Growing a 7-figure Business Without Overspend: How Cedarbrush Scaled with Venn

Introduction

Company: Cedar Brush

Founder: Corey Janvier

Location: West Vancouver, BC

About Cedar Brush

Corey Janvier, the founder and CEO of Cedar Brush Site Services and Janitorial, grew the business from a single mop bucket and broom to a million-dollar operation in just over three years. Corey is from Chippewa Prairie, Dene First Nation in Northern Alberta, and now resides in West Vancouver. He created Cedar Brush with a vision to provide essential services to underserved communities, focusing on First Nations communities, social housing, and organizations in need of cleaning, property maintenance, and labor support.

‍

The Problem

Traditional banking left Corey without control or separation between personal and business finances

Corey, like many Indigenous entrepreneurs, faced the challenge of limited access to capital and credit as he built his business. The initial struggles included finding the right financial tools to help scale operations without racking up personal debt.

"When you're starting out and you're focused on growth, you don’t want to be dealing with credit cards or bank cards that have no control. It becomes a risk, especially when you have multiple divisions within the company, and every purchase matters.”
_{- Corey Janvier, CEO of Cedar Brush}

For Corey, the core issue wasn’t just the lack of access to credit; it was the inability to separate personal and business finances without taking on unnecessary risk. Traditional banking options didn’t offer him the flexibility or control he needed. As the business grew, so did his need for a reliable and secure solution to manage payments, set limits, and control spending.

‍

The Solution

From cards to cross-border control, Venn helped Cedar Brush scale without credit risk

Cedar Brush needed a financial platform that could evolve with the business, offering seamless transactions, easy access to funds, and complete control over company spending. Corey turned to Venn, a solution that could scale with him as he expanded operations.

With Venn, Corey quickly transitioned from relying on personal credit to using Venn cards for his team, setting spending limits, and maintaining a hands-off approach to financial management.

Here were Venn's Key benefits for Cedar Brush:

1. Seamless Card Issuance and Control:
‍Corey can issue physical and virtual cards to employees quickly without tying them to his personal credit. He sets spending limits for different divisions, ensuring there is no overspending, and employees can easily upload receipts for smooth expense tracking.

2. Cash-First Banking Infrastructure:
With Venn, Corey has been able to eliminate the risk of credit card debt, sticking to a cash-based approach to building his business. This enables him to scale responsibly, without worrying about high-interest rates or overdue payments.

3. Business Payments & Expense Tracking:
With fast domestic transfers and fast card delivery, Venn helps Cedar Brush move quickly, whether paying vendors, reimbursing employees, or managing purchases across teams. These operational gains save Corey over 10 hours a week.

4. No International Fees:
As Cedar Brush began expanding, Corey frequently traveled for business, especially to the U.S. With Venn’s international capabilities, Corey could manage his business finances without facing the high fees typically associated with U.S. transactions, saving hundreds of dollars in fees.

‍

Who is Venn For

Built for businesses that need control, flexibility, and a finance stack that actually keeps up

Venn is the ideal financial solution for Canadian businesses looking to manage growth without the complexities of outdated systems. Whether you're a small business just starting out or a fast-growing company with multiple divisions, Venn gives you the control and flexibility you need to scale without the hassle.

For businesses like Cedar Brush, a 100% Indigenous-owned company, Venn provides the perfect infrastructure to handle day-to-day expenses, manage employee spending, and track finances in real-time. Venn simplifies the process for companies working with social services, property maintenance, and remote communities, providing tools that help them manage their operations with ease.

As an Indigenous entrepreneur, Corey Janvier faced challenges accessing traditional banking solutions, but with Venn, he’s been able to scale his business without relying on high-risk credit or dealing with the limitations of legacy banks. Venn’s tools empower businesses like Cedar Brush to take control and thrive, with speed and security, without the back-and-forth of dealing with old banking systems.