In any of these situations, the right financing can be the difference between seizing the moment and watching it walk out the door.

At Mintage Capital, we’ve partnered with Merchant Growth, one of Canada’s leading small business lenders, to offer a Capital Term Financing solution built for businesses like yours. It’s fast, flexible, and designed for the way small businesses actually operate.

What Is a Working Capital Loan?

Simply put, a working capital loan gives your business access to a lump sum of cash for any business purpose. Unlike equipment leasing, it’s not tied to a specific asset. Instead, it’s flexible funding for whatever your business needs right now.

Through Mintage’s Capital Term Financing, powered by Merchant Growth, eligible Canadian businesses can access between $5,000 and $800,000 (OAC). Approval and funding are possible in as little as 24 hours. The application takes just 5 minutes and does not impact your credit score.

It works similarly to a fixed-rate loan: you receive a lump sum up front and repay it over a term of 6 to 24 months through flexible, automatic payments. Additionally, once you’ve repaid approximately one-third (1/3) of your balance, you may qualify for a top-up, extra capital to keep your momentum going.

What Can You Use a Working Capital Loan For?

One of the biggest advantages of a capital term loan is that there are no restrictions on how you use the funds. In fact, small business owners commonly use this type of financing for:

• Cash flow: Bridging a slow period or covering operating expenses while revenue catches up
• Inventory: Stocking up ahead of a busy season or taking advantage of supplier pricing
• Renovations: Upgrading your space to attract more customers or improve operations
• Advertising and marketing: Investing in growth when the timing is right
• Small equipment purchases or repairs: Keeping your tools and assets working without draining your reserves
• Hiring: Bringing on staff to meet demand or support a new contract

As a result, if it moves your business forward, this financing can help fund it.

Who Qualifies for a Working Capital Loan?

Merchant Growth has kept the eligibility requirements straightforward. To qualify, your business needs to meet just three (3) criteria:

• Located in Canada
• Minimum gross monthly revenue of $10,000
• At least 6 months in business

That’s it. You don’t need perfect credit or years of audited financials to get started. If your business has been operating and generating revenue, it’s worth finding out what you qualify for. Furthermore, checking won’t cost you anything or affect your credit score.

Why Mintage Capital and Merchant Growth?

Merchant Growth has helped over 8,000 Canadian small businesses access financing. They’ve built their platform around speed, simplicity, and flexibility. As a Mintage Capital client, you get access to that same trusted lending infrastructure through a co-branded application built specifically for us.

What that means for you:

• A 5-minute online application; no stacks of paperwork
• Funding in as little as 24 hours once approved
• Up to $800,000 available depending on your business profile
• Bank-level security protecting your application data
• Backed by Merchant Growth’s strong Trustpilot reputation

And because Mintage Capital is an independent broker, not a bank, we’re on your side. Our job is to connect you with the right solution for your business, not to push a product that works for us.

The Top-Up Option: More Capital as You Grow

One feature that sets this product apart is the top-up option. Once you’ve repaid approximately one-third (1/3) of your original balance, you may be eligible to access additional capital without starting from scratch. For businesses with ongoing or growing capital needs, this creates a financing relationship that scales alongside you.

In other words, it’s a smarter way to fund growth: prove yourself, then build on that foundation.

How to Apply: Three Simple Steps

• Complete the application — takes about 5 minutes online, or over the phone if you prefer
• Review your options — our team will reach out to present financing solutions tailored to your business
• Get your funds — once approved, capital can be in your account in as little as 24 hours

Final Thoughts

Cash flow challenges are one of the most common reasons small businesses stall, not because the business isn’t working, but because the timing is off. A working capital loan gives you the ability to act when it matters, without waiting weeks for a bank decision that may never come.

Whether you need a short-term bridge or a longer injection of capital to fuel your next stage of growth, Mintage’s Capital Term Financing, powered by Merchant Growth, is designed to move at the speed your business actually operates. Combined with our equipment financing and payment protection options, it’s one more tool to help you build something that lasts.

➡ Apply Now ~ Capital Term Financing

Mintage Capital works with owner-operators, self-employed professionals, and small business owners across Canada. You deal with one advisor, start to finish. Your best interest always comes first.

Ready to explore your options? Visit our Capital Term Financing page to learn more, or contact Mintage Capital today, we’ll walk you through your options with no pressure and no obligation.

The post Need Working Capital Fast? Here’s What Small Business Owners Should Know appeared first on Mintage Capital Corporation.

The statistics make the case clearly:

• up to 40% of working Canadians will experience a disability lasting longer than 90 days before age 65
• 42% will face unexpected job loss in the next decade
• 48% don’t believe they have enough savings to cover expenses if serious illness stops them from working

If you carry an active business loan or equipment lease, this coverage could be one of the most valuable add-ons you consider.

What Is Payment Protection Coverage?

Payment Protection Coverage steps in to make your loan or lease payments on your behalf when life takes an unexpected turn. Four qualifying events can trigger a claim: disability, critical illness, involuntary unemployment, death or accidental dismemberment.

When a qualifying event occurs, the insurer pays your scheduled loan or lease payments directly to the lender. Your financial obligation stays in good standing even when you can’t work. Some conditions apply, as outlined in your certificate of insurance.

Mintage Capital offers this coverage through TKM Group Ventures Inc., administered by Trans Global Insurance Company and Trans Global Life Insurance Company.

What Does the Coverage Include?

Four coverage options are available. You can select one or more based on your needs and budget. All options carry guaranteed issue no medical questions, no health clauses for Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64.

Life with Dismemberment Benefit

This benefit pays the outstanding balance of your loan or lease directly to the lender (up to $250,000) upon death or qualifying dismemberment. It covers both accidental and sickness or illness-related death. Equipment leases with a residual buyout value may also qualify. Some conditions may apply.

Disability Benefit

When injury or illness stops you from working, this benefit covers your monthly loan or lease payments (up to $6,000 per month) for up to 12 months per occurrence. It covers both accidental and sickness or illness-related disabilities, with no restrictions on back, neck, mental, nervous, or psychiatric conditions. Some conditions may apply.

Unlike WCB (Workers’ Compensation Board), there’s no requirement that the injury happen on the job. A weekend sports injury, a car accident, a sudden illness; if it puts you out of work, your loan or lease payments are covered, no matter where or how it happened.

Critical Illness Benefit

A qualifying critical illness diagnosis triggers this benefit, covering life-threatening cancer, heart attack, stroke, coronary artery bypass graft, kidney failure, or major organ transplant. Survive the diagnosis for at least 30 days and the insurer pays the outstanding balance of your loan or lease (up to $250,000). No medical questions are required to enroll. Some conditions may apply.

Involuntary Unemployment Benefit

Losing your job unexpectedly is stressful enough without your loan or lease payments falling behind. This benefit covers your monthly payments (up to $6,000 per month) for up to 12 months after involuntary job loss. Some conditions may apply.

A Valuable Option for Self-Employed Canadians

Self-employed individuals often assume payment protection isn’t available to them. This program includes a dedicated coverage option under the involuntary unemployment benefit and it’s one of the most overlooked features available.

Lose all your business contracts and find yourself unable to generate income? You may qualify for up to six months of covered loan or lease payments. Few programs in the market offer this level of protection for owner-operators.

Self-employed coverage carries its own eligibility requirements, including business operating history. Some conditions apply.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for Payment Protection Coverage, you must be a Canadian resident between the ages of 18 and 64, with an active loan or lease in place. Existing insurance coverage stays intact this program works alongside it.

Key eligibility highlights:

• No medical questions asked
• No good health clause
• Guaranteed acceptance and guaranteed issue
• No impact on any current insurance in place
• Available to both debtors and co-debtors where applicable

How Does Enrollment and Payment Work?

Enrolling is straightforward. Coverage applies to any active loan or equipment lease. Choose the options that fit your situation, and your certificate of insurance follows. To get a quote, visit the Payment Protection Quote Link and select Mintage Capital as your lender.

Two premium payment options are available:

• Monthly — your bank account is debited directly each month, independent of your loan or lease payment
• Single Pay — pay the premium in one lump sum, or include it within your underlying financial obligation

Choose the monthly option and go on claim? The insurer waives your premiums while paying your benefits so you never pay for coverage while collecting it. Not sure it’s right for you? A 30-day right of inspection applies. Cancel within the first 30 days and receive a full premium refund.

How Does This Connect to Equipment Leasing?

Finance equipment, commercial vehicles, machinery, technology, or other business assets, and your equipment lease payments qualify for the same protection as a traditional business loan.

Can’t work due to injury or illness? The equipment you’ve invested in stays protected and your lease obligations stay current. Payment Protection Coverage gives your financing an extra layer of security and one less thing to worry about during a difficult time.

Does This Replace My Existing Insurance?

Not at all, it works alongside it. Many Canadians carry life insurance or disability coverage through an employer or individual policy. Those plans rarely protect a specific financial obligation like a business loan or equipment lease. Payment Protection Coverage fills that gap directly.

Consider this: 91% of Canadians do not carry critical illness insurance. This type of protection is far less common than most people realize. Mintage Capital makes it accessible directly through the lending and leasing process.

Final Thoughts

A business loan or equipment lease is a commitment and every commitment is worth protecting. Payment Protection Coverage helps small business owners and self-employed professionals keep their financial obligations intact when life doesn’t go as planned. Focus on recovering. Your payments are handled.

➡ Get a Quote for Payment Protection Coverage

At Mintage Capital, we believe protecting your financing is just as important as securing it. Whether you’re an owner-operator, a tradesperson, or a self-employed professional, unexpected events shouldn’t put your business obligations at risk. That’s why we make payment protection easy to access no medical questions, no complicated process, just straightforward coverage built for real life.

Curious what coverage looks like for your situation? Visit our Credit Protection Insurance page to learn more, or reach out to our team, we’re happy to walk you through your options.

The post What Happens to Your Business Loan or Lease If Life Gets in the Way? appeared first on Mintage Capital Corporation.

That’s where Asset‑Based Lending (ABL) comes in and lets you tap into the value of the equipment you already own, giving you fast access to working capital without selling any assets.

The Basics of Working Capital and Why It Matters

Working capital is the cash your business has available to cover the everyday costs of keeping operations moving. It’s one of the clearest indicators of your company’s financial health. It shows how well you can handle day‑to‑day obligations without disruption. Strong cash‑flow management is what keeps a business steady, especially in industries where expenses hit hard and hit often.

When your business has stable working capital, you have the breathing room to handle unexpected expenses, keep projects moving, and take on new opportunities as they come. In equipment‑heavy industries like construction, oil & gas, and transportation, reliable working capital isn’t just helpful, it’s what keeps your operation competitive, profitable, and ready for growth.

A positive working capital balance means you have adequate available cash to keep operations running smoothly while still being prepared to invest in growth. For many businesses, securing this stability comes from the right financing tools particularly Asset‑Based Lending (ABL) or equipment financing.

A Simple Guide to the Working Capital Formula and Ratio

Working Capital = Current Assets – Current Liabilities

• Current Assets: cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and short‑term assets
• Current Liabilities: short‑term debt, payables, and upcoming obligations

Working Capital Ratio shows how easily your business can cover short‑term liabilities.

Working Capital Ratio = Current Assets ÷ Current Liabilities

• Above 1.0: generally strong financial health
• Below 1.0: potential cash‑flow strain
• Too high: may indicate underused assets that could be supporting growth

This is where asset‑based lending becomes a strategic tool. A working capital loan provides flexible funding that helps businesses:

• Smooth out cash‑flow gaps
• Bridge delays in receivables
• Cover ongoing expenses

Traditional lenders often rely heavily on long credit histories, consistent financials, and predictable receivables. A credit criteria many businesses may struggle to meet.

Asset‑Based Lending Strategies to Strengthen Your Cash Flow

ABL allows you to unlock cash based on the equity in equipment you already own. Unlike traditional bank financing, ABL focuses on the value of your tangible assets not just credit scores or receivables. Here’s how ABL supports your business:

1. Terms That Fit Your Industry Cycles

Many industries experience seasonal or cyclical demand. Traditional financing often doesn’t adjust to these swings. ABL provides repayment structures aligned with your revenue patterns, making cash‑flow management more predictable throughout the year.

2. Support During Recovery or Turnaround Periods

Market shifts, economic slowdowns, weather events, or unexpected setbacks can put pressure on cash flow. Getting equipment back to work requires both planning and liquidity. ABL lets you use existing equipment equity to access capital quickly helping stabilize operations and plan ahead.

3. Funding for Growth

Banks often evaluate working capital lines based mainly on receivables, but most growth requires upfront investment long before revenue shows up.

With ABL, you can unlock the value of your owned equipment to:

• Expand your team or fleet
• Purchase materials earlier
• Scale operations without slowing down
• Take on additional projects

Turn Equipment Value Into Working Capital

At Mintage, we help businesses unlock the hidden value in their paid‑off or underused equipment through Asset‑Based Lending (ABL). By leveraging the equipment you already own, you can access the working capital needed to stay steady, push through slow seasons, or drive your business into its next phase of growth.

Your equipment is worth more than the jobs it completes—it can also unlock the business funding and cash‑flow solutions your company needs to stay competitive. With the right ABL program, you gain the flexibility to cover unexpected costs, strengthen your financial foundation, and grow without selling off valuable gear.

Connect with Mintage Capital Corporation today to explore how Asset‑Based Lending, working capital loans, or equipment‑backed financing can support your next step.

The post Asset‑Based Lending Built to Support Your Business Success appeared first on Mintage Capital Corporation.

1.  Why Your Credit Score Matters

Your credit score tells lenders how reliably you handle borrowed money. A high score can open the door to lower interest rates, better loan approvals, higher borrowing limits, and more financial flexibility. A low score, on the other hand, can lead to higher costs, more conditions on financing, or even difficulty securing loans at all.

Credit isn’t something you can build overnight. It’s the result of long‑term habits and responsible financial management. But the good news is that with the right approach, anyone can improve their credit standing.

2.  What Builds a Strong Credit Score

Strengthening your credit score starts with understanding the factors that influence it. Here are the most effective ways to build and maintain a solid financial foundation.

     a)  Always Pay Your Bills on Time

                  Timely payments are one of the biggest contributors to a healthy credit score. Every time you pay a credit card, loan, or utility bill on schedule, you demonstrate reliability.

                  Many people don’t realize that mobility (cell phone) providers often report payment history to credit bureaus. This means late payments on something as simple as your phone bill can negatively affect your score. Setting reminders, automating payments, or organizing bills by due date can help you stay on track.

     b)  Keep a Strong Debt‑Service Ratio

                  Your debt‑service ratio compares your monthly debt obligations to your monthly income. Lenders use it to measure whether you can responsibly manage additional borrowing. To keep your ratio healthy:

• Pay more than the minimum on your credit card whenever possible. Minimum payments mostly cover interest not the actual balance.
• Avoid maxing out your credit limits. High balances relative to your limit can significantly drag down your credit score.
• Aim to use less than 30% of your available credit across all credit lines.

                  The closer you get to your credit limits, the more risk you appear to potential lenders.

     c)  Monitor Your Credit Inquiries

                  Every time a lender checks your credit for a loan or credit card application, a “hard inquiry” appears on your report. A few inquiries are normal, but too many within a short period can reduce your score, as it may signal financial instability.

                  This doesn’t apply to “soft inquiries,” such as checking your own credit score or pre‑qualification checks, which do not affect your credit.

                  Be selective about when and where you apply for new credit.

     d)  Establish a Reported Credit History

                  One of the biggest barriers for new borrowers is a lack of credit history. Even if you’ve never missed a bill, having no active or past accounts on file categorizes you as “new credit,” which can lead to:

• Higher interest rates
• Larger down payments
• Requests for a co‑signer

                  Lenders want to see a track record that shows you can borrow money responsibly and repay it on time. If you’re just starting to build credit, even a small credit card or entry‑level loan can help establish the history you need.

3.  What Damages Your Credit Score

Knowing what can hurt your credit score is just as important as understanding what helps it. Here are the most common pitfalls that can cause serious damage.

     a)   Overextending Your Credit

                  Taking on more credit than you can manage is one of the quickest ways to harm your score. Falling behind on payments, even temporarily, can result in negative marks that stay on your record for years.

                  Patterns that hurt your credit include:

• Frequent late or missed payments
• Accounts sent to collections
• Court‑ordered judgments related to unpaid debts
• Entering debt management or debt consolidation programs
• Filing a consumer proposal, where you agree to repay part of your debt
• Declaring bankruptcy, which has the most significant long‑term impact

                  These actions signal high risk to lenders and can make future borrowing more challenging.

     b)  Too Many Credit Inquiries

                  While a few inquiries are harmless, numerous hard inquiries—especially from different lenders—can lower your score. This often happens when people apply for multiple loans or credit cards in a short time.

                  To avoid this:

• Plan your applications carefully
• Avoid shopping around impulsively
• Work with lenders who can pre‑qualify you without affecting your score

                  Remember, each hard inquiry stays on your credit report for up to two years.

4.  How to Monitor and Protect Your Credit

Staying on top of your credit is a proactive way to catch errors, prevent fraud, and understand where you stand.

You can request your credit report anytime through the major Canadian credit bureaus:

• Equifax Canada
• TransUnion Canada

You can request your report online, by mail, by phone, or in person. Checking your own credit does not affect your score.

Read through your report carefully and look for:

• Accounts you don’t recognize
• Incorrect personal information
• Old balances that should be cleared
• Accounts reported as late when they were paid on time

Disputing errors promptly can protect your score from unnecessary harm.

5.  Credit Improvement Takes Time But It’s Worth It

Improving your credit score isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistency. By making steady payments, managing your debt wisely, and avoiding risky financial behaviour, you build trust with lenders and open the door to more affordable borrowing opportunities.

Whether you’re preparing to lease equipment, plan a major purchase, or simply want to strengthen your financial health, good credit habits today will pay off long into the future.

At Mintage, we take the time to understand your business goals and match you with financing that truly supports your growth. You get more than financing, you get a straightforward partner who’s dedicated to helping your company move forward with confidence.

Looking for Commercial Lease Financing that delivers? Connect with Mintage Capital today and let’s build your next step together.

The post How To Build & Maintain Your Credit Score appeared first on Mintage Capital Corporation.