About
About Canadian Equipment Finance
Building Success Through Partnership Since 2009
For over a decade, Canadian Equipment Finance (CEF) has been helping businesses across Canada acquire the equipment they need to build, grow, and succeed. Since 2009, we've funded over $2 billion in equipment leasing and financing transactions for thousands of Canadian companies, from startups to established enterprises. With corporate roots extending back to the 1980s, we bring four decades of institutional knowledge combined with entrepreneurial flexibility. Our team collectively holds more than 200 years of equipment finance experience, and through our network of 30+ funding partners plus our own balance sheet capital, we deliver financing solutions that traditional lenders often cannot.
At CEF, we believe there's a better way to finance equipment. The secret to crafting a great deal isn't forcing your business into standardized programs; it's carefully selecting the right lender, structure, and product to meet your specific needs. We work alongside our customers to choose the optimal solution. It's how we deliver better deals and better experiences.
Whether we're deploying our own capital or connecting you with the ideal funding partner from our extensive network, we serve businesses coast-to-coast across every major Canadian industry: transportation, construction, forestry, oil and gas, manufacturing, aircraft, mining, and more.
Our Story: Building Strength Through Partnership
In September 2018, Canadian Equipment Finance strengthened its position through a strategic joint venture between Canadian Equipment Finance & Leasing Inc. and PROVEN Financial Group Inc. This partnership combined complementary strengths: CEFL's deep industry relationships and specialized sector expertise with PROVEN's institutional capital access and advanced underwriting capabilities. The result is enhanced funding capacity, broader industry coverage, and more flexible financing structures for our clients.
As a proud member of the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association (CFLA-ACFL), we uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and industry best practices in equipment finance. Today, our unified team operates coast-to-coast with the resources to handle transactions from single assets to multi-million dollar portfolio financings—combining institutional strength with the personalized, relationship-focused service that defines our approach.
The CEF Advantage
What sets Canadian Equipment Finance apart from traditional lenders? Three core differentiators that directly benefit your business:
Unmatched Capacity
We maintain relationships with over 30 institutional funding partners while also deploying our own balance sheet capital. This dual-source approach gives us extraordinary flexibility to structure creative solutions even when traditional banks decline. Whether you need aggressive advance rates, US dollar funding, equipment-backed revolvers, or sale-leasebacks, we have multiple pathways to get your deal done.
Deep Industry Expertise
Our team collectively brings more than 200 years of equipment financing experience, earned through decades inside major Canadian banks and financial institutions. We're not generalists, we're specialists who understand how lenders think, how deals get structured, and how to position your transaction for success. This expertise translates into smarter structures, faster approvals, and financing that actually supports your operational needs.
Dedicated Partnership
When you work with CEF, you get a dedicated team that takes ownership of your file from first conversation through funding and beyond. We lead the process, follow through on commitments, and have your back when challenges arise. You're not a case number in a queue, you're a valued client working with professionals who genuinely care about your success.
How We Structure Equipment Financing That Works
Our financing process starts with understanding the business behind the equipment, not pushing a predefined product.
Rather than leading with standardized programs, Canadian Equipment Finance follows a structured, consultative approach designed to align financing with real operational needs.
Our process typically includes:
Discovery – We begin by understanding your business model, industry dynamics, and operational goals, including how the equipment will be used and over what lifecycle.
Assessment – We evaluate key factors such as equipment type and condition, expected utilization, residual value, and cash flow patterns (including seasonality where applicable).
Structuring – Based on this assessment, we identify the right lender, term length, payment structure, and financing product to support both short-term cash flow and long-term planning.
Funding – Once approved, we finalize documentation and deploy capital efficiently, with most transactions approved within 24–48 hours.
By combining access to 30+ funding partners with the ability to deploy our own capital, we’re able to structure solutions that traditional lenders often can’t.
For example, when working with seasonal contractors, we may design step-up or deferred payment structures that align with revenue cycles rather than fixed monthly payments.
To see how this approach works in practice, explore how we’ve structured financing solutions for businesses like yours.
Supporting growth across sectors with custom finance strategies
| Industry | Common Challenge | How We Structure Financing |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Progress draws, project milestones, seasonal revenue | Flexible payment schedules aligned to project timelines and cash flow cycles |
| Transportation | Fleet turnover, trade-ins, asset depreciation | Trade-in-friendly structures and financing that supports staged fleet upgrades |
| Forestry | High-value equipment with long lifecycles | Longer terms and residual-based structures to reduce monthly payment pressure |
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Canadian Equipment Finance was founded in 2009, with corporate roots extending back to the 1980s. Since launch, we’ve funded over $2 billion in equipment finance transactions and currently provide $200 million in annual funding capacity to Canadian businesses coast-to-coast.
-
We provide equipment financing across all major Canadian industries, including construction, transportation, forestry, oil and gas, energy, manufacturing, aircraft, mining, printing, and agriculture. Our team’s sector experience allows us to understand the operational and financial requirements unique to each industry.
-
Unlike single-source lenders, Canadian Equipment Finance works with 30+ funding partners in addition to our own balance sheet capital. This flexibility allows us to structure customized equipment leasing solutions, approve transactions outside traditional bank parameters, and deliver faster decisions with a more consultative, relationship-driven approach.
-
We structure equipment financing transactions ranging from $50,000 to $10 million+, serving businesses of all sizes across Canada. Whether you’re financing a single piece of equipment or an entire fleet, we have the experience and capacity to support your needs.
-
Yes. Canadian Equipment Finance is a proud member of the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association (CFLA-ACFL). This membership reflects our commitment to professional standards, ethical practices, and industry best practices in equipment finance.
-
Canadian Equipment Finance operates from three offices across Canada:
Kelowna, British Columbia
Edmonton, Alberta
Breslau, Ontario (Head Office)
From these locations, we support businesses nationwide.
-
Timelines vary depending on transaction complexity, equipment type, and documentation requirements. However, many transactions receive conditional approval within 24–48 hours, with funding typically completed within 1–3 weeks once due diligence and documentation are finalized.
Why businesses choose Canadian Equipment Finance
Businesses choose Canadian Equipment Finance for our experience, capacity, and consistency.
We bring decades of equipment finance expertise, broad access to capital, and a disciplined, transparent approach to structuring transactions. Our team remains actively involved throughout the financing process, providing clarity, follow-through, and dependable execution from initial discussion through funding.
For Canadian businesses seeking a knowledgeable, reliable equipment finance partner, Canadian Equipment Finance offers the confidence of scale combined with a relationship-focused approach built on trust and long-term value.
Capacity
We have more funding options than you may think. In fact, we have 30+ funding partners and we often deploy our own capital to provide effective financing solutions.
Expertise
Collectively, we have more than 200 years of experience with equipment financing. We offer our experience to find a best-fit financing solution for your company.
Dedication
We get that you're busy and that your time is important. Our team of professionals will take the lead, follow through and have your back every step of the way.