SBA 7(a) loans run up to $5M at Prime plus 2.25 to 4.75 percent with 10 to 25 year terms, the lowest-cost capital most small businesses can access. Expect 3 to 8 weeks, full documentation, and 680 plus credit. Packaging the file correctly is most of the battle.
Government-guaranteed and priced accordingly: nothing else on this ledger touches SBA pricing on a ten year horizon. Acquisitions, partner buyouts, owner-occupied real estate, and large refinances live here.
The catch is process. SBA files die from sloppy packaging far more often than from weak businesses. We build the file the way the lender's credit committee wants to read it, and we place it with lenders actively funding your deal type.
Term sheet
- Amounts
- $50K to $5M
- Cost
- Prime + 2.25 to 4.75, capped by SBA
- Term
- 10 years working capital, 25 years real estate
- Guaranty fee
- Roughly 2 to 3.75% upfront
- Time to fund
- 3 to 8 weeks, Express programs faster
- Typical profile
- 680+ credit, tax returns, personal guarantee
a.The right fit
- Buying a business or buying out a partner
- Owner-occupied commercial real estate with 10 percent down via 504
- Refinancing expensive debt onto a decade-long schedule
- Franchise launches inside recognized brands
b.Read before you sign
- This is the slow lane, and we say so. If the need is urgent, we bridge first and refinance into SBA after.
- Full documentation: returns, financial statements, debt schedules. Missing paper is the number one delay.
- Personal guarantees are standard and collateral is often taken when available. Read the terms with us before committing.
c.How it funds
Package properly
We assemble returns, financials, and the narrative lenders actually underwrite from.
Place with active lenders
Your file goes to SBA lenders currently funding your deal size and industry, not a general queue.
Close and fund
Underwriting, approval, closing: 3 to 8 weeks for 7(a), faster on Express, longer on 504 construction.
d.Plain answers
I was declined for an SBA loan by my bank. Do I have options?
Yes. Each SBA lender applies its own credit box on top of SBA rules, so a decline at one bank is not a decline everywhere. We re-package and place the file with lenders whose box fits it, or bridge you with faster capital and return to SBA later.
How long does an SBA loan really take?
Three to eight weeks is honest for 7(a) with a complete file. SBA Express can approve in days at smaller amounts. Real estate 504 deals run 45 to 120 days. Anyone quoting one week for a standard 7(a) is selling something.
What documents does an SBA application need?
Three years of business and personal tax returns, interim financials, a debt schedule, and entity documents form the core. Acquisitions add the target's financials and a purchase agreement. We hand you the exact checklist on day one.