The amount alone does not tell me whether it is hard
I would never answer this with “easy” or “hard” without seeing the business. A $100,000 request can be modest for an established company with strong cash flow and difficult for a young business with limited revenue. Providers assess the borrower, business performance, use of funds, repayment capacity and, depending on the product, security and guarantees.
The question I prefer is: does this business have a credible reason for $100,000 and evidence that it can carry the resulting obligation?
What strengthens the file
I want a specific use of funds, clean and current financial records, a realistic repayment plan and an explanation for any unusual items. Established revenue does not guarantee approval, but it gives a provider more operating history to assess.
If the request is asset-backed, I would have quotes and asset details ready. If it is working capital, I would explain the cash conversion cycle: when money goes out, when customers pay and why financing bridges that gap.
What makes me cautious
I become cautious when the requested amount appears disconnected from revenue or the project, when existing obligations are unclear, when financing is being used repeatedly to cover structural losses, or when the owner cannot explain how repayment will fit into cash flow.
A decline is also not proof that every provider will decline. Different products solve different problems. But repeatedly applying without understanding the first decline can create more noise instead of improving the financing position.
Government-backed does not mean automatically approved
Under the CSBFP, eligible businesses can access financing through participating financial institutions, but lenders still perform due diligence and make the credit decision. ISED's guidelines explicitly require lenders to apply due diligence. A government risk-sharing program therefore should not be described as guaranteed approval for the borrower.