Some companies are built on timing. Others are built on trends. TFG Financial was built on something sturdier: the relentless belief that small and midsized businesses are the backbone of every economy and that, with the right kind of support, they can grow beyond what they ever imagined.
What started more than 40 years ago with a focus on helping small businesses access essential office equipment has evolved into a cross-border financial force, with nearly a dozen companies, over 250 employees across Canada and the U.S., and a brand-new headquarters in downtown Vancouver. Along the way, TFG Financial has kept one thing constant: a commitment to creative, flexible capital solutions that help businesses not just survive volatile markets but thrive in them.
Today, TFG Financial serves industries from transportation to construction to manufacturing, offering everything from heavy equipment financing to outsourced business processes — always with an entrepreneurial spirit that sets it apart from traditional lenders. The company’s message to the market remains as ambitious as its founding vision: if your business is looking for a capital partner or a business process outsource partner that thinks differently, TFG Financial is ready to help.
Grit Daily: You have more than 40 years in the game. How did TFG Financial first get its start?
Jim Case: In 1979, I began my career with Citibank. I was fortunate in that I had great mentors at Citi, and they helped shape my career. In 1984, I left Citibank to start the captive financing department of one of Canada’s largest independent office equipment distributors, where I contributed to the distributor’s growth by helping small businesses acquire computers, copiers, printers, and fax machines they needed to power their business operations. Within a few years, we branched out to include all forms of commercial and industrial equipment. Forty years later, TFG Financial is a multifaceted organization of nearly a dozen companies facilitating financing transactions in both Canada and the U.S., helping small and midsized enterprises (SMEs) survive and grow. We just moved into a state-of-the-art office tower in downtown Vancouver, and we now have over 250 employees across the U.S. and Canada.
Grit Daily: Tell us about the core services you offer today.
Jim Case: TFG Financial is comprised of a diverse group of operating companies. One of our companies provides financing for heavy equipment that can be purchased from a manufacturer, dealer, or auction house. Another company provides outsourced business processes like collections, customer service, and lead generation to financial institutions and other financial service providers. We help truck drivers purchase their own equipment to become independent owner-operators. TFG Financial also helps businesses secure critical capital by refinancing equipment or providing asset-based loans.
Grit Daily: In a crowded financing market, what makes TFG Financial stand out?
Jim Case: Our 40 years of experience is a major point of differentiation. We have deep knowledge of historical industry trends, equipment valuation, and creative financing strategies. We have an entrepreneurial attitude and a partnering mentality that continually drives innovation. And we have a network that is second to none, ensuring that our clients have access to financial resources whenever they need it.
Grit Daily: What industries lean on you the most?
Jim Case: Traditionally, TFG Financial helps small and midsized enterprises (SMEs) that rely on assets like trucks and trailers and other heavy equipment for construction, transportation, manufacturing, and material-handling jobs. These companies need flexible and fast financing and leasing solutions, or sometimes cashflow solutions using that equipment for collateral. Beyond our service to SMEs, TFG Financial is also a partner to large financial institutions, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and equipment dealers, providing the financing and/or business process outsourcing that helps these companies operate with maximum efficiency and in some cases at reduced costs.
Grit Daily: Any new markets or sectors you’re excited about?
Jim Case: Yes, we are always looking to expand into adjacent markets based on our experience and functional strengths. For example, we recently launched a partnership with a medical equipment reseller to provide financing for practitioners and clinics that need to purchase high-ticket medical equipment. This financing enables practitioners to expand their practices by offering the latest procedures to consumers. We have a well-established equipment financing practice, but this is our first foray into medical equipment financing.
Grit Daily: How does TFG Financial fuel small business growth on the ground?
Jim Case: Businesses in many industries need to acquire equipment in order to expand. For example, construction companies need equipment to bid, win, and complete new projects; transportation companies need vehicles to service expanded routes; and so forth. We provide that financing. Businesses need operating capital to invest in growth opportunities. We provide that financing. Manufacturers, dealers, and auction houses need financing solutions for customers who want to buy big-ticket equipment. We provide outsourced financing solutions that make those purchases more accessible and enable more deals to be approved and closed. It is our core mission to help companies grow.
Grit Daily: When companies work with you, what are the biggest advantages they notice?
Jim Case: First and foremost, we possess deep risk management knowledge based on 40 years of business, so our clients benefit from our knowledge of historical market trends and our specialty in crafting customized, creative capital solutions. Secondly, because we are a provider of private capital solutions, as opposed to a bank, we can be faster, more flexible, and nimbler. Federal regulations force banks to have a relatively conservative risk appetite based on a company’s historical balance sheet. As a result, the bank application process is long and tedious, and companies with less-than-perfect financial statements often do not qualify for bank loans. Entrepreneurialism is at our core, so our approach is faster, more creative, and more considerate of a company’s off-balance-sheet factors like the asset value of owned equipment, vehicles, and real estate. Our clients appreciate our speed and flexibility.
Grit Daily: The market’s been anything but predictable lately. How are you helping businesses stay ahead?
Jim Case: There are significant economic headwinds that businesses are encountering right now: the uncertainty surrounding the threat of an international trade war; interest rates, stagflation, currency, and stock market fluctuations; and plunging business and consumer confidence. But in challenging times, the financial industry likes to lean on an old car racing adage: it’s easier to pass 15 cars on a rainy course than when it’s sunny. Companies that are disciplined, strategic, and who deploy innovative strategies can outperform and grow market share during these unpredictable times. TFG Financial has a rich history of helping companies thrive in good times and bad. And we have always grown in times of uncertainty.
Grit Daily: Looking ahead, what’s the long-term vision for TFG Financial?
Jim Case: We expect to enter new markets and serve new industries, much like we did earlier in the year when we ventured into medical equipment financing. Our ability to provide capital faster and easier than many traditional lenders is ideal for other asset-rich sectors. We plan to pursue as many new sectors as we can practically support using our 40 years of success, together with a constant need to improve.
Grit Daily: Anything else you’d like business owners to know?
Jim Case: If any business in markets we serve finds itself in need of a capital partner or business process outsource partner that thinks differently… please reach out!
