Credit is just one of many factors that we look at when we work with business owners. If your credit isn’t well established or damaged, we can work to find strengths in your business or finances to make the loan possible. In some cases, we have firm requirements such as amount in past due debt, bankruptcies and credit score minimums. So please check our loan requirements to see if we are a good fit for you.

Local businesses choose to work with us for more reasons than just access to loans. Our staff will go the extra mile for you throughout your application process, the life of your loan and beyond. We can help you connect with peers, local organizations, banks and more to provide as many opportunities for growth as possible. You can call us any time and connect with a live person. And of course, you can access our business resource library anytime.

Ascendus is a nonprofit, community organization dedicated solely to helping small business owners succeed and communities thrive. We are often able to lend to small business owners who have trouble finding loans elsewhere thanks to our smaller loan sizes, a process that looks at more than just a credit score, and terms that are designed to best meet your needs.

Ascendus works with businesses in a variety of different industries such as construction, retail sales, landscaping, restaurants, professional services and more.

Ineligible Industries: Real Estate, Transportation, Adult Entertainment/Materials, Drug Paraphernalia, Distribution, Sale or Manufacturing of Firearms: Non-FDA Weight Loss Products, Traditional Lending Institutions, Alternative Lenders, Check Cashing, Factoring Organizations, Non-Bank Cash Advances, Pawn Shops, Non-Profit Organizations, Non-U.S. Companies, Collection Agencies, Currency Exchanges, Precious Metal Sales, Investment Opportunities, Gambling Establishments, Lotteries/Raffles, and pyramid or multilevel sales plans

Ascendus has worked with thousands of start-up businesses across the country. Startups need to have been in operations for a minimum of one year, and are required to have a partner verified business plan with a 12-month cash flow projection. View our partners here: https://www.ascendus.org/partner/

Once you submit your online application, we’ll be in touch within 2 business days to let you know if you’re a good fit for Ascendus. If you are, you’ll be put in touch with a lending team member who will work with you one-on-one to assemble the strongest loan application possible. This will include documentation to confirm some of the information submitted in your application, as well as some other documents to help us understand your specific business situation as best we can.

If you don’t qualify for a loan with us at this time, we’ll give you the information you need to improve your business and financial situation so that you have an improved chance of qualifying on your next application. Typically, you’ll be eligible to reapply in three to six months.

When thinking about how much you should apply for, consider the following: Loan Use – What will I use the loan for specifically and do I know how much that costs? Monthly Payments – Will I be able to comfortably afford the monthly payments that will come with the loan? Click here to check out a monthly payment calculator.

If you want to calculate the monthly interest rate click here

Ascendus loans are always personally guaranteed. We never take your home as collateral but may ask for a cosigner or collateral such as a vehicle or piece of equipment to add strength to your application.

We report your loan payment history to personal credit bureaus—not to business credit bureaus (with the exception of SBA 7 (a) Community Advantage Loans)

Because all of our loans are personally guaranteed, your payment activity will impact your personal credit history. This is standard for many microloans and small business loans and helps small business owners like you build or strengthen personal credit, which is often essential for future financing.

We understand this may be different from what you’ve seen online. If you have questions or want help understanding your credit options, we’re here to support you.

No, we’re not a bank–although we work closely with banks and other financial institutions as partners.

We’re a nonprofit, mission-driven Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). That means we specialize in providing business loans and financial coaching to small business owners with big dreams.

Our goal is to help your business grow, thrive, and reach new financial milestones. Many of our clients use their loan as a first step, and over time, graduate to larger loans or traditional financing as their financial health improves.

We’re here to support that journey–this way up.