Use case

Funding expansion into the United States: how to size it and what to watch.

The first US sales usually follow months of up-front costs.

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

How should a Canadian business fund U.S. expansion?

Short answer: Budget research, travel, legal and tax advice, any U.S. entity, marketing and initial inventory, many of them months before the first U.S. sale, and plan for 60 to 90-day payment terms. Use CanExport and EDC support where you qualify, and stage private funding to each step rather than borrowing the whole budget at once.

Key facts

Costs arrive months before U.S. sales
Plan for 60 to 90-day terms
CanExport and EDC can help
Stage funding step by step

What this looks like

The first US sales usually follow months of up-front costs.

Trade shows, travel, marketing and initial inventory for US customers all come before payment, and US buyers may pay on longer terms.

How to size it

Fund a defined test: one market or channel, with a budget and timeline.

Illustrative arithmetic

A specialty food producer depositing about $70,000 a month asks for $25,000 for a US trade show and first shipment. At a 1.22 factor the payback is $30,500, a cost of $5,500. Over roughly 6 months that is about $242 per business day, or close to 7% of monthly deposits.

Total payback: $30,500.
Cost: $5,500.
Payment: about $242 per business day, close to 7% 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.

Which structure tends to fit

Short-term funding suits a defined test; longer expansion needs longer capital. CanExport may share some costs.

Where it goes wrong

Underestimating payment terms
Currency swings
Spreading too thin

Before you apply

Budget the test
Plan for currency
Check CanExport

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.

Prove one market first

A focused test produces data that justifies cheaper, longer financing for the full expansion.

Before you commit

Set a budget and a decision date for the US test before spending: for example, one trade show, one distributor and six months. If the test meets its targets, scale it with longer-term capital. If not, stop and keep the lesson rather than spending further.

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.

Sources and review

Export Development Canada

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

Common questions

How much should I ask for?

Ask for the amount you can name in dollars and tie to a quote, invoice or schedule. A smaller, specific request is easier to approve and cheaper to repay.

Which structure is best?

It depends on whether the need is a one-time purchase or a recurring gap. See the comparison pages for the trade-offs.

How fast can I get it?

Decisions are often the same day on a complete file, and funding can follow the next business day.