The Top 5 Business Lenders in Canada (2026)
Shopping around for business funding in Canada? Here are 5 lenders worth knowing about — what each one is actually good at, who they're built for, and how fast they move.
- 1. BDC — government-backed, best if you have 2+ years of profitable history.
- 2. Outcome99 — fastest path to funding ($10K–$5M in 24 hours), no 2-year profit requirement.
- 3. Greenbox Capital — flexible, revenue-based funding for businesses banks turn down.
- 4. Merchant Growth — built for younger/smaller Canadian businesses.
- 5. 2M7 — fast, bilingual, Quebec-rooted alternative lending.
1
BDC
Business Development Bank of Canada is a Crown corporation — a federal institution that exists specifically to finance Canadian entrepreneurs. It's not a bank in the "walk into a branch" sense, but it operates like one: term loans, working capital, and equipment financing, backed by the government.
- Government-backed, so pricing tends to be competitive
- Built for established businesses, not brand-new ones
- Approval usually takes weeks, not days
- Relationship-based process — expect more paperwork and more conversations
2
Outcome99
Outcome99 is an alternative lending platform: you submit your financials once, and that single application goes in front of 230+ direct lenders who compete to fund you. No broker in between, no 2-year profitability requirement to even get considered.
- $10K–$5M, funded in as little as 24 hours
- Zero fees, free to start — no cost to apply or see offers
- Underwriting looks at your revenue and cash flow, not just a credit score
- One application instead of filling out forms with multiple lenders separately
3
Greenbox Capital
Greenbox Capital is an alternative lender focused on revenue-based funding and merchant cash advances. The pitch is flexibility: instead of a rigid credit-score cutoff, they look at how your business actually takes in money.
- Fast, mostly-online application
- Repayment structured around sales, not a fixed monthly bill
- Works with businesses that have been declined by traditional banks
4
Merchant Growth
Merchant Growth is a Vancouver-based fintech lender built around a simple idea: a lot of good small businesses get overlooked by banks just for being young or small. They offer revenue-based financing with repayment that adjusts with your sales.
- Geared toward smaller and newer Canadian businesses
- Online application, quick decisions
- Flexible repayment tied to how your business is actually performing
5
2M7
2M7 is a Quebec-rooted alternative lender known for a fast, straightforward application and bilingual service — a real plus if you'd rather do business in French. Like the other alternative lenders on this list, the focus is speed over paperwork.
- Fast turnaround on applications
- Bilingual (English/French) service
- Straightforward process built for small and mid-sized businesses
6Quick-Glance Comparison
| Lender | Type | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| BDC | Government-backed bank | Weeks | Established, profitable businesses |
| Outcome99 | Alternative / revenue-based | 24 hours | Speed, flexibility, no 2-year requirement |
| Greenbox Capital | Alternative / revenue-based | Days | Imperfect credit, steady revenue |
| Merchant Growth | Alternative / revenue-based | Days | Younger, smaller businesses |
| 2M7 | Alternative lender | Days | Fast, bilingual service |
Want to see what Outcome99 can offer you?
One application, no cost to see your offers, funding in as little as 24 hours.