Ellsworth Lend Inc.
From First Call to Funded — in 4.2 Business Days Average
$340M+ originated across 347 businesses since 2010. Portfolio default rate below 2.1%. Founded by Dr. Martin Ellsworth after 15 years of academic research into why banks consistently fail mid-market borrowers. We show our math — every time.
See How the Process Works →
Know Exactly What Happens Next — Every Step
We believe the anxiety of not knowing is worse than any interest rate. Most business owners who come to us have already endured weeks of silence from their bank, opaque committee reviews, and vague promises. Here's exactly what happens when you call us — no surprises, no black boxes, no committees you'll never meet. For the full detailed breakdown with documentation checklists, visit our complete process guide.
01
The Conversation
You call (201) 427-8807 or email. Within 24 hours, you're speaking with a senior lending professional — not a screener, not an intake form. We listen to what you actually need, not what fits our template.
Day 1
02
Initial Assessment
We review your financials and the purpose of the loan. Within 48 hours, we tell you honestly whether we can help — and if we can't, we'll tell you who can. No vague "we'll get back to you." A senior member of our 10-person team personally delivers the preliminary assessment.
Days 1–2
03
Deep Dive
For viable applications, our credit team digs in — site visits, operations review, our proprietary 14-factor assessment framework evaluating your business the way you see it: as a living enterprise, not a spreadsheet. This framework was developed from Dr. Ellsworth's peer-reviewed research on SME credit markets and refined across $340M+ in real originations.
Days 3–8
04
Credit Decision
Our three-person lending committee reviews the complete file. Average decision time: 4.2 business days from complete documentation. You get a definitive yes or no — with a full written explanation either way. A "no" from Ellsworth Lend comes with specific reasons, actionable guidance, and — where applicable — referrals to lenders better suited to your situation.
Days 4–10
05
Structuring & Terms
We design a loan structure matched to your business reality — amortization aligned to asset life, repayment schedules that respect your cash flow cycle, covenants that signal real distress rather than triggering on normal seasonal fluctuations. Every borrower receives a transparent pricing breakdown showing exactly how their rate was calculated. Browse our 10 specialized lending solutions to see the range of structures we build.
Days 10–18
06
Funding
Legal documentation, signing, and funding. Sophie's team ensures you receive signed documents within 48 hours of closing. Average total timeline: 15–35 business days, depending on complexity. Once funded, existing clients access their loan documents, payment schedules, and covenant reporting through our secure borrower portal.
Days 15–35
Lending Structures Banks Can't — or Won't — Build
We're a small team — 10 people — so we focus on what we do exceptionally well: business lending structures that banks either can't or won't build. Over the past 15 years, we've originated $340M+ across 347 businesses throughout Quebec, specializing in credit facilities from $100K to $5M. Here are six of our core capabilities. We offer 10 specialized solutions in total.
Commercial Term Loans
$100K–$5M. Amortization matched to actual asset life — not an arbitrary 5-year standard regardless of what you're financing. Transparent pricing breakdowns showing exactly how your rate was calculated, always included. Whether you're acquiring real estate, upgrading production capacity, or funding a major capital expenditure, we structure repayment to align with the asset's productive cycle.
Revolving Credit Facilities
$50K–$3M working capital lines designed around your actual business cycle. Advance rates based on your specific receivables quality, not a generic formula applied identically to every industry. Quarterly borrowing base reviews you actually understand — we walk you through each one, so you know exactly how much capacity you have and why.
Acquisition Financing
Purpose-built for deals heavy on intangible value — recurring revenue, customer contracts, brand equity, proprietary processes. Joint due diligence where we work alongside you to validate the target's cash flows. Cash-flow-based covenants that reflect acquisition economics, not just historical balance sheets. One client, Tariq Mansouri, doubled revenue within two years of his Ellsworth-financed expansion.
Capital Structure Advisory
Carrying debt from 4 different lenders at a blended 9.7%? We've seen it more times than we can count. We consolidate, simplify, and typically save clients six figures annually. Our advisory work begins with a comprehensive audit of your existing obligations — terms, covenants, collateral allocation, and total cost of capital — before designing a rationalized structure that actually serves the business.
Project-Based Working Capital
For construction subcontractors, architectural and design firms, and custom manufacturers — businesses where cash needs spike dramatically on a project-by-project basis. Draws tied to verified project milestones, not arbitrary monthly limits. We understand holdback structures, progress billing cycles, and the gap between work completed and payment received.
Equipment & Vehicle Financing
Direct lending with amortization schedules reflecting actual productive lifespan — not generic 36- or 60-month terms applied uniformly. Fleet programs with rolling availability for businesses that acquire equipment on an ongoing basis. Whether it's CNC machines, delivery vehicles, or specialized medical devices, we match the financing to the asset's economic reality.
Explore All 10 Service Areas →
Four Reasons 347 Businesses Trust Ellsworth Lend
"We Show Our Math"
Every borrower receives a written explanation of their credit assessment, pricing rationale, and covenant structure. Not a summary — the actual decision framework. No other commercial lender in Montréal offers this level of decisioning transparency. As Dr. Catherine Morin put it: "In 20 years of borrowing, no lender had ever shown me how the sausage was made." We believe you have the right to understand exactly why you received your rate and terms.
"Built by a Professor, Run Like a Thesis Defense"
Our 14-factor credit assessment framework was developed from peer-reviewed academic research on SME credit markets, then stress-tested across $340M+ in originations over 15 years. Dr. Martin Ellsworth spent 15 years at McGill University studying precisely why traditional bank underwriting systematically undervalues mid-market enterprises — and then built a company to do it better. The result: a portfolio default rate below 2.1%, proving that better analysis means better outcomes for everyone.
"4.2-Day Average Decisions"
From complete documentation to definitive answer — yes or no — with a full explanation either way. Not a conditional approval with 14 outstanding items. Not a "preliminary indication" that evaporates in committee. A real decision from people who've actually read your file. A "no" from us should be more useful than a "maybe" from anyone else, because it comes with specific reasons and actionable next steps. See the full timeline breakdown.
"92% Come Back"
Our client retention rate for subsequent facilities. That number matters more to us than any marketing metric — it means the experience and the structures actually work in practice, not just on paper. When borrowers need a second facility, an expansion line, or acquisition financing years later, 92% return to Ellsworth Lend. Read their stories on our client testimonials page — these are real business owners with verifiable outcomes.
$340M+
Credit Originated Since 2010
<2.1%
Portfolio Default Rate
4.2 Days
Average Loan Decision
92%
Client Retention Rate
Real Outcomes from Real Business Owners
We don't publish anonymous reviews. Every testimonial on this site comes from a named business owner willing to stand behind their experience. These are three of 347 client relationships — read the full collection of client stories for detailed case outcomes.
"Martin and his team at Ellsworth Lend actually sat down, analyzed the recurring revenue contracts, and built a structure that worked. They didn't just approve a loan — they understood our business model better than our own bank did after a decade."
Sébastien Roy
President & CEO, TechNord Solutions Inc., Laval, QC
"Nadia walked us through a printed document showing exactly how they assessed our credit, what factors determined our rate, and what we could do to improve it over time. In 20 years of borrowing, no lender had ever shown me how the sausage was made."
Dr. Catherine Morin
Founder, Réseau Santé Dorval, Dorval, QC
"Martin Ellsworth told me — 'If the business case can't support the loan on its own merits, we shouldn't be making it, and your house shouldn't be paying for our underwriting failure.' Ellsworth Lend financed our entire expansion without touching our personal assets. Revenue doubled within two years."
Tariq Mansouri
Co-Founder, Groupe Alimentaire Saint-Hubert-Est, Saint-Hubert, QC
Your Free Assessment — Completed in 48 Hours
Tell us what you need and why. Within two business days, you'll know whether we can help, a realistic timeline, and an honest assessment of your options. No obligation, no pressure, no 40-page application form.
Whether you're looking for a commercial term loan, revolving credit facility, or acquisition financing, your first conversation is with a senior lending professional who can give you a preliminary assessment on the spot. We've been doing this since 2010 — 347 businesses later, the process works.
Start Your Free Assessment