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Press Release

October 7, 2026 | Toronto, ON

How Canadian small business owners are pursuing their dreams

 Mastercard research and conversations from the Small Business Summit reveal how Canadian entrepreneurs are balancing growth ambitions with the realities of running a business today.

Across Canada, small business owners are pursuing a dream. It could be to build something of their own, to create meaningful value for their customers and communities or purely to see where their ambition can take them.

No matter what the dream is, realizing it means managing the things business owners may never have dreamed about.

From rising costs and changing customer expectations to cybersecurity risks and the everyday pressure of keeping a business moving, they are balancing their ambitions with the practical demands of running and growing a business.

Those realities, along with the infrastructure and partnerships needed to feel supported, were at the centre of the Mastercard Small Business Summit in Toronto. In partnership with GLORY Media, Mastercard brought together small business owners, industry leaders and ecosystem partners to discuss what growth looks like for Canadian businesses today.

The Summit also featured a Small Business Marketplace, powered by Moneris, showcasing six local businesses. This gave guests an opportunity to support small businesses directly using Moneris point-of-sale technology, illustrating how simple, secure payments can help businesses connect with customers.

Co-founder of Mahara Mindfulness, Sheba Zaidi

Here are the key takeaways that every small business supporter should know:

Growth is being redefined

Canadian small businesses are taking a more intentional approach to growth.

According to Mastercard’s Dreamonomics research, 77% of Canadian small businesses say growing revenue is a business goal. At the same time, 72% prioritize stability and predictability over fast growth and risk-taking.

Together, these findings point to a shift in how small business owners define success. Growth is still important, but it is increasingly about building a business that is stable, resilient, efficient and ready for what comes next.

“Small businesses are not stepping back from growth; they are being more intentional about how they pursue it,” said Nishant Raina, Mastercard’s vice president for Small and Medium Enterprises in Canada. “This is controlled momentum; growth pursued with greater intention, stability and confidence.”

Cybersecurity is part of the foundation for growth

Growth creates opportunity, but it also creates more to protect.

More customer data, more payment activity, more online interactions and more connected tools. Yet Mastercard research shows a gap between recognizing the importance of cybersecurity and feeling prepared to address it.

Sixty-three percent of Canadian small businesses say cybersecurity is a high priority, while 34% still feel unsure or unprepared to protect their business from cyber threats.

“For a small business owner, a cyber incident is not an isolated technology problem. It can interrupt payments, damage customer trust, create financial pressure and take time away from the business,” said Mark Barnett, global SME lead at Mastercard. “As businesses grow and become more digital, cybersecurity becomes part of the foundation that keeps their dream moving forward. Our goal is to help small business owners access practical tools and trusted support that make it easier to protect their businesses and their customers.”

Trust is part of the customer experience

Canadians want to support small businesses. New consumer research found that 87% say it is important to support small businesses through their own purchases, while 81% feel better about shopping with a small business when they know their purchase helps the owner build something of their own.

But emotional support must be matched by a reliable customer experience.

Ninety-one percent of Canadians say a secure checkout experience is important when shopping with a small business, and 90% want confidence that their payment information will be protected.

“Behind every small business is an owner who has poured everything into building something of their own,” said Gad Elharrar, vice president, SMB Products and Partnerships, Moneris. “At Moneris, we’re focused on delivering the innovative tools, trusted technology and secure payment experiences that help Canadian businesses grow with confidence. As Canada’s leading commerce solutions provider, we’re committed to helping entrepreneurs focus on what matters most: serving customers and growing their business.”

Partnerships can turn ambition into action

Small business owners are often expected to manage payments, security, customer relationships, finances and operations and more, and often across multiple systems.

Partnerships can help ease the burden by giving small businesses access to capabilities, expertise and infrastructure that might otherwise be difficult or costly to build on their own.

“We can’t expect small business owners to have all the answers themselves,” said Jodi Kovitz, Managing Director, Small Business Banking, Tangerine Bank. “Access to different perspectives, experiences and expertise can help entrepreneurs build confidence and make stronger decisions. In fact, based on our research, almost 9 in 10 entrepreneurs surveyed value advice from people who have built businesses themselves and two thirds say connecting with entrepreneurs improves their chances of success.”

By combining their strengths, financial institutions, payment providers, technology companies and fellow small business owners can help small businesses operate more efficiently and deliver the experiences customers expect.

Small business owner Sheba Zaidi, co-founder of Mahara Mindfulness, agrees: “Sustainable growth comes when you have the right partners in place — it allows you to make the right moves at the right moments so you can focus on building the future you envision for your business.”

Discover how Mastercard can help your small business thrive at mastercard.ca/smallbusiness.

Media contacts

Rosie McGregor, Mastercard, Canada

rosie.mcgregor@mastercard.com

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com