Canadian Small Business Owners Enter the New Year with Optimism, Citing Increasing Profitability as a Key Financial Resolution for 2017
TORONTO, Jan. 11, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - A significant majority of Canadian small business owners (81%) are optimistic about growth opportunities heading into the new year, citing key resolutions for 2017 as increasing profitability (29%), acquiring more customers (26%), and increasing cash flow (24%), according to a survey* conducted by Leger, The Research Intelligence Group on behalf of OnDeck Canada, a leading online lender to small businesses in Canada.
The new survey results reveal that small business owners are savvy and specific about evaluating and obtaining capital in 2017. 49% of small business owners consider the total cost of the loan over time, 48% consider the annual interest rates, and 46% consider flexible repayment options as the main determining factors when selecting a lending option for their business. The majority expect a 2:1 return on investment.
It's also evident that when a loan is taken out, small business owners know exactly where the money will go, citing buying equipment and technology (36%), diversifying their business (30%), and purchasing inventory (28%) as key uses of borrowed capital.
"Small business owners will be best equipped for a successful year if they take the time to learn about the various lending options available to them, and understand the overall cost of a loan versus the opportunities it will afford," said Gary Fearnall, OnDeck Country Manager, Canada. "Hiring, inventory, marketing, and equipment are inputs that can come up quickly, and it's important to be ready to respond to new opportunities when they arise."
For Amir Rahim, owner of Grounded Kitchen and Coffeehouse in Ottawa, a loan from OnDeck provided the growth opportunity he needed to evolve from a small local outfit operating on a shoestring budget, to a full-service restaurant going strong after six years in business. "Cash flow is always a big challenge, especially in the restaurant industry, and having access to that extra capital bought me the peace of mind I needed to be able to operate my business out on the floor—where I do my best work—and not behind closed doors in my office," he said. "Having an extra $20,000 to $30,000 in the bank to cover day-to-day expenses like payroll, taxes, cash flow, and supplier costs, means I can focus on what I do best—serving my customers."
To learn more about OnDeck and its lending options for Canadian small businesses, visit www.ondeck.com/canada.
About OnDeck Canada
OnDeck Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of On Deck Capital, Inc. (NYSE: ONDK), or OnDeck, the leader in US online small business lending. Since 2007, OnDeck has powered Main Street's growth through advanced lending technology and a constant dedication to customer service. OnDeck's proprietary credit scoring system – the OnDeck Score® – leverages advanced analytics, enabling OnDeck to make real-time lending decisions and deliver capital to small businesses in as little as 24 hours. OnDeck offers business owners a complete financing solution, including the online lending industry's widest range of term loans and lines of credit. To date, the company has deployed over $5 billion to more than 60,000 customers in 700 different industries across the United States, Canada and Australia. OnDeck has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and operates the educational small business financing website www.businessloans.com. For more information, please visit www.ondeck.com/canada
*Survey results based on an online survey of 400 adult Canadian small business owners and CEOs completed online between November 29 and December 13, 2016, using Leger's online panel, LegerWeb. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-4.9%, 19 times out of 20.
Leger, The Research Intelligence Group
Founded in 1986, Leger is Canada's largest independent full-service research firm, with employees in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, and Philadelphia. Leger's research capabilities span across every dimension of the marketplace and opinion landscape, as we conduct quantitative and qualitative research on behalf of an extensive array of public and private sector clients on a local, national, and global scale.
SOURCE OnDeck Canada
Andrea Mancini, CASACOM, [email protected], 416-944-2145
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