Financing for Alberta's core industries
Alberta businesses run on equipment. Trucking and hauling, construction and trades, fabrication and manufacturing, and the many companies that serve the energy sector all need machines and vehicles that cost more than a year's profit. That makes equipment financing the most common starting point, with lines of credit to carry the gap between doing the work and getting paid.
No PST: what it means for equipment
Alberta charges only the 5% GST, which registered businesses can generally claim back as an input tax credit. Without a provincial sales tax, the upfront cost of equipment is lower than in most provinces, and the choice between an equipment loan and a lease comes down mostly to ownership, cash flow and income tax.
Alberta contractors: prompt payment
Alberta's Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act came into force on August 29, 2022. Owners must pay a proper invoice within 28 days, and contractors must pay subcontractors within 7 days of being paid. Further amendments took effect on April 1, 2025. Even with these rules, payroll and materials come due before the money arrives. Our guide to holdbacks and prompt payment covers how to finance around it.
Where Alberta businesses borrow
- Banks, credit unions and ATB Financial, Alberta's provincially owned financial institution, for businesses that fit their criteria. If you've been declined, here's what to do next.
- Government-backed loans through the Canada Small Business Financing Program and BDC.
- Equipment lenders and leasing companies, including lenders that specialize in heavy and used equipment.
- Alternative lenders for term loans and credit lines, deciding mostly from recent bank statements.
Already own your equipment?
Many Alberta operators have fleets that are paid off or close to it. That equity can fund growth or replace expensive short-term debt. Here's how equipment refinancing and sale-leasebacks work.
How Straightline works in Alberta
You answer a few questions about your business. We match you with one experienced funding advisor who serves Alberta and knows your industry. They compare offers from the lenders that fit and walk you through your options. Your file goes to that one advisor only. Check your options in about 3 minutes, with no credit check to start.