Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Karsten Wenzlaff is a Crowdfunding and Fintech Expert from Germany. He is Secretary-General of Digit[...]
Bankruptcies in Canada Are Rising. Are Fintechs Listening?
Small Business | Jan 29, 2024
Image, The Hub, Graph by @Trevortombe
Canadian businesses face an increasing trend in bankruptcies, signaling deep-rooted economic challenges and implications for the fintech industry.
As widely covered including The Hub, the Canadian business landscape has been experiencing a worrying trend in the rise of bankruptcies, particularly among small and medium enterprises. Companies are exiting faster than new ones are being created. Is this a healthy stint of survival of the fittest will make us all stronger or what can be done? This development, highlighted in recent reports around the repayment deadline of SME CEBA loans by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) and CTV News, reflects deeper economic stress factors exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Since mid-2021, there's been a notable increase in business bankruptcies in Canada, with many companies opting to close down rather than file for bankruptcy. See Q3 2023 Insolvency Statistics tracked by Stats Canada
- A significant number of businesses have not returned to pre-pandemic revenue levels, with approximately 62% still struggling with pandemic-related debts. Rising operational costs, coupled with reduced demand and increased interest rates, are putting added pressure on businesses. The average debt per business is reported at $158,000.
- The CFIB advocates for government intervention, suggesting measures such as increasing the forgivable portion of CEBA loans and extending repayment deadlines. Freezing tax hikes and reducing credit card fees for small merchants are also recommended. The extended repayment deadline of Jan 18, 2024 has come and gone and the CEBA loans need to be paid back with many small businesses under financial duress.
- It was reported that many 70% of the exiting firms tend to be less productive, smaller and less profitable but that study refers to Canadian manufacturing and not the intangibles economy (and more here and here) that has changed the landscape today.
Importance for Fintech
Fintech firms, with their digital-first approach and innovative financial products, are well-positioned to assist businesses in managing their financial health. They can offer tailored solutions for debt management, cash flow optimization, and access to alternative funding sources. They also play an important role in financial education and advisory services, helping businesses make informed decisions during these uncertain times.
See: Fintech Fridays EP60: Revolutionizing Small Business Lending and Empowering Entrepreneurs
- Fintech firms are developing more responsive and flexible lending platforms to address the unique needs of struggling businesses.
- There is an increasing trend of partnerships between fintech companies and traditional financial institutions to provide comprehensive support to businesses.
- Some fintech companies are collaborating with government bodies to facilitate the distribution of aid and manage financial relief programs more efficiently.
- Deployment of advanced financial tools like AI-driven analytics for better financial planning and risk assessment.
Conclusion
The rising trend of business bankruptcies in Canada is a huge issue that needs more than time to resolve. As businesses struggle to survive hard and sobering times, the role of fintech becomes increasingly vital in providing innovative, accessible, and efficient financial solutions.
See: Bank-Fintech Partnerships and Trends 2024
The collaboration between government, financial institutions, and fintech firms will be key in addressing this growing problem and ensuring the sustainability and growth of the Canadian business ecosystem.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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