Situation

Business funding for partnerships: how it is read and what helps.

Partnerships are reviewed like other businesses, with every partner's role understood.

✓ Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.

How is a partnership reviewed for business funding?

Short answer: Partnerships are reviewed like other businesses, with every partner's role understood. A general partnership's revenue belongs to the business, but each partner may be personally liable, so funders want to know who the partners are, who can sign and who will guarantee. A written partnership agreement helps.

Key facts

Each partner's role is confirmed
Signing authority must be clear
Partners may each guarantee
A written agreement helps

How this is read

Partnerships are reviewed like other businesses, with every partner's role understood.

A general partnership's revenue belongs to the business, but each partner may be personally liable. Funders want to know who the partners are, who can sign and who will guarantee.

What helps

A written partnership agreement
A business account in the partnership's name
Agreement among partners on the request
Clear signing authority

What hurts

Disputes among partners
Revenue in a partner's personal account
Unclear ownership

A sensible plan

Apply with the partnership's statements and agreement, and have the partners who will sign and guarantee ready.

Illustrative arithmetic

A dental partnership depositing about $150,000 a month asks for $50,000 for new equipment. At a 1.2 factor the payback is $60,000, a cost of $10,000. Over roughly 7 months that is about $408 per business day, or close to 6% of monthly deposits.

Total payback: $60,000.
Cost: $10,000.
Payment: about $408 per business day, close to 6% of monthly deposits.

Every figure on this page is illustrative arithmetic in Canadian dollars. It is not an offer, a quote or a promise of approval.

Typical starting points

Monthly revenueTypically from around $20,000 a month in deposits for Canadian files. The exact line varies by funder and by file.

Time in businessTypically about 12 months. Newer businesses can be reviewed, but the options narrow.

Account healthLimited low-balance or negative days. Funders read the last few months of bank statements for this.

CreditScores from 500 are considered. A score of 600 or higher opens more options and better offers.

DocumentsA signed application and recent business bank statements, typically the last four months.

Existing advancesFiles with an existing advance can be reviewed, including second position.

One more thing that helps

If a partner is leaving or a buyout is planned, say so. Ownership changes affect the review and are easier to handle when disclosed.

What to prepare

The partnership agreement
Names and roles of all partners
Who will sign and guarantee

A clear partnership agreement protects the partners from each other as much as it reassures a funder. Partnerships that plan for change, with buy-sell clauses and clear profit-sharing, also tend to have the cleanest financial records.

Talk it through

Merchant Fund Express reviews Canadian businesses in every province and territory. If you would like a specific answer for your business rather than general guidance, send a signed application and your last four months of business bank statements, or call (305) 384-8391 first to ask a question.

An example

Example: two partners in a Gatineau landscaping business, each owning 50%, both sign the application and guarantee; their written agreement confirms either can sign for the business.

Sources and review

Government of Canada: Starting a business

Reviewed by the Merchant Fund Express team on October 12, 2026. Official pages checked as of that date.

Common questions

Do all partners need to sign?

It depends on the agreement and the funder.

Are partnerships riskier?

Not necessarily; clarity matters.

Can a limited partnership apply?

Yes, with its structure explained.