How to protect your cash flow when tariffs hit.

3 minute readUpdated October 13, 2026By the NorthAxis Capital team

Tariffs rarely hit all at once. Costs creep up. A customer slows down. A supplier changes terms. By the time your bank balance shows it, you have fewer choices. These steps help you act early.

1. Plan 13 weeks ahead

Make a simple table with one column per week for the next 13 weeks. Write down the cash you expect to come in, and the cash going out: payroll, rent and suppliers.

Then make a careful version where big customers pay late or buy less. Now you can see when a gap might open, while you still have time to fix it.

2. Talk to customers early

Ask your biggest customers how tariffs affect their plans. You may agree to share costs, change prices, or change order sizes.

Write down what changes. It also becomes proof of tariff harm if you apply for help.

3. Check your costs and duties

See which supplies now cost more because of tariffs. Look for other suppliers. If you bring goods in and then send products out of Canada, you may get some duties back through the Canada Border Services Agency.

4. Use programs built for tariffs

• The tariff relief grant (RTRI) gives up to $3 million you don’t pay back. Up to $2 million can help pay wages, rent and bills. See if you qualify.
• Work-Sharing lets you cut hours instead of jobs. How it works.
• BDC Pivot to Grow lends $250,000 to $5 million with 0% interest for the first year.
• Your province may have help too. See them by province.

5. Line up financing before you need it

Lenders say yes more easily when you are not in trouble yet. A line of credit can sit unused until you need it. If customers pay slowly, invoice factoring turns unpaid invoices into cash now.

6. Start finding new markets

Selling to more than one country takes time, so start small. The Trade Commissioner Service and Export Development Canada help businesses find buyers outside the U.S. A tariff relief pivot project can pay up to half of the cost.