debut the first video in our ongoing video series featuring Merchant Advance CEO David Gens! We listened carefully to a variety of important questions that customers across Canada asked about our business model, our products and the many ways we can best help small businesses of all kinds succeed with accessible business funding. - [PRPPs: A Primer for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/prpp-primer/) - Canadian small business owners are the focus of new legislation that could change the way many people plan and save for their retirement. A recent survey by CFIB recognizes that most small business owners will likely work long past the age at which their counterparts in the public service will retire. Only eight per cent - [What Is A Merchant Advance?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-video-series-3/) - The next entry in our Merchant Advance Video series is now ready to view! This week, Merchant Advance Capital CEO David Gens takes a look at the fundamental properties of merchant advances. How is this type of funding properly defined? What makes it different from a standard business loan? What makes a merchant advance a - [Writing for Business: Voice, Tone and Text](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/writing-business-voice-tone-text/) - Think about all the places your business lives, in real space and online. Your storefront, your website, social media, advertisements, flyers, FAQs, marketing campaigns, emails both internal and external: in all of these places, people have a chance to be influenced by the distinct voice and tone that makes you who you are. The language we - [Does My Business Qualify For A Merchant Advance?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-video-series-4-qualifications/) - The newest entry in our video blog series is now available! This week, Merchant Advance Capital CEO David Gens explores some of the key questions surrounding the qualifications that small businesses need in order to apply for a merchant advance or business loan. In short: they're very simple! We ask for just a few key - [Small Business Philanthropy: Doing Good, Staying Profitable](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-philanthropy-good-staying-profitable/) - While it's common to hear that small business owners get the chance to work at what they really love to do, it's also true that every business has a bottom line. Owners and employees work tirelessly to make the best out of their small business that they can, often with significant risk. As such, any small - [Randy Carlyle: A Business Parable](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/randy-carlyle-business-parable/) - Rest assured, your humble blogger has always been planted firmly on the West Coast side of one of the most divisive cultural arguments in Canada: simply put, will your preference be the Vancouver Canucks, or Toronto Maple Leafs? I lived in Toronto for quite some time. I have many Torontonian friends, all of whom delight in - [Guest Post: David Gens on "Stacking" Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/guest-post-david-gens-stacking-financing/) - Today's blog brings you a perspective on the lending world from none other than Merchant Advance Capital's President and CEO, David Gens. We have received numerous questions about "stacking" or obtaining financing from different sources simultaneously, and whether this is a good idea for your small business. Read on for David's insights on this pertinent - [Click and Brick: A NYT Reblog](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/click-brick-nyt-reblog/) - You may recall our recent blog on the incredible versatility afforded to modern small businesses by a blend of brick-and-mortar accessibility and e-commerce-driven ease of use. Today on the Merchant Advance Blog, it seems relevant to highlight a recent post made over at the venerable New York Times Small Business column by contributor Darren Dahl - [Mobile Apps: App-licable to Small Businesses?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/mobile-apps-app-licable-to-small-businesses/) - It's an interesting thing to consider that practically everyone carries around a multifaceted digital ecosystem in their pocket these days. Saying that "there's an app for that" has almost become a mobile-world cliché, with user-experience-optimized platforms launching daily to connect consumers with brands, products and services. Some of these apps are useful for gaining feedback, - [Small Business Loans and Loyalty](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-loans-and-loyalty/) - As a business owner looking for a small business loans solution, you may have heard a similar refrain from many traditional lenders: your application is simply too risky for them. You can't prove sufficient stability for these institutions to take you seriously as an applicant. And so forth. Merchant Advance Capital was founded to address - [Five Archetypes for Team Composition](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/five-archetypes-for-team-composition/) - The Avengers. The A-Team. The Italian Job. The X-Men. Heck, even the Breakfast Club. In popular culture, teams of characters band together to achieve incredible goals and play off of each others' strengths. Sometimes they come into conflict, but in the end their diverse abilities and personalities make them stronger for having joined up with - [October is Small Business Month!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/october-is-small-business-month/) - Did you know that October is Small Business Month in Canada? Well, it is - and it’s time to make the best of it! In Merchant Advance’s home province of BC alone, 98% of firms are classified as small businesses - those with under 50 employees. With such overwhelming statistical importance, it is fitting that - [Recession-Proof Industry: A Viable Pet Project?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/recession-proof-industry-a-viable-pet-project/) - Time and time again at the Merchant blog, we've pressed the idea that accounting for seasonality should be one of the most important elements in any small business' financial plan. What is your business' strategy to overcome periods of low activity, whether in your industry or in the wider economy in times of slowdown or recession? If - [Small Business Scaling: Tax Incentives](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-scaling-tax-incentives/) - Small businesses and their advocates in Canada have not been exceptionally pleased with Finance Minister Bill Morneau's decision to scrap a planned 1.5% decrease in the rate of tax that SMBs would be required to pay on their income. The Canadian Federation for Independent Business in particular called the decision one of "a number of - [Maintaining Your Credit Score: Counterintuitive, but Effective](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/maintaining-credit-score-counterintuitive-effective/) - Approaches to Improving Your Credit Score Lines of credit are a significant resource for both individuals and businesses. They demand a high degree of financial responsibility: overuse of too many sources of credit can have a dramatic negative effect on your credit score. For those individuals who have reported credit scores on the lower side of - [Monday Motivation for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/monday-motivation-small-businesses/) - By the time you read this, it will be Monday morning. A new week brings a new set of challenges and experiences for any small business! Popular culture has embraced the stereotyped idea that the beginning of the week is where motivation can be at its lowest: it's wise to challenge this perception lest we fall into - [Super Bowl Ads, Small Business Advice](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/super-bowl-ads-small-business-advice/) - This past Sunday evening was not just any Sunday evening: it was the 49th edition of that most quintessential of Sporting Events, the Super Bowl. An important disclaimer: I do not follow football. However, as many people often claim in jest, I do "watch it for the ads" - a practice made easier and easier - [Small Business: Made In Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-made-canada/) - Our Home and Native Brand? Canadians can certainly be said to have a strong sense of national identity. Even when reduced to the broadest and simplest stereotypes (hockey, cold tolerance, exceptional politeness) it's possible to create a well-defined image of our nation that we often celebrate, poke fun at, or otherwise attach to culturally. There are - [Google Plus and the Importance of Digital Context](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/google-plus-and-the-importance-of-digital-context/) - Statistics show that it's highly likely that your small business is on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram these days. But do you have a Google Plus account? Fear not if the answer to that question is a "no." Google has listened to its users and taken a straight look at the facts surrounding its social media service - [Canadian Dollar, Small Business Sense](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-dollar-small-business-sense/) - The Canadian dollar has fallen to its lowest value since 2004, prompting a wave of concerned analysis from economic experts. The dollar, recently valued at 77 cents USD, remains highly vulnerable to oil price movements - impacting the confidence level of both Canadian consumers and the small businesses they frequent. The weak dollar is, of - [Small Business Holiday Preparations](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-holiday-preparations/) - I will admit that it seems a little bit cruel to be bringing up this subject mere days after most Canadians have settled into their couches to recover from Thanksgiving, but for small businesses of all kinds it paramount to look ahead at the winter season to come. That's right. Christmas and New Year holidays - [Six Creative Small Business Marketing Ideas](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/six-creative-small-business-marketing-ideas/) - With the Merchant Advance Rainy Day Giveaway in full swing (with only six days remaining to enter!) you may be wondering: what would I do with $15k worth of creative services from Skyrocket, Yulu and Bowery Creative? The possibilities are practically endless! Small business marketing often rewards bold, captivating and dynamic campaigns with one eye fixed on - [Small Business vs. Entrepreneur?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-vs-entrepreneur/) - When you tell people what it is you do for a living, what do you say to them? Some people may call themselves small business owners, their own bosses, sole proprietors or entrepreneurs. The range of descriptions is almost as wide as the number of businesses you may come across in your everyday travels. Semantically, - [Small Business Case Study: Catfe vs. Demand](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-case-study-the-purr-fect-business-model/) - Vancouverites have been positively purring with delight at the introduction of a new small business in their local landscape: the Catfe, so named for its integration of a space for coffee and relaxation with the presence of cute and sociable felines with whom patrons can hang out. For those craving the companionship of a pet - but - [Short vs. Long Term Business Planning](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/short-vs-long-term-business-planning/) - Your intrepid blogger is feeling a bit rough this morning, having competed in his first ever fencing tournament. Yes, fencing: with the white suits and the swords... don't ask how I got myself started in it, but it's ended up being one of the more interesting athletic pursuits I've undertaken. Aside from a collection of bruises - [What is the Best Canadian City for Small Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-cities-small-business/) - Financial technology is primed to help small businesses all across the Canadian landscape: no matter where you live and work, you can find access to the financial support your business needs to thrive and become a cornerstone of your community. Despite this, some Canadian cities seem to be particular hotbeds for small business success. Whether - [E-Commerce, Alibaba, and the Chinese Marketplace](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/e-commerce-chinese-marketplace/) - The Canadian government has made headlines today for its decision to partner with the Chinese marketplace e-commerce giant, Alibaba Group. The move is a "declaration of cooperation that will strengthen efforts to promote trade between Canadian small and medium sized businesses and Chinese consumers" according to press release information obtained from Businesswire. Hundreds of millions of - [Scaling Up: From Handmade to Household](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/scaling-up-from-handmade-to-household/) - Last week, the New York Times’ Amy Heimrl published a piece on what she called the “Whole Foods Effect” - namely, the effect of the pressures felt by small businesses on the boutique side of the food production industry who need to scale up quickly when big, highly desirable distributors (such as Whole Foods) come - [Business Equipment: To Lease or to Buy?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/lease-or-buy/) - The right business equipment is the engine of your small business' success: whether it's a truck or a server, a stove or a building. Up-to-date and effective equipment will be one of the most important investments a business owner will make, and no two industries are exactly the same when it comes to the requirements - [Creating a Culture of Small Business Ergonomics](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-ergonomics/) - As any long-distance athlete can tell you, comfort is the key to success. If you're putting in a long day, the last thing you want to do is feel drained and sore by the end of it. The time you'll need to recover will inevitably bleed into the start of the next day's tasks, and - [The Role of Music In Customer Retention](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/music-small-business/) - Your small business goes through many optimizations in the pursuit of swaying a customer to come through the door and make a purchase. From the advertising strategy to the signage to the placement and arrangement of products or messaging inside a retail location, these small elements coalesce to influence a customer's psychological patterns. One of - [Temporary Hiring: Creating Meaningful Relationships](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/temporary_hiring_meaningful_relationships/) - With spring in full effect, a large cohort of students will be completing or taking a hiatus from their studies, and the majority of them will be seeking some form of employment. The spike in job searches for the summer months coincides with peak period of activity for many small business owners, creating a generally favourable - [It's No Joke: Humour and Customer Relationships](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/its-no-joke-humour-and-customer-relationships/) - It's April 1st today, and rather than pulling a fast one on you, we'd like to get serious for a second. Not everyone is born with the comedic timing of a Seinfeld or a Letterman - and yet April Fool's Day has become inundated with corporate and brand-based riffs and jokes crafted by marketing departments - [The Myth of Too Many Hats](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/too_many_hats/) - It’s an oft-repeated axiom for small business owners: you have to wear a lot of hats. Many commentators on the business world would state that it’s even a requirement or a fact of life, something that entrepreneurs need to love and master in order to survive. But does a specialization in the arts of - [What Users Want: Small Business a la Carte](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-a-la-carte/) - All across the world of services, industries are being transformed by catering specifically to what their users want. The "Uber for X" model, driven by the ubiquity of geolocation, aims to provide only the services that users need, at the minimum cost, with the maximum flexibility. The latest major Canadian industry to be shaken up - [Pomodoro Method: Keeping Small Businesses Fresh](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/running-your-small-business-from-home/) - For a small business owner, it can often feel as though there's just not enough time in the day to wear the many hats you have to wear. Juggling responsibilities can take its toll on your mental focus and energy, and it's never a good idea to put yourself in a stress-influenced position when it - [The Recurring Revenue Cycle](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/spin-me-right-round-the-recurring-revenue-cycle/) - I have some bad news: chances are, you're not a psychic. Even so - can you accurately predict your small business' cash flow for the next month? The next six months? You'd be surprised - even with good sales forecasting and inventory management, many small business models essentially go from sale to sale, vulnerable to - [Why "If You Build It, They Will Come" Doesn't Work](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/why-if-you-build-it-they-will-come-doesnt-work/) - While the film Field of Dreams made the phrase "if you build it, they will come" inspirational for its characters and widely popular in colloquial use, it is altogether misguided to follow Kevin Costner's revelation in the world of small business. Let's translate that phrase into the language of small business: having big ideas and executing on - [Small Business Goes Pop - A Guide to Pop-Up Shop Success](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-goes-pop-guide-pop-shops/) - Putting a store in your store so you can shop while you shop isn't just a zany Xzibit reference - it's one of the most popular ways that small businesses and entrepreneurs are creating new opportunities in the physical retail space and taking advantage of the unique opportunities for collaboration in their markets. For a - [Focus on Rural Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/focus-on-rural-small-business/) - Though the urban landscape is often the one in which small businesses seek to establish themselves and to thrive in close proximity to their customers, it's important not to forget about the business owners and entrepreneurs making waves in Canada's rural communities. Operating a rural small business comes with an unique set of benefits, assets, challenges - [Customer Acquisition Costs for Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/good-customer-bad-customer-acquisition-costs-and-small-business/) - There's a saying: "make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other gold." Chintzy, right? If you're a small business owner, however, there's an enormous grain of truth in this statement. Consider this: your business invests in marketing and outreach in order to bring a steady flow of customers through the door, - [Scaling Up Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/scaling-up-your-small-business/) - Part of what makes small businesses unique is their ability to manage so many of the aspects of their mandate in-house, with creative and directional control in the hands of the owners. Despite this, the dream of operating in a bigger league, expanding to serve or reach an ever-greater audience, is high on the list - [Changes to Small Business Taxation](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/changes-to-small-business-tax-polict/) - With a new Canadian federal government comes the implementation of new policies - social, international, and most importantly fiscal. Among the most talked-about changes for the everyday financial consumer was Monday's announcement that the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) annual contribution limit would be reduced to $5,500, corresponding with a tax break on income earned between - [Analyzing Small Business Growth Among Canadian Veterans](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/analyzing-small-business-growth-among-canadian-veterans/) - As Canadians take time today to recognize the contributions of our military service members past and present, many small businesses are faced with a decision: open for business as usual, or close their doors in respect for the occasion and all that it symbolizes? There are certainly reasons to advocate for both courses of action: - [Taking Advantage of Small Business Tax Credits](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/taking-advantage-of-small-business-tax-credits/) - In a small business landscape where cash flow is king, seeking out alternative sources from which to supplement your business' access to this resource is generally worth the time and effort. Tax credits with cash refunds are some of the incentives which small business owners would be wise to investigate. They vary from province to province, but - [New Data Shows Growth in Small Business Loan Activity](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/new-data-shows-growth-in-small-business-loan-activity/) - Canadian small business data provider and risk management institution, PayNet, has released new data showing improvement in commercial borrowing at the end of the second fiscal quarter. The Canadian Business Lending Index offers 19 distinct indices measuring lending activity of small and medium businesses in Canada: it rose to 135.8 in June from 134.0 in May. - [Organization Helps Small Business Loan Success](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/organization-helps-small-business-loan-success/) - I recently read an article, written by a fairly large SMB issues blogger, aimed at helping businesses understand the reasons that their small business loan applications may have been rejected by one provider or bank or another. Most of these were fairly standard concerns about credit score or proof of business history. However, this blog - [A Small Business Primer on the Canadian Federal Election](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/a-small-business-primer-on-the-canadian-federal-election/) - Though we don't strive to be overly political or partisan here at the Merchant Advance blog, we would be remiss not to comment on the (seemingly interminable) run toward the next Canadian federal election, to be held in mid-October. In a landscape of changing economic conditions both domestically and internationally, Canadian small businesses and their owners are a - [Cloud Computing a Boon for Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/cloud-computing-a-boon-for-small-business/) - "The cloud" has been enshrined as one of the most important concepts of computing in the last decade - a model for enabling ubiquitous network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. This structure allows partners with limited ability to invest in the construction of full data centres and extensive network systems to access the - [Small Businesses and Intellectual Property Protection](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-businesses-and-intellectual-property-protection/) - The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) defines intellectual property (IP) as creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce. In other words, the identifying elements that clients and customers associate with your business and use to help drive sales and success. These elements - be - [Preparing For Small Business Week 2015](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/preparing-for-small-business-week-2015/) - It may be something of a business faux-pas to be overly enthusiastic about a far-off event too early in the season (see: Christmas, Halloween, etc.) but there's one upcoming time of year that will definitely be beneficial to plan for in advance: Small Business Week 2015, taking place between October 18th and 24th this year. - [Food Trucks and Fads: Small Business Stability](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/food-trucks-and-fads-small-business-stability/) - A study just released by Vancity Bank has provided insight into one of the fastest-growing and buzzworthy business trends of recent years: namely, the explosion of food trucks in urban centres like Vancouver and Toronto. These mobile eateries have been hailed as masters of the modern approach to self-starting and promoting a business, finding and - [Planning for a Small Business Vacation](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/planning-for-a-small-business-vacation/) - It's the height of summer and Canadians everywhere are turning their minds to opportunities for leisure. Whether you're escaping the heat or heading for even sunnier climes, the summer months are the perfect time to plan for a vacation or other personal time away from work. But many small business owners often feel like they can’t - [BoC Interest Rate Cut: Will It Affect Small Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/boc-interest-rate-cut-will-it-affect-small-business/) - In a decision whose outcome has been highly anticipated in recent weeks, the Bank of Canada announced a cut to its interest rate, lowering the rate by 25 basis points to 0.5%. The news has prompted significant discussion among Canadian economic and political experts, who are analyzing the cut in terms of a variety of - [Four Questions To Ask Before Selling Your Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/four-questions-to-ask-before-selling-your-business/) - For any small business owner, there may come a certain moment of realization: it's time to move on and move forward. Whether that means transferring control of your business to the next generation of your family, getting out of the market outright by selling your business to someone more interested in running it, or attempting - [Legal Disputes Challenge Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/legal-disputes-challenge-small-businesses/) - Conflicts and disputes are best avoided in any interpersonal context, but in the small business space they do occasionally crop up. Settling bills, coming to the right terms with suppliers, dealing with damages, or even addressing customer complaints: these issues, if unresolved, may end up becoming legal matters that need to be dealt with an - [Small Business Events: Capture and Captivate Your Audience](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-events-capture-and-captivate-your-audience/) - Though we live in an age in which our connective tissue is digital, and it's possible to Tweetup, chat, Q-and-A, Google Hangout and otherwise interact 140 characters at a stretch without truly interacting, there is something very meaningful to be said about the process of gathering people together under a common interest. Small businesses in - [Small Business Growth Strategies](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-growth-strategies/) - Small businesses needn't adhere too closely to the size descriptor that loosely defines them. Any business with a defined customer base or a successful product will eventually feel the need to reach out and expand! This process can be complex, but rewarding - and there are many different directions in which a small business can - [Small Business: "How To" vs. "What"](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-how-to-vs-what/) - Have you ever needed a quick, concise instruction that helped you perform some sort of specific task - changing a bike tire, fixing a lost internet connection, or tying a clove hitch? According to recently released Google data, it’s increasingly likely that in order to solve everyday problems like these, you’ll reach for a mobile - [Farmers' Markets: Small Business Strengths](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/farmers-markets-small-business-strengths/) - As I write this, I can see beautiful rays of sun shine down on Merchant Advance HQ in Vancouver. (At last!) Along with the proliferation of people going out for runs and abandoning their jackets, there's one other sure sign of the turning seasons: farmers' markets - much like the one I walked through just - [May The Fourth Be With Your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/may-the-fourth-be-with-your-small-business/) - Today is a special day for huge nerds such as your blogger: May the fourth! Because of a delicious homophonic similarity to the iconic utterance "may the Force be with you", fans of Star Wars the world over have made May 4 an unofficial celebration of the films and the wide fictional universe that has sprung up around - [Canada's 2015 Budget Offers Small Business Incentives](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadas-2015-budget-offers-small-business-incentives/) - The recently announced 2015 budget plan includes some promising clauses that will help small businesses in Canada and likely help pave the way for a new generation of entrepreneurial development. Ottawa will gradually reduce the small business tax rate to nine per cent from 11 per cent, beginning in 2016. This is the most significant such - [Financial Services and the "Unbanked"](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/financial-services-and-the-unbanked/) - We all had ways of managing our money before we signed up for a bank account. A ceramic pig or a stash in a shoebox under a bed somewhere... As the world adapts to evolving payment technologies that are removing cash from the transactional process, a new report by the World Bank examined the phenomenon - [Govt. of Canada Announces New Credit Card Regulations](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/govt-of-canada-announces-new-credit-card-regulations/) - Some readers of the blog may recall our post detailing changes to the fee structure for credit cards in Canada, designed to make processing of payments more affordable and give incentives to consumers. As of yesterday, Finance Minister Joe Oliver announced a new set of credit card regulations that address merchant- and consumer-side concerns about - [Finding Talent: Canadian Small Business' Biggest Challenge?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/finding-talent-canadian-small-business-biggest-challenge/) - If Canadian small business owners were to be surveyed right now and asked what they thought was the biggest challenge they faced in 2015, the answer might surprise you. What do you think it could be? Access to capital is certainly high on the list. Finding new customers and growing retention, also of significant importance. - [Expenses: A List for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/expenses-list-small-businesses/) - As our most recent Merchant Advisor highlighted, it's getting near to tax time for individuals and businesses across Canada. The CRA has published an exhaustive list of the various types of business expenses that you can potentially claim for deductions for this fiscal year - the link to their first-party information is below, and each item is - [Pay What You Want: A Model For Small Businesses?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/pay-want-model-small-businesses/) - In October of 2007, the British rock band Radiohead made headlines with the release of their album In Rainbows. It was a stellar collection of music, but its promotional strategy garnered an even more staggering amount of attention: rather than pricing the record at a standard rate and shipping it to retailers, the band offered it up online - [Leonard Nimoy, "Spocking" and Other Monetary Canadiana](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/leonard-nimoy-spocking-monetary-canadiana/) - Sometimes there's an online article that is just so compelling that we at the Merchant Advance blog simply want to share it with you, our readers, in the hope that it gets the recognition it deserves. This is one of those moments. Unfortunately, this post was inspired by the tragic loss of one of our generation's pop-cultural - [Small Business Barometer: January](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-barometer-january/) - The CFIB Small Business Barometer outlook survey has been released for January of 2015 - a consistently informative look at some of the most important trends and concerns for business owners across Canada, it charts "optimism" among businesses as well as a slate of other key metrics commenting on business health and growth. The index - [How Much Funding Can I Get Through A Merchant Advance?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-video-series-6/) - The latest entry in our popular Merchant Advance Video blog series (featuring founder and CEO David Gens) is now available for viewing! We researched the questions about our business model, products, practices and other key facts that you wanted to hear answers to, and have released a total of six videos (all viewable at our - [Valentine's Day: Small Business is for Lovers!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/valentines-day-small-business-lovers/) - Tomorrow is Valentine's Day - perhaps you have some romantic plans? Flowers? Mood music (the blog heartily recommends the sultry tones of Jessy Lanza!) and a carefully prepared meal? Going to go see the stars of Fifty Shades of Grey heat up the movie screen? Or is a quiet night at home more your speed? Whatever your plans - [Yelp Buys GrubHub - Changing Models for Restaurant Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/yelp-buys-grubhub-changing-models-restaurant-businesses/) - One of the most admirable small business ventures - and I do mean small - that this blogger has ever seen was Toronto's very own Burrito Bike. If you lived downtown, you could call them up or Tweet out your location, and on any given Friday evening... delicious vegetarian burritos would trek through rain, sleet - [Family Day, Family Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/family-day-family-business/) - Monday is Family Day here in Merchant Advance Capital's home province, and so we at the blog thought it would be an interesting occasion to reflect on some issues relevant to family-owned and run businesses across Canada. If you're taking the day to relax and be with whoever's closest to you - enjoy! If not, - [Small Businesses Suprise in Edelman Trust Survey](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-businesses-suprise-edelman-trust-survey/) - Surveys are wonderful tools. They can tell us a great deal about the world we live in and the way our businesses are viewed by the people we hope to connect with. There are many great metrics that can form the subject of an informative survey: satisfaction, customer experience, efficacy of design... but what about - [Four Small Business Optimization Tactics From the Web](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small_business_optimization/) - Everyone is talking about SEO - search engine optimization. When it comes to getting your small business noticed online, the practice of identifying and refining the path that your customers take to get to you and engage with you to generate sales, leads or engagement. So what about small business optimization in the real world? - [What Business Types Are Suited To Merchant Advances?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-advance-video-series-5-business-types/) - Welcome to the newest edition of the Merchant Advance Video Blog series, returning for the new year! In case you missed them, the Video Blogs let none other than Merchant Advance Capital President and CEO David Gens answer some of the most pressing questions about the alternative lending space, as chosen by readers and small - [Small Business, Big Screen: Top Five Small Businesses on Film](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-big-screen-top-five-small-businesses-film/) - Lights, Camera... This time of year, in his spare evenings away from the keyboard, your blogger finds himself combing through Netflix for old favourites and new discoveries. Movies are a constant part of many of our lives, and the characters that inhabit them almost always need to be tethered to the world by some sort - [Price Gap Legislation Announced](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/price-gap-legislation-announced/) - Canadian Government Aims for Price Parity with United States As a small business owner, you may have had to face competition from American businesses offering more attractive pricing on similar products. You may also wonder why supplies of certain goods of value to your business are more expensive to purchase in Canada than in the - [Reblog: Business Barometer for November](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/reblog-business-barometer/) - Business Confidence: A November to Remember? The fine folks at CFIB (the Canadian Federation of Independent Business) have released their "business barometer" readings for small businesses across Canada for the month of November. These statistics are used to get a sense of the confidence of small business owners from province to province. On a scale - [Holiday Preparedness for Small Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/holiday-preparedness-small-businesses/) - The end of the year can be a make-or-break time for many businesses. Retailers, restauranteurs, events specialists, and other industry sectors may experience heightened demand during December and the approach to the Christmas and New Year holidays. Is your business gearing up for a holiday rush? Read on for some advice that will help you - [Did Snapcash Just Try To Break the Payment Internet?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/snapcash-just-try-break-payment-internet/) - Snapchat: an app for mobile-happy teens, right? An app for maybe sending private pictures to your significant other, or someone who you think ought to be? As of yesterday: not anymore. Hit Send, Collect 200 Dollars The hip, low-impact image-based messaging service made headlines when Facebook courted it with the alluring offer of $4 billion (which its - [Moving Day! Tips for Moving a Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/moving-day-tips-moving-business/) - It's that most unique of days for your humble blogger: moving day has dawned. Prepare to lift with your legs, not your back. In light of this, the blog considers some key advice when moving a business to a new location! Read on to discover our advice, and don't be overwhelmed: eventually, the last box - [Millenial Entrepreneurs and the New Wave of Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/millennial-entrepreneurs-new-wave/) - Say what you will about the term "millennial" and who it might describe (including this very blogger), but one thing is true: Small business development all across Canada is being bolstered by contributions from energetic young minds. Millennial entrepreneurs are combining education, diverse interests, risk-taking and passion, leading the creation of a new wave of - [New Credit Card Fees Mean Reprieve for Canadian Small Businesses, Consumers](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/new-credit-card-fees-mean-reprieve-canadian-small-businesses-consumers/) - Credit card processing is a very important part of the business model common to just about every Merchant Advance client. Yesterday, Canadian Finance Minister the Hon. Joe Oliver announced that two of the world's largest credit card providers have made important reductions to their interchange or "swiping" fees that could benefit both small businesses and their - [This Halloween, Small Business Gets in the Ghoulish Spirit](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/halloween-small-business/) - Halloween approaches in just a few days. The ghouls, ghosts and zombified pop culture figures of the world will once again be readying themselves to stalk the streets in search of entertainment and as much free candy as they can stuff in their pillowcases. Faced with an oncoming horde of such magnitude, small business owners - [From Around The Web: Banking Advice for Expanding Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/around-web-banking-advice-expanding-businesses/) - In our search for interesting and informative content benefiting the diverse community of small business owners, there are occasionally pieces of advice or intriguing stories out there that we can't help but want to share. Just one such story comes from Bloomberg Businessweek's Karen Klein, who has written a guide to banking advice - specifically, for - [Gremlins: Building Business Confidence](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/gremlins-business-confidence/) - What's a Gremlin? Aside from being the name of a truly unfortunate car designed by AMC in the 1970s and a dark, weird '80s movie about little critters that you shouldn't feed after midnight, the word is generally used to describe annoyances, small mechanical problems, and nagging issues that gnaw away at you over time. - [Small Business Week Canada is Here](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/small-business-week-canada/) - In one of our recent blogs, Merchant Advance Capital highlighted "Small Business Month" here in our home province. We felt somewhat chagrined at having to overlook our many clients and followers across the rest of the country, but the opportunity has come up to make note of a similar, nationwide event taking place from October - ["Showrooming" and your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/showrooming-small-business/) - Online shopping has transformed the purchasing habits of an entire generation of consumers. For brick-and-mortar retail businesses, even those with e-commerce systems offering web sales in parallel with their physical storefronts, the proliferation of mobile devices and easily accessible web shopping platforms has created a significant challenge. Perhaps you have encountered it: an interested customer - [Should You Incorporate Your Business?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/incorporate-your-business/) - The form of a business is not set in stone on the day it is created. In name, in logo, in management, place or even in goals, many aspects of any small business may change over time to reflect the needs and desires of its owners and customers. One of the most important changes a - [Advice for Seasonal Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/season-seasonal-businesses/) - Ah, the early days of fall. Hockey season returns, Thanksgiving is just around the corner, the Halloween costumes are on display in stores, and thoughts of Christmas are even entering into some people's to-do list. It seems like the latter part of each year plays host to a string of holiday-type events and subsequent special purchases - [Good News in New RBC Small Business Report](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/rbc-small-business-report/) - Owners of small businesses, and their estimated eight million employees across the country, will welcome the news shared by one of Canada's largest banks this month. In a report titled "Current Analysis: Q+A on the State of SMEs in Canada" (click the link to view the full report), the Royal Bank of Canada has taken a close look at small- and - [October is Small Business Month in BC](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/october-small-business-month-bc/) - Today's blog information comes from the awesome organization called Small Business BC. It's October first: while for some that may mean the turning of the leaves and the appearance of pumpkins at the grocery store, it is also great reason for small business owners to celebrate. Last night at the iconic Science World (Telus World - [Funding as an Element of Small Business Goal Setting](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/funding-element-small-business-goal-setting/) - There's nothing quite like having a goal set out in front of you when it comes to motivation. If a goal is well-designed so as to be visible, achievable but not unchallenging, and with an endpoint that is truly rewarding, it can help drive you to make strides you would have never thought possible. Case - [Taste, Timing and Tact: Small Businesses and Real-Time Marketing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/taste-timing-tact-small-businesses-real-time-marketing/) - With Great Power... Some would say that the modern small business is blessed with access to a wealth of information: news and data, headlines and trends, updating faster than you can refresh your news feed, 24/7. Savvy businesses can take advantage of this rushing stream of news and feedback, using it to tailor their delivery of - [Small Business Disaster Preparedness](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/panic-button-small-business-disaster-preparedness/) - For many, there is no fear greater than losing one's hard-earned property, home, or livelihood to some form of disaster, be it natural or manmade. And yet, these types of events do happen - and can happen to anyone. Recently, strong earthquakes in California left many of the region's independent wine producers faced with heavy damage to - [Reblog: The Globe And Mail on Payroll](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/reblog-globe-mail-payroll/) - Sometimes, there's content out there that deserves to be shared for its informative, interesting and topical nature. The Globe and Mail Report on Business has gifted us with just such an article this week: one that tackles an important subject for any small business owner to be aware of and master in the management - [Pragmatism and the Small Business Loan](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/pragmatism-and-the-small-business-loan/) - At Merchant Advance Capital, we know that life as a small business owner can move quickly. Each day can bring with it new decisions that may impact the short- or long-term operation of your business. We understand the need for careful consideration when it comes to planning your finances and deciding what kind of lending - [My Music At Work](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/music_at_work/) - An office workplace can reveal itself to be full of sounds - printers churning away, co-workers typing at their terminals, the hum of refrigerators, or the idle chatter of the lunchtime water cooler crowd. The presence of personal music in the workplace is also becoming more largely felt and understood. More and more people are showing - [Road Trip! Thoughts on Workplace Culture](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/road-trip-thoughts-workplace-culture/) - This post will be somewhat different than the usual - the Merchant Advance Capital team as a whole is taking the upcoming weekend to escape the stultifying heat of the British Columbian summer of 2014, and we thought it might be appropriate to leave you with some weekend thoughts on the idea of doing just - [Product & Customer-Centric Business Models](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/product_customer-centric_models/) - Convention dictates that almost any business can be said to adopt one of two major schools of thought when it comes down to its operational focus: namely, is it customer-centric or product-centric? Thinking about your small business in one way or the other may influence (or reflect) your choices as they relate to goal-setting, internal - [Wheeling and Dealing : The Tour de France as a High-Stakes Business Contest](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/wheeling-dealing-tour-de-france-high-stakes-business-contest/) - With all due respect to soccer and tennis fans around the world, the world’s greatest sporting challenge starts this weekend. It’s in France. It involves people on bikes. In truth, your friendly neighbourhood blogger is somewhat crazy for cycling, and above all the Tour de France. As Merchant Advance Capital has discovered, the Tour - [Candy Crush and the IAP IPO - Billion Dollar Cheat Codes](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/candy-crush-iap-ipo-billion-dollar-cheat-codes/) - As widely reported in the world of tech and business journalism, Swedish software developer King, famous for its colourful iOS game Candy Crush, is preparing its IPO plans as I write these very words. And what, you ask, does a tiny company that makes a dentist’s-nightmare version of Bejeweled - a simple gem-matching puzzle - [What's In a Name? - Linguistic Oddities and Business Identity (via Slate.com)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/whats-name-linguistic-oddities-business-identity-via-slate-com/) - The blog team is feeling compelled to share today - as well as being writers through and through who appreciate the work of our peers in the online journalistic space, we are fans of interesting language, visual and popular culture, iconography, communications and unique approaches to the design of business and marketing strategies. As - [What Trappist Monks can teach us about business.](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/trappist-monks-can-teach-us-business/) - Given that the majority of people in this world have to work for a large part of their life, it is interesting to think that most people try and separate their work lives from their personal lives. This is understandable as anyone who has worked a day in their life knows how great it feels - [Where are my Employees?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/missing-employees/) - The Winter months can be a difficult time for small business owners. Full workplaces are uncommon since employees are on holiday vacations, sick from flus or colds, or unable to travel to work due to weather conditions. Productivity may decline if fundamental staff are not in the office. Nonetheless, there are methods of ensuring that - [3 Tips on How to Keep Warm for Winter](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tips-keep-warm-winter-season/) - We, at Merchant Advance Capital, all agree that the normal "Raincouver" weather has transitioned to snow, slush, and colder temperatures. Keeping warm is essential, especially for those who use transit or need to walk their dogs during the winter. The following are 3 tips on conserving warmth during the winter: • Check the Weather - [Asking for Help](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/how-to-ask-for-help/) - The other day the team here at the office were discussing an article that we had come across. The article asked 12 well known entrepreneurs to share the best advice they had ever received. One particular entrepreneur, Chip Wilson, founder of popular athletic company Lululemon, shared that the most influential advice he had ever - [Growing your Small Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/growing-your-small-business/) - Initial frustration with the rate of your small business's growth is one of the biggest aggravates for today's owner. Falling victim to your own success can be one of the greatest downfalls for storefront managers who haven't properly allocated the time or the resources to deal with a constant onslaught of customers. The 'burn - [The Importance Of A Sound Business Plan](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-importance-of-a-sound-business-plan/) - How do you go about creating an action plan for your new business? Start by defining your vision, your mission, and your purpose. An action plan can help you outline the specific steps necessary to carry out the strategies you have identified in your business plan. It can help you achieve your goals and - [Hiring for Small Business: Your Dream Team](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/hiring-for-small-business/) - Building a small business team is never as easy as it sounds. When you first got started, you probably thought a lot about your customers and their needs — and how you could help them. You may have just assumed that you could easily find others who care as much as you do. That - [Investing In Your Employees Without Spending A Dime](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/investing-in-your-employees-without-spending-a-dime/) - When most business owners think of employee development, thoughts of computer upgrades or pricey training programs enter their heads. But if you invest a little time in a meaningful way on a regular basis with each employee, you and your business will receive a great return on your investment. To incorporate this technique into - [Restaurant Success Tips](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/restaurant-success-tips/) - Every day, people around the world are romanced by the dream of opening their own restaurant. The story goes something like this: “We’ll open our own restaurant, cook the food that we like, hang out with our friends, franchise it and make lots of money.” The reality is that it takes a great deal of - [Calgary Flooding: A State of Emergency](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/calgary-flooding-a-state-of-emergency/) - The last few days have been crazy. More and more stories have been trickling in about the raging water, which is doing anything but trickling through the downtown streets of the major Canadian city. Heavy flooding has taken over Calgary's downtown and is feared to get even worse before it gets better. Locals are - [The importance of TEAM MEETINGS](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-importance-of-team-meetings/) - Regardless if you're a two person start-up or an international corporation, it's important that you and your colleagues/employees are on the same page. It can be difficult to stay on top of workload throughout the week, and enforcing regularly scheduled meetings will do wonders for your business's efficiency. Remember, less is more. Often teams - [Canadian Retail Sector Growing Steadily](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-retail-sector/) - Today, retailers spend an excessive amount of time and money collecting, analyzing and trying to utilize customer data by turning it into information and knowledge that is actionable. Loyalty programs have allowed retailers to collect and analyze vast quantities of data on purchases by individuals. E-retailing has added to the avalanche of data. While - [Summer Energy Conservation Tips for Businesses](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/getting-ready-for/) - It's summertime- and the livin's easy. Most small businesses enjoy a healthy spike in sales during the warm and relaxed months of fun and sun. With increased monthly sales, it can be easy to overlook expenses associated with the summer months. These usually include costs necessary to ensure customer comfortable during their interactions with - [Small Business in the Maritimes](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/maritime-small-business/) - We have to admit, at Merchant Advance Capital we love our West-coast office in vivacious Vancouver, but the call of the great Atlantic is hard to ignore. We're travelers at heart, and with a diversity of geographical backgrounds, many of our team members are native to Canada's East Coast and are proud to call - [Ontario Business Loan Candidates - Major Economic Players](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/ontario-business-loan/) - Ontario. As Canadians, we've come to respect the province that is not only home to our Capital City, but also to some of the largest and most prosperous Canadian businesses, large and small. Toronto is widely recognized as a Mecca for international business affairs as the city offers an appealing landscape for all sorts - [The Alberta Small Business BOOM](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/alberta-small-business-boom/) - The spring and summer is a notoriously busy season for renewals in the Merchant Advance industry. We fund many businesses who thrive off a quick boost in May-June to provide additional capital for inventory purchases. We've seen our fair share of seasonal businesses, such as florists or merchants who capitalize on increased tourism in - [Liberal win in British Columbia](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/liberal-win-in-british-columbia/) - Christy Clark told anyone who would listen that she expected a Liberal win in British Columbia: few believed her. The B.C. premier made believers out of everyone Tuesday night with an election victory that was shocking in its scope. The BC Liberals overcame a polling deficit as high as 20 points before the start of - [Entrepreneurial Inspiration](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/entrepreneurial-inspiration/) - We love this story! Entrepreneur Magazine met up with busy mom-of-two Kris Wittenberg, the genius behind the good-guy morality of "Be Good to People" apparel. The clothing, which boasts simple statements of virtue- has caught on in a major way. People from all over the country are eager to don the mantra, and Wittenberg - [Canadian Worker Profits Up!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/canadian-worker-profits/) - Well this is good news. A new report by StatsCan claims that Canadians are earning more this year than last. And while findings of this nature can hardly be considered negative, unfortunately the new stats don't encompass everyone. Earnings of people working in the accommodation and food services sector have dropped, but virtually every other - [Think Long-Term](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/think-long-term/) - We recently came across a Bloomberg article entitled "Best Stocks Liked Least by Analysts Who Missed U.S. Rebound" and it captured the essence of our investment philosophy. The article concludes that the stocks that Wall Street analysts liked least were the ones that did best in this recent economic rebound. Those are the same stocks - [The Summer Season is Upon Us!](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/the-summer-season-is-upon-us/) - Vancouverites finally got a taste of summer weather this weekend and I am personally dealing with a bit of a sunburn! People were out at the beach this weekend and the weather brought some fresh sales activity to the restaurants and retailers in high pedestrian traffic areas of the city. It's amazing just how weather ## Pages - [Home](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/) - We are Canada’s fastest and most friendly alternative financier. Our innovative approach blends thoughtful customer care, complete transparency, and the latest technology. - [Referral](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/referral/) - Where is your business located? Funds in as little as 24 hours Applying does not affect credit score Fast quotes with no obligations Small business funding minimum requirements Merchant Growth has partnered with Biz2Credit to better support the financing needs of U.S. small businesses. This partnership expands Merchant Growth’s ability to offer fast, flexible access - [À propos](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/a-propos/) - Nous simplifions le financement des petites entreprises - [About](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/about/) - Merchant Growth was built to help small businesses by acting as an alternative financier and giving business owners flexible options outside of the big banks. - [Press](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/press/) - Merchant Growth in the News - [Careers](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/careers/) - At Merchant Growth, you can work from anywhere in Canada. Ready to take the next step in your career? Find an open role and join our team! - [Financement à terme](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/financement-a-terme/) - Avec le Financement à terme de Merchant Growth, votre petite entreprise pourrait être approuvée pour un financement allant jusqu'à $500,000 en seulement 24 heures. - [Marge de crédit](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/marge-de-credit/) - La ligne de crédit donne aux petites entreprises la liberté d'accéder au capital quand elles en ont besoin, de le rembourser quand elles le veulent et d'emprunter à nouveau. - [Home - Français](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/home-francais/) - Nous sommes la société de financement alternatif la plus rapide et la plus conviviale du Canada. - [FR Tabit](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/tabit-fr/) - Exploitez les technologies les plus récentes pour offrir le financement le plus rapide et le plus accessible au Canada, directement au point de vente. - [FAQ](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/faq/) - Answers to frequently asked questions about Merchant Growth’s services, term financing, e-commerce financing, and business line of credit. - [Blog](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/blogs/) - Consult the Merchant Growth blog for news and business advice, as well as tips, tricks, and general information from industry experts. - [Financement des petites entreprises](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/home-francais/financement-des-petites-entreprises/) - Nous offrons des options de financement rapides et pratiques pour les petites entreprises au Canada. Contactez nous pour en savoir plus! - [Avance de fonds de marchand](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/avance-de-fonds-de-marchand/) - Les petites entreprises peuvent accéder rapidement à un financement grâce à l'une de nos solutions d'avance de fonds pour commerçants. - [Merchant eGrowth fr](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/merchant-egrowth-fr/) - Atteignez de nouveaux sommets grâce aux solutions de financement du e-commerce. Merchant Growth est le financement alternatif le plus rapide au Canada - [Merchant Cash Advance Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/merchant-cash-advance-financing/) - Merchant cash advance financing helps small businesses by providing an easily accessible and convenient lump sum which a merchant then pays back over time. - [Which Small Business Financing is Right for You?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/home/small-business-financing/) - Looking for novel sources of business financing? Merchant Growth explains how small businesses in Canada can apply and receive financing easily and quickly. - [Transportation Financing Options](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/transportation-financing-options/) - With no hidden fees, collateral requirements, and activation in as little as 24 hours, choose Merchant Growth for your transportation financing needs! - [Financing for Dentists](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/financing-for-dentists/) - Use our flexible dental financing solutions to reach the goals of your dental practice today. Merchant Growth can provide quick funding to help grow your business today! - [Medical Business Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/medical-business-financing/) - Merchant Growth offers flexible medical business financing solutions to reach the business development goals of your medical practice. Contact us today! - [SaaS](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/saas/) - Offering financing solutions for SaaS providers, Merchant Growth provides SaaS businesses with convenient access to capital. Contact us to learn more. - [Manufacturing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/manufacturing/) - Through financing options for manufacturing industry companies, Merchant Growth provides manufacturers with fast access to working capital. - [Skilled Trades](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/trades/) - Merchant Growth offers flexible financing options for the skilled trades industry to help small businesses overcome daily hurdles and thrive. - [Salons and Spas](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/salons-spas/) - Merchant Growth provides quick and flexible financing to salons, spas and other small businesses in the wellness and beauty industry across Canada. - [Auto](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/auto/) - Merchant Growth provides financing solutions for the automotive sector to help small businesses thrive. Apply now, or contact us for more information. - [Restaurants](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/restaurants/) - At Merchant Growth, we offer financing solutions that help restaurant industry stakeholders overcome challenges and maintain healthy balance sheets. - [Retail](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/retail/) - Merchant Growth offers financing for small businesses in the retail industry, providing small retailers fast access to working capital. - [Cannabis](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/cannabis/) - Merchant Growth provides fast and convenient financing to SMBs in Canada’s cannabis industry. Learn how we can help your business grow! - [Ecommerce](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/ecommerce/) - Offering a variety of financing solutions for e-commerce companies, Merchant Growth provides fast access to working capital for e-commerce business needs. - [Industries](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/) - Merchant Growth provides financing to SMBs across a wide range of industries. Apply today, and we’ll offer financing options tailored to your business needs. - [Other Industries](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/industries/other-industries/) - Merchant Growth offers a variety of financing solutions across a wide variety of industries to help small businesses meet their goals. - [E-Commerce Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/home/ecommerce/) - Reach new heights with e-commerce funding solutions. Merchant Growth is Canada’s fastest alternative financier for small businesses. Apply today. - [Line of Credit](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/home/line-of-credit/) - With a Merchant Growth business line of credit, your small business could be approved for up to $125K in financing in as little as 24 hours. Apply today! - [Fixed Solution](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/home/term-financing/) - With term financing from Merchant Growth, your small business could be approved for up to $500K in financing in as little as 24 hours. Apply today! - [Politique de confidentialité](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/politique-de-confidentialite/) - Politique de confidentialité POLITIQUE DE CONFIDENTIALITÉ DE MERCHANT GROWTH Cette politique de confidentialité s’applique à www.merchantgrowth.com (le « Site ») détenu et exploité par Merchant Growth Ltd. (« Merchant Growth ») et à votre demande, accès ou réception de produits et services de Merchant Growth. Merchant Growth s’engage à maintenir la confidentialité et la sécurité - [Privacy Policy](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/privacy-policy/) - Consult this page for Merchant Growth’s privacy policy, It describes how user information is collected and used, as well as the choices available to you. - [Partner Program](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/partner-program/) - Through our Partner Program, you can partner with Merchant Growth to support your clients’ funding needs while earning commissions and bonuses. - [Tabit](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/tabit/) - Tabit is a B2B Buy Now, Pay Later solution powered by Merchant Growth. Tabit provides a win-win solution for both buyers and sellers. - [Contact](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/contact/) - Contact us today at Merchant Growth, Canada’s fastest and most friendly alternative financier.We value customer care, transparency, and the latest technology. - [Podcast](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fintrepreneur/) - Fintrepreneur Podcast Fintrepreneur is a bi-weekly podcast that highlights all things finance, fintech, entrepreneurship, and banking. Hosted by David Gens and Elias Beaino. We host monthly guests on the show, to discuss their thoughts, feelings, opinions and stories about financial technology and how their products have impacted the industry. Fintrepreneur speaks to real entrepreneurs that - [Financement Flex](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/financement-flex/) - Notre financement flexible est pratique, souple et rapide! Nous vous fournirons l'argent dont vous avez besoin, et bien plus rapidement qu'un prêt de la banque. - [E-Commerce Financing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/home/e-commerce-financing/) - MERCHANT GROWTH PRODUCT E-Commerce Financing Get funds for ad spend, inventory, social media, development, and more for your e-commerce business! Apply Now Financing amount available $5K - $500K Get funded in as fast as 24hrs Convenient Filling out the application only takes 5 minutes Flexible Merchant Growth products fit the needs of your business Fast - [Loan Comparison](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/home/loan-comparison/) - Which Small Business Financing is Best for You? Use this handy loan comparison from Merchant Growth to find your ideal financing solution. - [Case Studies](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/case-studies/) - Consult Merchant Growth’s case studies here. Discover how Merchant Growth’s financing has helped SMBs from a range of industries across Canada. - [Programme de partenariat](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/programme-de-partenariat/) - Le partenariat avec Merchant Growth est un moyen éprouvé d'aider les PME à prospérer. ## My Templates - [Footer (Fr)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=footer-fr) - Content area - [footer en](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=elementor-footer-6775) - Content area - [Steps - Get Funds Text](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=steps-get-funds-text) - Receive your funds in as fast as 6hrs. - [Header Francais](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=elementor-header-7156) - Content area - [MG header](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=mg-header) - Content area - [Featured Post Widget](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=featured-post-widget) - Business Advice Best Ecommerce Platforms: Compare Features & Pricing - [Get Started Button](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=get-started-button) - Apply Now - [Minimum Req - 10k](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=minimum-req-10k) - $ 10K - [Product Flexible Subtitle](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-flexible-subtitle) - Merchant Growth products fit the needs of your business - [Steps - Get Funds Heading](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=steps-get-funds-heading) - Get Funds - [Steps - Complete Application Text](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=steps-complete-application-text) - You can choose to give some details either through the online application or over the phone, and it will only take you 5 minutes. - [Steps - Review Application Text](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=steps-review-application-text) - Our team will reach out and work with you to determine the best solution. - [Minimum Requirements Heading](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=minimum-requirements-heading) - Small business funding minimum requirements - [Default Kit](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=default-kit) - [Minimum Req - Canada](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=minimum-req-canada) - Canada - [Minimum Req - 6 months](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=minimum-req-6-months) - 6 months - [Location](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=location) - Location - [Monthly Revenue](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=monthly-revenue) - Monthly Revenue - [Time in Business](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=time-in-business) - Time in Business - [Minimum Requirements Subheading](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=minimum-requirements-subheading) - Merchant Growth offers small business funding options with minimum eligibility requirements: - [Step 2](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=step-2) - STEP 2 - [Steps - Review Application Heading](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=steps-review-application-heading) - Review Options - [Step 3](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=step-3) - STEP 3 - [Step 1](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=step-1) - STEP 1 - [Steps - Complete Application Heading](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=steps-complete-application-heading) - Complete Application - [Get Started Heading](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=get-started-heading) - Get started today - [Get Started Subheading](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=get-started-subheading) - Complete our online application and we’ll contact you to present financing options tailored to your business needs. - [Product Flexible Title](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-flexible-title) - Flexible - [Product Fast Title](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-fast-title) - Fast - [Product Fast Subtitle](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-fast-subtitle) - Once approved, get your funds in as little as 24 hours - [Product Convenient Title](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-convenient-title) - Convenient - [Product Convenient Subtitle](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-convenient-subtitle) - Filling out the application only takes 5 minutes - [Small bus fin - fr - old](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=small-bus-fin-fr-old) - Solution flex vs solution fixe QUEL FINANCEMENT POUR LES PETITES ENTREPRISES VOUS convient le mieux? En règle générale, les solutions flex sont privilégiées par les entreprises qui ont des variations saisonnières de revenus et réalisent la plupart de leurs ventes par débit ou crédit. Les solutions fixes sont généralement privilégiées par les entreprises moins touchées - [Marge De Credit - fr-bhm](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=marge-de-credit-fr-bhm) - FINANCEMENTS MERCHANT GROWTH Marge de crédit pour PME Bénéficiez de la commodité de pouvoir accéder à des liquidités lorsque votre petite entreprise en a besoin! Appliquer maintenant Montants de financement disponibles $7.5K-$125K Obtenez un financement en aussi peu que 24h Pratique Prenez cinq minutes pour remplir une demande. Souple Les produits Merchant Growth répondent aux - [New Header](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=new-header) - Content area - [Get Started Today](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=get-started-today-2) - Get started today Complete our online application and we’ll contact you to present financing options tailored to your business needs. Apply Now - [How does it work](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=how-does-it-work-2) - How does it work? STEP 1 Complete Application You can choose to give some details either through the online application or over the phone, and it will only take you 5 minutes. STEP 2 Review Options Our team will reach out and work with you to determine the best solution. STEP 3 Get Funds Receive - [Minimum req](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=minimum-req) - Small business funding minimum requirements Merchant Growth offers small business funding options with minimum eligibility requirements: Location Canada Monthly Revenue $ 10K Time in Business 6 months - [3 col - Convenient -flexible-Fast](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=3-col-convenient-flexible-fast) - Convenient Filling out the application only takes 5 minutes Flexible Merchant Growth products fit the needs of your small business Fast Once approved, get your funds in as little as 24 hours - [What Financing Options are Available?](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=what-financing-options-are-available) - Grow yourbusiness Merchant Growth provides solutions tailored to your business needs. - [Available Options - 4(Flex,Fixed,Line, E-com)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=available-options-4flexfixedline-e-com) - Flex Financing Turn your future cash flows into immediate working capital that you can use right away. Apply Now Learn More E-Commerce Financing Build your e-commerce business with our financing tailored to your specific needs. Apply Now Learn More Line of Credit Get funds that are flexible and aligned to your businesses needs. Apply Now - [MG Boxes](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=mg-boxes) - Flex Financing Turn your future cash flows into immediate working capital that you can use right away. Apply Now Learn More E-Commerce Financing Build your e-commerce business with our financing tailored to your specific needs. Apply Now Learn More Line of Credit Get funds that are flexible and aligned to your businesses needs. Apply Now - [Elementor Single Post #7276](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=elementor-single-post-7276) - PrevPreviousMG home template NextGet Started TodayNext November 18, 2020 Elementor Single Post #7276 The outbreak of COVID-19 has undeniably changed almost everything about our daily lives, and the business of our local restaurants is no different. During the lockdown, takeout took the place of dinner dates. Ipsos’ Foodservice Monitor (FSM) has been tracking the performance - [FAQ-new-bhm](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=faq-new-bhm) - Frequently Asked Questions What is E-Commerce Financing? E-Commerce financing is one of a number of business funding options for online merchants. Unlike the private equity financing (aka venture capital) route, you don’t need to pay investors back with a stake in your company. Merchant Growth’s e-commerce funding solutions allow small businesses online to purchase inventory, - [Ecommerce-funding-new](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=ecommerce-funding-new) - E-Commerce Funding Get funds for ad spend, inventory, social media, development, and more for your e-commerce business! Apply Now Financing amount available $5K - $500K Get funded in as fast as 24hrs Convenient Filling out the application only takes 5 minutes Flexible Merchant Growth products fit the needs of your business Fast Once approved, get - [MG blogs](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=mg-blogs) - Products Term Financing Line of Credit Tabit Merchants’ Market Industries Company About Careers Partner With Us Resources Blog Case Studies Podcast Press FAQ Log In Apply Now Products Term Financing Line of Credit Tabit Merchants’ Market Industries Company About Careers Partner With Us Resources Blog Case Studies Podcast Press FAQ Log In Apply Now Log - [New Careers Page](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=new-careers-page) - Careers Merchant Growths mission is to bring business owners the most convenient and accessible financing experience. Join us Why Merchant Growth team members love working here A remote workplace with an option to work in the office Competitive salary with quarterly bonuses Comprehensive group health benefits (Life, AD&D, extended health & dental and travel insurance) - [Original Hello bar](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=original-hello-bar) - Own an e-commerce business? Click here to get financing for your e-commerce business today! Apply Now - [MG Hello Bar](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=mg-hello-bar) - Own an e-commerce business? Click here to get financing for your e-commerce business today! Apply Now - [MG Blog Posts w Load More](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=mg-blog-posts-w-load-more) - Business Advice The Best Expense Management Software for Businesses Business Advice Impact of Inflation on Canadian Small Businesses Business Advice Understanding Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) Business Advice Personal Guarantees: What Business Owners Risk Business Advice Loan Application Denied? Here’s What to Do Business Advice Can Canada Survive a U.S. Trade War? Business Advice What - [MG Blog Header Widget](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=mg-blog-header-widget) - The Merchant Growth Blog Tips, tricks, general information, and things that might help from industry experts. Latest Business Advice Economy Marketing News Latest Business Advice Economy Marketing News - [Elementor Single Post #10610](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=elementor-single-post-10610) - Share This Story, Choose Your Platform! Get started today Complete our online application and we’ll contact you to present financing options tailored to your business needs. Apply Now Share This Story, Choose Your Platform! Get started today Complete our online application and we’ll contact you to present financing options tailored to your business needs. Apply - [Get Started Today (Fr)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=get-started-today-fr) - Commencez aujourd'hui Remplissez une demande en ligne et nous vous contacterons pour vous présenter des options de financement adaptées aux besoins de votre entreprise. Faites une demande - [How Does It Work (Fr)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=how-does-it-work-fr) - Comment ça marche? Étape 1 Remplissez votre demande Prenez 5 minutes pour nous fournir vos informations – en ligne ou par téléphone, c’est à vous. ÉTAPE 2 Examinez les options Votre conseiller dédié vous contactera et travaillera avec vous pour déterminer la meilleure solution. ÉTAPE 3 Obtenez vos fonds Recevez vos fonds sur le compte - [Minumum Requirements (Fr)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=minumum-requirements-fr) - Admissibilité Critères d’éligibilité pour les produits Merchant Growth destinés aux petites entreprises Emplacement Canada Revenu mensuel $10K Temps de fonctionnement de l'entreprise 6 mois - [Product LoC (Eng)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-loc-eng) - MERCHANT GROWTH PRODUCT Line of Credit Have the convenience of being able to access cash when your small business needs it! Apply Now Financing amount available $5K - $500K Get funded in as fast as 24hrs Convenient Filling out the application only takes 5 minutes Flexible Merchant Growth products fit the needs of your business - [Product Fixed (Eng)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-fixed-eng) - MERCHANT GROWTH PRODUCT Fixed Financing Get funds for renovations, inventory, tax payments, and even cashflow with our Fixed Financing product! Apply Now Financing amount available $5K - $500K Get funded in as fast as 24hrs Convenient Filling out the application only takes 5 minutes Flexible Merchant Growth products fit the needs of your business Fast - [Product Flex (Eng)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-flex-eng) - MERCHANT GROWTH PRODUCT Flex Financing Get funds for staffing, inventory, marketing, tech upgrades, whatever you need! Apply Now Financing amount available $5K - $500K Get funded in as fast as 24hrs Convenient Take 5 mins to fill out the application. Flexible Merchant Growth products fit the needs of your small business Fast Once approved get - [Product Ecommerce (Eng)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-ecommerce-eng) - MERCHANT GROWTH PRODUCT E-commerce Financing Get funds for ad spend, inventory, social media, development, and more for your e-commerce business! Apply Now Financing amount available $5K - $500K Get funded in as fast as 24hrs Convenient Filling out the application only takes 5 minutes Flexible Merchant Growth products fit the needs of your business Fast - [New Partner Page (Eng)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=new-partner-page-eng) - Merchant Growth Partner Program Partnering with Merchant Growth is a proven way of helping Canadian SMBs prosper. Statistics show consistently that small business that is the dominant engine in the Canadian economy. Partner with Us Our value proposition to our Partners Commissions paid on funding and bonuses for high volume Funding for your clients of - [New About Page (Eng)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=new-about-page-eng) - We are small business financing made simple. We are Canada’s fastest and most friendly alternative financier. Our innovative approach blends thoughtful customer care, complete transparency, and the latest technology to provide fast accessible financing to small businesses in Canada. Apply Now Our mission is to bring business owners the most convenient and accessible financing experience. - [New Home Page (Eng)](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=new-home-page-eng) - Financing built for small business Get funds for your small business in just 24 hours. Apply Now Businesses Funded 1000 + Invested to Date $ 100 M Customer Rating 4.7 Grow yourbusiness Merchant Growth provides solutions tailored to your business needs. Flex Financing Turn your future cash flows into immediate working capital that you can - [Plain Hero Section](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=plain-hero-section) - FAQ - [Plain Hero Title](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=plain-hero-title) - Industries we serve - [Product Template](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=product-template) - MERCHANT GROWTH PRODUCT Fixed Financing Grow your business with our Fixed Financing Apply Now Financing amount available $5K - $500K Get funded as fast as 24hrs Convenient Filling out the application only takes 5 minutes Flexible Merchant Growth products fit the needs of your business Fast Once approved, get your funds in as little as - [Industry Template](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=industry-template) - MERCHANT GROWTH INDUSTRY Manufacturing Build out your business with financing from Merchant Growth Apply Now Financing for small businesses in the Manufacturing industry Manufacturers are ideal candidates for our fixed financing because they often take payment via EFT, bank draft, or cheque. Manufacturing loans are useful for many reasons: helping out with cash flow, especially - [How Does It Work](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=how-does-it-work) - How does it work? STEP 1 Complete Application You can choose to give some details either through the online application or over the phone, and it will only take you 5 minutes. STEP 2 Review Options Our team will reach out and work with you to determine the best solution. STEP 3 Get Funds Receive - [Minumum Requirements](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=minumum-requirements) - Small business funding minimum requirements Merchant Growth offers small business funding options with minimum eligibility requirements: Location Canada Monthly Revenue $ 10K Time in Business 6 months - [Get Started Today](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=get-started-today) - Get started today Complete our online application and we’ll contact you to present financing options tailored to your business needs. Apply Now - [How Does It Work section heading](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=how-does-it-work-section-heading) - How does it work? - [MG home template](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=mg-home-template) - FINANCEMENT CONÇU POUR LES PETITES ENTREPRISES Obtenez des fonds pour votre petite entreprise ou votre entreprise de commerce électronique en seulement 24 heures APPLIQUEZ DÈS MAINTENANT Nous sommes assez populaires, vous nous avez peut-être déjà vus… À propos de Merchant Growth Nous sommes la société de financement alternatif la plus rapide et la plus conviviale - [MG Fr automobile](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=mg-fr-automobile) - APPLIQUER DÈS MAINTENANT LA RECETTE PARFAITE POUR LES RESTAURANTS, CAFES, BISTROS Plus flexibles que les prêts classiques aux restaurants, les options de financement de Merchant Growth sont des outils polyvalents que vous pouvez utiliser pour vous développer. Les restaurants, pubs, boulangeries, cafés, bar laitiers et bistrots sont des candidats idéaux pour le programme car ils - [MG-francais-template](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/?elementor_library=mg-francais-template) - APPLIQUER DÈS MAINTENANT FINANCEMENT POUR LE COMMERCE ÉLECTRONIQUE LA MEILLEURE SOLUTION POUR LES ENTREPRISES EN LIGNE Des fonds pour les dépenses publicitaires, l'inventaire, les médias sociaux, le développement et plus encore! Notre financement pour le commerce electronique transforme vos futurs flux de trésorerie en fonds de roulement immédiat que vous pouvez utiliser tout de suite. ## Categories - [Other](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/category/other/) - [News](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/category/news/) - [Case Study](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/category/case-study/) - [Business Advice](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/category/business-tips/) - [Economy](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/category/economy/) - [Marketing](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/category/marketing/) - [francais](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/category/francais-fr/) - [French](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/category/french/) ## Tags - [English](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/) - [Français](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/fr/) ## Press & News Categories - [News](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/news_links_category/news/) - [Press Release](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/news_links_category/press-release/) ## Portfolio Categories - [testimonials](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/portfolio_category/testimonials/) ## FAQ Categories - [Applying](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/faq_category/applying/) - [General](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/faq_category/general/) - [Customer Support](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/faq_category/customer-support/) - [Partners & Referrals](https://www.merchantgrowth.com/faq_category/partners-referrals/)