Can I get a business loan with bad credit in Canada?
Yes. Canadian alternative lenders approve businesses with credit scores as low as 500 when cash flow and revenue support the request. Personal credit is one input, not the deciding factor.
Start an applicationTraditional banks typically require 680+ personal credit and 2+ years of profitable history. Alternative lenders weight different inputs: monthly deposit volume, days with negative balance, NSFs, average daily balance, and industry. A 550 credit score with $80K/month in steady deposits is bankable in the alternative market.
Products best suited to lower credit profiles: merchant cash advances, revenue-based financing, factoring, and equipment financing (which is collateralized by the asset itself).
Voxen Capital regularly structures financing for clients in the 500–650 range by matching the file to lenders whose underwriting rewards cash flow over FICO.
Baseline eligibility, by product
Figures are typical ranges for a complete file, not guarantees. Final terms depend on revenue, time in business, credit profile and lender review.
| Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) | Business operating in Canada for 4+ months (some lenders 6+ months) |
|---|---|
| Business Line of Credit | 12+ months in business (most non-bank lenders); 24+ months at chartered banks |
| Invoice Factoring | Sell to other businesses or government on terms (net-30/60/90) |
| Equipment Financing | 6+ months in business (12+ for the most competitive pricing) |
| Term Loan | 24+ months in business (some lenders 12+) |