26% of Canadian Small Business Owners Pledge Personal Guarantees for Financing, Equifax Finds

• Equifax’s Oct. 22, 2026, survey found 26% of Canadian small-business owners surveyed had provided personal guarantees to obtain business financing.
• Another 21% had applied for or opened a personal line of credit as a business financial safety net over two years.
• Among owners aged 18–34, 54% had been required to provide personal guarantees, compared with 15% of those aged 55 or older.
• Of owners using personal credit lines or guarantees for business, 45% reported effects on their personal finances.
• Customer acquisition or retention was the leading challenge, cited by 53% of owners surveyed; rising operating costs followed at 48%.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Equifax Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via GlobeNewswire (Ref. ID: 202610220530PRIMZONEFULLFEED9851004) on October 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.