Embedded finance is rapidly transforming how small businesses access funding, with payment processors increasingly integrating lending solutions directly into merchant platforms. By analysing real-time transaction data, financial providers can offer faster and more flexible capital options compared with traditional bank loans. The launch of Quick Capital by Elavon and Liberis highlights how payment infrastructure is evolving into a distribution channel for working capital, enabling small businesses to access funding directly within the tools they already use to manage payments.
Liberis and Elavon have officially announced the expansion of their strategic partnership to launch Quick Capital for small and medium-sized businesses across Canada. This move follows a successful 2025 rollout in the United States and aims to provide more than 202,000 Canadian SMBs with rapid access to flexible, revenue-based financing. By embedding the funding application directly into the existing Elavon merchant portal, the partnership eliminates traditional barriers such as lengthy paperwork and rigid credit requirements. This integration allows businesses in sectors such as healthcare, retail, and hospitality to leverage their actual payment data to secure working capital for inventory, marketing, and operational expansion.
The launch comes at a critical time for the Canadian economy. According to the Intuit QuickBooks 2025 Annual Report, approximately 57% of Canadian small businesses currently charge more than 25% of their total monthly expenses to credit cards, often facing high interest rates and stagnant credit limits. Quick Capital addresses this reliance by offering an alternative that aligns with a business’s natural cash flow. Unlike traditional loans with fixed monthly instalments, this revenue-based model features a simple, single fee and payments that automatically adjust based on daily card sales. This flexibility ensures that during slower business cycles, repayment burdens are reduced, providing a vital safety net for seasonal or fluctuating industries.
The technical delivery of Quick Capital relies on a pre-populated application process powered by the Liberis API-driven architecture. This allows Elavon to present tailored, branded offers directly to eligible merchants via in-platform messaging and email. Rob Fairfield, CEO of Liberis, stated that a lack of quick, easy access to funding is a global issue holding small businesses back, and that extending the partnership to Canada was the “obvious next step.” The solution is designed to deliver funds in as little as 1 to 2 business days, with recent data showing that 91% of participating merchants achieved this speed during the 2025 pilot phase. This rapid turnaround is essential for businesses facing unexpected obstacles or immediate growth opportunities.
Wally Mlynarski, CEO of Elavon, emphasised that Quick Capital’s goal is to provide an efficient, straightforward path to funding that complements modern business rhythms. As a subsidiary of U.S. Bank, Elavon’s move to expand embedded finance in Canada reflects a broader trend of major financial institutions transitioning from purely transactional service providers to strategic growth partners. By turning payments infrastructure into a source of capital, the partnership helps stabilise the SMB sector and foster long-term resilience. As the program matures throughout 2026, both firms plan to introduce further enhancements and additional funding products based on real-time merchant feedback and market demand.
What this means for the industry
- Embedded finance is reshaping SMB lending
Payment platforms are increasingly offering financing products directly within merchant ecosystems. - Revenue-based financing aligns with business cash flow
Repayments that adjust according to daily sales provide greater flexibility than traditional fixed loan instalments. - Transaction data is becoming a key credit assessment tool
Payment history allows lenders to evaluate risk and deliver funding offers quickly. - Small businesses are seeking alternatives to credit cards
Many SMBs rely heavily on credit cards for working capital, often at high interest rates. - Payments infrastructure is evolving into financial service platforms
Payment processors are expanding beyond transactions to offer lending, analytics, and other financial tools.
Photo by Tyler Maddigan on Unsplash
