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Business Loans In Canada: Financing Solutions Via Alternative Finance & Traditional Funding

Business loans and finance for a business just may have gotten good again? The pursuit of credit and funding of cash flow solutions for your business often seems like an eternal challenge, even in the best of times, let alone any industry or economic crisis. Let’s dig in.

Since the 2008 financial crisis there’s been a lot of change in finance options from lenders for corporate loans. Canadian business owners and financial managers have excess from everything from peer-to-peer company loans, varied alternative finance solutions, as well of course as the traditional financing offered by Canadian chartered banks.

Those online business loans referenced above are popular and arose out of the merchant cash advance programs in the United States. Loans are based on a percentage of your annual sales, typically in the 15-20% range. The loans are certainly expensive but are viewed as easy to obtain by many small businesses, including retailers who sell on a cash or credit card basis.

Depending on your firm’s circumstances and your ability to truly understand the different choices available to firms searching for SME COMMERCIAL FINANCE options. Those small to medium sized companies ( the definition of ‘ small business ‘ certainly varies as to what is small – often defined as businesses with less than 500 employees! )

How then do we create our road map for external financing techniques and solutions? A simpler way to look at it is to categorize these different financing options under:

Debt / Loans

Asset Based Financing

Alternative Hybrid type solutions

Many top experts maintain that the alternative financing solutions currently available to your firm, in fact are on par with Canadian chartered bank financing when it comes to a full spectrum of funding. The alternative lender is typically a private commercial finance company with a niche in one of the various asset finance areas

If there is one significant trend that’s ‘ sticking ‘it’s Asset Based Finance. The ability of firms to obtain funding via assets such as accounts receivable, inventory and fixed assets with no major emphasis on balance sheet structure and profits and cash flow ( those three elements drive bank financing approval in no small measure ) is the key to success in ABL ( Asset Based Lending ).

Factoring, aka ‘ Receivable Finance ‘ is the other huge driver in trade finance in Canada. In some cases, it’s the only way for firms to be able to sell and finance clients in other geographies/countries.

The rise of ‘ online finance ‘ also can’t be diminished. Whether it’s accessing ‘ crowdfunding’ or sourcing working capital term loans, the technological pace continues at what seems a feverish pace. One only has to read a business daily such as the Globe & Mail or Financial Post to understand the challenge of small business accessing business capital.

Business owners/financial mgrs often find their company at a ‘ turning point ‘ in their history – that time when financing is needed or opportunities and risks can’t be taken. While putting or getting new equity in the business is often impossible, the reality is that the majority of businesses with SME commercial finance needs aren’t, shall we say, ‘ suited’ to this type of funding and capital raising. Business loan interest rates vary with non-traditional financing but offer more flexibility and ease of access to capital.

We’re also the first to remind clients that they should not forget govt solutions in business capital. Two of the best programs are the GovernmentSmall Business Loan Canada (maximum availability = $ 1,000,000.00) as well as the SR&ED program which allows business owners to recapture R&D capital costs. Sred credits can also be financed once they are filed.

Those latter two finance alternatives are often very well suited to business start up loans. We should not forget that asset finance, often called ‘ ABL ‘ by those Bay Street guys, can even be used as a loan to buy a business.

If you’re looking to get the right balance of liquidity and risk coupled with the flexibility to grow your business seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor with a track record of business finance success who can assist you with your funding needs.

Diverse Roles in Workshop Jobs: What You Can Do

Workshop jobs cover a wide array of roles, each with its own set of responsibilities, skills, equipment, and work environments. Understanding the different types of workshop jobs can help you find the role that matches your interests, skills, and career goals.

Machine Operator: Operates industrial machines like lathes, milling machines, CNC machines, grinders, or shears. They set up machines, feed in materials, monitor the process, and ensure output meets specifications. Requires technical understanding and ability to maintain precision.

Welder / Fabricator: Joins metal parts using welding techniques (MIG, TIG, arc); fabricates frameworks, metal structures; cuts, shapes, and assembles metal components. Often works with blueprints. High emphasis on safety due to heat and fumes.

Mechanical Fitter / Maintenance Technician: Installs, maintains, and repairs workshop machinery. Diagnoses mechanical failures, replaces defective parts, does preventive maintenance. Plays a key role in keeping workshops running smoothly with minimal downtime.

Auto Technician / Auto Body Repair: In automotive workshops, tasks might include engine repair, bodywork, electrical systems, painting, diagnostics. Requires knowledge of vehicles, tools, diagnostic software, and often customer service.

Toolmaker / Machinist: Designs, builds, and repairs precision tools, dies, jigs, and fixtures that are used in manufacturing. Machinists often work to very precise tolerances, using specialized machines, CAD/CAM tools, and measuring equipment.

Electrician / Electronic Technician: In some workshops (especially those dealing with machinery automation), there’s need for wiring, controlling circuits, reading wiring diagrams, installing sensors, maintenance of electronics or control panels.

Woodworker / Cabinet Maker: In woodworking workshops, roles include cutting, planing, joining, finishing wood products—from cabinetry to furniture. Requires both fine craftsmanship and knowledge of wood properties, joinery techniques, finishing materials.

Paint & Finish Specialist: Applies paint, coatings, or finishes to products. Prepares surfaces, selects coatings, ensures finish quality (smoothness, color matching, durability). Knowledge of safety (ventilation, protective equipment) is key.

Cleaner / Workshop Support Staff: While not always glamorous, supporting roles maintain cleanliness, organize materials, handle waste, prepare work areas, assist in material transport. Doing so well keeps workshops functional and safe.

Apprentice / Trainee: Entry role for many. Learns trade under experienced mentors, gradually taking on responsibilities. Opportunity to rotate through different roles to develop broad skillset and decide specialization.

By exploring these roles, you can identify which aligns with your strengths precision, physical work, problem‑solving, working with materials, electronics, or finishing. Each role offers paths for growth with experience, certification, or specialization.


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Affordable Dry Skin Care That Really Works

Whether you are looking for affordable dry skin care products because you have a skin disorder or because your skin is naturally dry, the good news is that such products are available. Affordable dry skin care includes what you expose your skin to, your diet and your lifestyle as well as the right skin care products for your skin type. Your skin is the largest organ in the body and is permanently on display, so it is important to take the best possible care of it.Dry skin has a low level of sebum and is often sensitive. The skin might look tight, feel parched and become drier if exposed to temperature extremes. Using harsh soaps or cosmetics which are high in chemicals can make the problem of dry skin worse or even cause a skin disorder.Sometimes dry skin is a genetic condition rather than a skin disorder. If this is the case, the same beauty and care regime applies. You can find affordable dry skin care products including cleansers, day moisturizers, night creams and beauty masques, no matter what the cause of your dry skin is.When looking for affordable skin lotions, read the ingredient list. Avoid ingredients such as parabens, mineral oil, and other sythetic ingredients. Chemicals like these can actually have a damaging effect on the skin in the long run. It’s better to pay a little more for a lotion that will nourish the skin than to save a few dollars and end up damaging your skin.If you do have dry skin, it is best to avoid tap water when cleansing because it removes the natural oils and dries the skin out even more. Instead, you should use a non-detergent cleansing lotion with a neutral pH. Nourishing moisturizer is a form of affordable dry skin care and you can apply plenty at night, including to the dry areas around the eyes where crow’s feet or wrinkles might be forming.Many affordable dry skin care preparations contain herbs, known for their benefits on dry skin. Aloe vera is soothing and moisturizing and is an ingredient in many natural skin care creams, gels and lotions. Calendula and comfrey are also good herbs for softening the skin and for soothing skin disorder problems.Essential oils such as lavender, primrose and tea tree are beneficial for people with dry skin. These can be used in a facial sauna or ingredients in a skin care product regime. Drinking plenty of water keeps the skin hydrated and teas made from fennel, calendula, borage or coltsfoot help to improve the condition of your dry skin.Eating a balanced diet complements a good dry skin care regime. Try to include vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains and seeds in your diet and incorporate raw foods where you can. Alcohol and tobacco can dry out your skin so you might want to avoid these. You might also like to avoid fried foods, the reason being that when oil is heated, it forms free radicals which are destructive to the skin.There you have it. If your skin is slightly dry, very dry or extra dry, do not worry because there are plenty of affordable dry skin care products on the market for you to try. Just be sure they have ingredients that will nourish your skin from within, while moisturizing from the outside. If you combine these products with a healthy diet and lifestyle and drink plenty of water, your dry skin or skin disorder can become a thing of the past.

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