Category: Business Financing
5 summer marketing strategies for small businesses
Summer’s on the horizon, but it’s not the time to put your marketing efforts on hold. Depending on your industry, this season could bring more traffic, or a noticeable slowdown. Either way, staying visible can help you stay competitive while others check out. With people spending more time outdoors and local tourism picking up, summer…
Word-of-mouth marketing strategies for SMBs
Although digital transformation has brought us a variety of new marketing channels and tools, word-of-mouth marketing hasn’t lost its relevance. In fact, it’s arguably still the most powerful marketing tool out there. Word-of-mouth remains the most trusted form of marketing – with 92% of consumers trusting reviews and recommendations from their friends and family over traditional media.…
Simplify your funding experience with Self-Checkout
We’re always looking for ways to enhance your funding experience and make managing your finances easier. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a new online feature to our customers: Self-Checkout, the most convenient way to obtain additional funds when you need them. Available in your MyPortal online account, this addition allows you to review, accept, and…
Financial literacy: A key to small business success
Financial literacy is something that’s often overlooked by entrepreneurs and small business owners. Today’s business landscape is more competitive than ever, so understanding the fundamentals of budgeting, cash flow management, and financial planning can make the difference between success and failure. Being financially literate can give you the knowledge you need to make informed decisions,…
How to benefit from summer tourism in Canada
Summer in Canada is a vibrant time, filled with warm weather, fun festivals, and a surge of tourists eager to explore everything our country offers. For small businesses, this presents a golden opportunity to capitalize on increased foot traffic and boost their revenues. Here are a few strategies small businesses can use to capitalize on…
Discover two new ways to renew funding from your MyPortal account
If you’re a Journey Capital customer, you know about our quick and convenient online financing services. And now, obtaining more funding for your small business has never been easier. We recently launched two all-new ways to get more financing for your business. The first is our Self-Requested Renewals feature, which allows qualifying customers to request additional funding,…
Should you incorporate your small business?
It’s the age-old question for small business owners: to incorporate or not to incorporate? Incorporation may have seemed like a distant dream when you started your business, but as your business grows and evolves, you may find yourself considering this option more seriously. It can be tempting to put off this decision, but the truth…
Top trends affecting SMBs in 2023 – Part 1
Over the past few years, small businesses have faced an enormous set of challenges, undergone an incredible amount of change, and have had to practice adaptability to new emerging trends. Unfortunately, there’s no reason to believe this will subside anytime soon, as the Canadian economy is set to face a mild recession. Still, small and…
Valentine’s Day: A Holiday for SMBs
While it has evolved over the years, Valentine’s Day still holds a special place in hearts across the globe. For small businesses, it’s mostly seen as a great opportunity to boost sales. In fact, over the last 5 years, Canadians spent an estimated 3 billion dollars on February 14th. Whether it’s through creative marketing campaigns,…
Understanding personal & business credit
When it comes to managing your finances, understanding the difference between personal and business credit can help you make informed decisions about your business and ensure that you are making the best use of your resources. Good personal and business credit scores are vital for any small business owner to access the financing they need.…
A small business guide to podcasts
It seems like everyone is starting their own podcast these days. They’ve gone from a niche market to mainstream in only a matter of years – and with good reason. As of January 2023, there are over 5 million podcasts with over 70 million episodes between them. Canadians are giant consumers of podcasts, with more…
Leveraging artificial intelligence for your SMB
Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ve probably heard about the newest Artificial Intelligence viral sensation, ChatGPT. Created by a company called OpenAI, this software was designed to generate humanlike responses to a wide range of questions. Unlike humans, ChatGPT has all the world’s knowledge. It can write essays, poems, scripts, or even translate…
Small business checklist – Planning for 2023
For most small business owners, this time of the year is dedicated to getting ready for the Holiday rush and ending things on a strong note. However, it’s important to plan for what’s to come. After all, 2023 is just a few weeks away. Having a small business checklist at your disposal gives you a…
Building a business for Generation Z
With most of Generation Z now in their late teens and early twenties, a new wave of consumers, employees and proprietors is emerging. According to a survey from RBC, challenging economic conditions have strengthened the desire for entrepreneurship in Canada, especially among younger people. Known as a tech-savvy generation, Gen Zers are leading the way…
Small Business Week: How to get involved
Small Business Week is right around the corner, but what does this mean for Canadian small business owners? For the past 43 years, BDC has organized an annual celebration of small businesses where entrepreneurs gather to learn, network and celebrate what it means to be a small business owner in Canada. From October 16th to…