Whatever your business needs, there’s an SBA loan for that.

You can find an SBA loan option to cover just about every nook and cranny of your small business.  The most common SBA loans are the 7(a), 504.

SBA 7(a) Loan

The 7(a) is one of the most flexible SBA loans. You can use it to:

  • Buy land
  • Cover construction costs
  • Buy or expand an existing business
  • Refinance your existing debt
  • Buy machinery, furniture, supplies, or materials

SBA 7(a) loans of less than $25,000 may not require collateral but higher loan amounts likely will. For loans of $350,000 or higher, the SBA requires your lender to ask for the maximum possible amount of collateral to limit risk of default.

If you’re looking for a large amount of money, you can get a 7(a) loan for up to $5 million if you meet all the qualification requirements.

SBA 504 Loan

504 loans can be a bit more complicated than 7(a)s. Because you would use a 504 to fund a project, a thorough examination of your project costs will come into play. When your loan is funded, the lender will initially cover 50% of your costs and the SBA will cover 40% – that means you’re responsible for covering at least 10% right off the bat. You’ll also be required to personally guarantee at least 20% of the loan.

You must use your SBA 504 loan to finance fixed assets, although some soft costs can also be included. Examples of qualifying projects are:

  • Buy an existing building
  • Build a new facility or renovate an existing facility
  • Buy land or make land improvements such as grading, landscaping, and adding parking lots
  • Buy long-term machinery
  • Refinance debt incurred through the expansion of your business or renovation of your facilities or equipment

To qualify for an SBA 504 loan, your business must have a tangible net worth of more than $15 million and an average net income of $5 million or less for the two years prior to your application.

Quick Quote

Benefits

Loan Amount

Up to $5,000,000

Loan Term

10-30 Years

Frequently Asked Questions

Are SBA Loans Paid for by the Government?

The short answer is, yes and no. Typically, because each type of SBA loan is government-backed, many people might think the government is funding your small business loans. While that’s usually not the case for traditional SBA loans, the adjustments made to EIDLs by the CARES Act and the creation of PPPs mean the funds for these loans come straight from the US Treasury. In the case of the 7(a), 504, and Express loans, the SBA guarantees the loans, limiting the risk for the lender and making SBA loans more appealing to lenders.

The Benefits of a Government-Backed Loan

SBA loans offer enviable rates and terms for small businesses that might not usually qualify for a traditional bank loan. The benefits don’t end there. These government-backed loans offer monthly payments, fixed interest rates, special-case principal amount forgiveness, and long repayment terms. SBA loans are an excellent way to build and improve your credit, which puts you in a stronger position the next time you need financing. Better credit can qualify you for higher amounts and different forms of financing.

Qualifying for an SBA Loan

While traditional SBA loans are significantly easier to attain than your average bank loan, they’re still more difficult to acquire than most loans from non-institutional lenders. They’re known for being more paperwork-intensive with a much longer time to funds and a higher percentage of rejection than direct online lenders. However, due to the economic stress caused by COVID-19, some of the SBA loans have loosened their requirements to ensure aid reaches as many small business owners as possible.

SBA Loan Interest Rates

SBA loan interest rates are some of the lowest in the business. Because SBA loan interest rates are based on the prime rate, SBA interest rates change whenever the Federal Reserve moves the needle.