Are you thinking of applying for an SBA 7(a) loan, good you are reading this post now. 7(a) loan is one of the three cores of SBA loan programs that offer small business owners financial support when they are finding it hard to get funding. SBA 7(a) loan is a small business loan issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration through the help of private lenders which are mostly banks in the United States to all American Small businesses.
Although SBA 7(a) loan is a very good option for startups or supportive means for financing your small business due to the low interest rates and long repayment terms but you have to meet the strict requirements attached to it before you can become eligible for it.
What is SBA 7(a) loan Program?
The 7(a) loan program is one the well-known SBA loan program that offers financial support for small business but comes with strict or special requirements. To become eligible for 7(a) loan, you must consider certain factors which include residence of operation of the business, business’ credit history and the source of income of the business. These factors will help your lender know the best type of loan that suits your business.
The maximum loan amount for SBA 7(a) loan is $5 million and this loan program is a very good option for business purchases in real estate, refinancing current business debt, short and long term working capital and purchase of furniture, fixture and supplies.
How to Qualify for SBA 7a loan Program?
To become eligible for this loan type, your business must meet the SBA 7a loan requirements which include the following:
- The business must be operating in the United States
- Essence of the business must be for profit
- It must be a small business as defined by SBA
- Must make sure you are free of any existing debts and not delinquent in any form to the U.S. government
- The fund must serve its purpose such that it must be used for sound business goal and you must show that your need for the loan
- Applicant must have reasonable owner equity to invest
- Must have other financial resources which include personal assets before seeking financial assistance from SBA
Steps to Apply for SBA 7a loan Program
Now that you are familiar with the requirements you need to qualify for the 7(a) loan, it is important you go through the steps to know all what it takes to complete the SBA 7a loan application process.
- Step 1: find an SBA 7(a) loan lender by using the SBA lender match tool available on SBA website to give you information about your business and also connect you with the lender in your area. These lenders are mostly popular banks in the United States.
- Step 2: Gather the necessary application documents and submit it.
- Step 3: Wait for approval from the lenders and close your loan
What Can I Use SBA 7(a) loan for?
You can use 7(a) loan for different purposes which include the following;
- Renovation of an existing building or construction of a new building
- Purchase of equipment, furniture, fixture, machinery, materials or supplies
- Purchase of real estate which include buildings and lands
- Can serve as long and short term working capital
- Can be used to refinance existing business debt under certain conditions
- Establishing a new business or expansion of an existing business or operation or assisting in acquisition of a new business.
Documents Needed to Apply for SBA 7(a) loan for
The SBA 7(a) loan will require you to provide some important documents during your application process. They include the following;
- Borrower information form: this is known as the SBA form 1919, you will have to fill and complete the form and then submit it to an SBA-participating lender.
- Background and financial statements: this form is called the SBA form 912 (statement of personal history) and SBA form 413 (personal financial statement).
- Business financial statements: this will determine your ability to pay back the loan. The form include the following:
- Profit and Loss statement: must be current within 180 days of your application. This statement must also show supplementary schedules from the last three fiscal years.
- Project financial statements: this includes a detailed, one-year projection of income and finances. This statement also gives details of how you intend to achieve your projection.
- Business lease: you will have to attach a copy of your business lease with the terms of the proposed lease and a note from your landlord.
- Business Overview & History: this shows history of the business and its challenges and also gives an explanation as to why you need the SBA loan and how it will improve your business.
- Ownership and affiliations: this shows the list of names and addresses of any subsidiaries and affiliates which include concerns which you hold a controlling interest or those that are connected to you.
- Business License or certificate: you will be asked to provide a copy of the original business license or certificate of doing business. If your business is a corporation, make sure you stamp your corporate seal on the SBA loan application form.
- Income Tax Returns: this will show signed personal and business federal income tax returns of your business’ principal for previous three years.
- Loan Application History: this shows records of any loans you may have applied to in the past.
- Resumes: this shows personal resumes for each principal.
Documents Needed to Apply for SBA 7(a) loan for those Buying Existing Businesses
- Federal income tax returns for the previous three years
- Current balance sheet and profit and loss statement
- Proof of equity injection
- Franchise, jobber, or licensing agreements
- Asking price with schedule of inventory, machinery and equipment, and furniture and fixtures
- Proposed bill of sale including the terms of sale
Keep in mind that you may be asked to submit more forms depending in the specific use of proceeds or fees paid on a loan package or to an agent or broker.
How Can I pay back my SBA 7(a) loan?
Paying back your loan is dependent on several factors which include the following:
- 7(a) loan repayment term are usually repaid on monthly basis and it comes with principal and interest
- Since interest rate is constant, payments remains the same for fixed-rate loans
- Lenders may require a different payment amount when the interest rate changes
Types of SBA 7(a) loan
There are nine (9) types of 7(a) loans you can apply for and each comes with different packages. They include the following:
- Standard 7(a)
- 7(a) Small loan
- SBA Express
- Export Express
- Export Working Capital
- International Trade
- Preferred Lenders
- Veterans Advantage
- CAP Lines
| Type of Loan | Maximum loan amount | Maximum SBA guarantee % | Interest rate | Eligibility decision | Revolving lines of credit | SBA turnaround time | Forms | Collateral | Credit decision | |||||||||
| Standard 7(a) | $5 million | 85% for loans up to $150,000 and 75% for loans greater than $150,000 | Lenders and borrowers can negotiate the interest rate, but it may not exceed the SBA maximum | By the SBA. Qualified lenders may be granted delegated authority (PLP) to make eligibility determinations without SBA review. | Up to 10 years (Permitted only under CAPLines submission. See below) | 5-10 business days | SBA Form 1919 and SBA Form 1920 are required for every loan (other SBA Forms may be required) | Lenders are not required to take collateral for loans up to $25,000. For loans in excess of $350,000, the SBA requires that the lender collateralize the loan to the maximum extent possible up to the loan amount. If business fixed assets do not “fully secure” the loan the lender may include trading assets (using 10% of current book value for the calculation), and must take available equity in the personal real estate (residential and investment) of the principals as collateral. | By the SBA. Qualified lenders may be granted delegated authority (PLP) to make credit decisions without SBA review. | |||||||||
| 7(a) Small loan | $350,000 | 85% for loans up to $150,000 and 75% for loans greater than $150,000 | Lenders and borrowers can negotiate the interest rate, but it may not exceed the SBA maximum | By the SBA. Qualified lenders may be granted delegated authority (PLP) to make eligibility determinations without SBA review. | 5-10 business days | SBA Form 1919 and SBA Form 1920 are required for every loan (other SBA Forms may be required) | Lenders are not required to take collateral for loans up to $25,000. For loans over $25,000, up to and including $350,000, the lender must follow the collateral policies and procedures that it has established and implemented for its similarly-sized non-SBA-guaranteed commercial loans, but at a minimum the lender must take a first lien on assets financed with loan proceeds and lender must take a lien on all of the applicant’s fixed assets including real estate. Lender is not required to take a lien against applicant’s real estate when the equity is less than 25% of the fair market value. The lender may limit the lien taken against real estate to the loan amount. | By the SBA. Qualified lenders may be granted delegated authority (PLP) to make credit decisions without SBA review. | ||||||||||
| SBA Express | $500,000 | 50% | Lenders and borrowers can negotiate the interest rate, but it may not exceed the SBA maximum | Made by the lender | Up to seven years with maturity extensions permitted at the outset | Within 36 hours | Lender primarily uses own forms and procedures, plus SBA Form 1919 | Lenders are not required to take collateral for loans up to $25,000. May use their existing collateral policy for loans over $25,000 up to $350,000. | Made by the lender | |||||||||
| Export Express | $500,000 | 90% for loans of $350,000 or less, 75% for loans more than $350,000 | Lenders and borrowers can negotiate the interest rate, but it may not exceed the SBA maximum | Made by the lender | May not exceed seven years | 24 hours | Lender primarily uses own forms and procedures, plus SBA Form 1919, Borrower Information | Lenders follow collateral policies and procedures that the lender has established for its non-SBA-guaranteed loans | Made by the lender | |||||||||
| Export Working Capital | $5 million | 90% | Lenders and borrowers negotiate the interest rate and there is no SBA maximum interest rate limit. | By the SBA. Qualified lenders may be granted authorization to make eligibility decisions. | Terms of 12 months or less | 5-10 business days | SBA Form 1920 | Export-related inventory and receivable generated by export sales financed with EWCP funds. The SBA also requires personal guarantee of owners with 20% or more ownership. | Made by the SBA | |||||||||
| International Trade | $5 million | 90% | Lenders and borrowers can negotiate the interest rate, but it may not exceed the SBA maximum | Made by the SBA | 10 years for permanent working capital, up to 10 years for machinery and equipment or the useful life of the equipment (not to exceed 15 years), and up to 25 years for real estate. | 5-10 business days | Made by the SBA | |||||||||||
Preferred Lenders
For those who want to use the Preferred lenders program, SBA gives select lenders more authority to process, close, service and liquidate SBA-guaranteed loans. An SBA field office serving the area in which a lender’s office is located can nominate the lender, or the lender can ask a field office to consider it for preferred status. During this decision making process, SBA consider whether the lender has following qualities – (a) ability to process, close, service and liquidate loans (b) ability to develop and analyze complete loan packages and (c) has satisfactory performance
Veterans Advantage
SBA loans issued to veteran-owned businesses come with reduced fees plus veteran-owned businesses are known to be one of the fastest-growing and important segments in the economy of the United States. However, there are certain requirements veteran-owned small businesses must meet to become eligible for Veterans Advantage program.
(I) The business must be controlled by an honorably discharged veterans
(II) It could be service-disabled veterans
(III) Actively duty Military service member qualified for the military’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
(IV) Current spouse of any veteran, active duty service member, Reservist, National Guard member, or the widowed spouse of a service member who died while in service or as a result of a service-connected disability
CAPLines is 7(a) loan program that offers assistance to small businesses in order to meet their short-term and cyclical working. There are four line types of CAPLines you can apply for.
(I) Seasonal CAPLine: Borrowers must use the loan proceeds mainly for the purpose of to financing the seasonal increases of accounts receivable and inventory — or in some cases associated increased labor costs. It can be revolving or non-revolving.
(II) Contract CAPLine: this type of line enables you to finance direct labor and material costs associated with performing assignable contracts. It can also be revolving or non-revolving.
(III) Working CAPLine: This is sometimes regarded as an asset-based revolving line of credit for businesses. This is usually for small businesses that are unable to meet credit standard associated with long-term credit. This offers recurring short-term needs and provides financing for cyclical growth. Repayment is usually made after conversion of short-term assets into cash, which is remitted to the lender. Businesses continually draw from this line of credit, based on existing assets, and repay as their cash cycle dictates. This line generally is used by businesses that provide credit to other businesses. Because these loans require continual servicing and monitoring of collateral, additional fees may be charged by the lender.
(IV) Builders CAPLine: this type of line enables you to finance direct labor and material costs associated with small general contractor or building constructing or renovating residential or commercial buildings. The building project will serve as the collateral, and the loans can be revolving or non-revolving.
SBA 7a loan Rates
Interest rates for 7(a) loans are negotiated between the borrower and the lender but are set based on certain factors of SBA which include the prime rate, the LIBOR rate, or optional peg rate. Interest rates can be fixed or variable.
The interest rates for variable rate loans are as follows:
| Amount of Loan | Max rate if maturity is less than 7 years | Max rate if maturity is more than 7 years |
| $25,000 or less | Base rate plus 4.25% | Base rate plus 4.75% |
| $25,000 to $50,000 | Base rate plus 3.25% | Base rate plus 3.75% |
| $50,000 or more | Base rate plus 2.25% | Base rate plus 2.75% |
The interest rates for fixed rate loans are as follows:
| Amount of Loan | Prime rate in effect on the first business day of the month, plus |
| $25,000 or less | 6.0% (600 basis points) plus the 2.0% (200 basis points) permitted by 13 CFR 120.215 |
| $25,000 to $50,000 | 6.0% (600 basis points) plus the 1.0% (100 basis points) permitted by 13 CFR 120.215 |
| $50,000 to $250,000 | 6.0% (600 basis points) |
| $250,000 or more | 5.0% (500 basis points) |
SBA 7(a) loan Fees
| Gross Loan Size | Fees (see note 1) | Notes |
| Loans of $150,000 or less (See note 2) | 2% of guaranteed portion Lenders is authorized to retain 25% of the fee | Maturities that exceed 12 months |
| SBA Express Loans to qualified Veterans & Spouses up to $350,000 | Zero (When program is zero subsidy) | Maturities that exceed 12 months |
| $150,001 to $700,000 | 3% of guaranteed portion | Maturities that exceed 12 months |
| $701,001 to $5,000,000 (See note 3) | 3.5% of guaranteed portion up to $1,000,000 PLUS 3.75% of the guaranteed portion over $1,000,000 | Maturities that exceed 12 months |
| Short term loans | 0.25% of the guaranteed portion. | Maturities of 12 months or less |
| SBA On-Going Guaranty Fee | A percentage of the outstanding balance of the guaranteed portion. The fee is set at time of approval. | Paid by lender and cannot be passed on to the borrower |
Keep in mind the following notes
Note 1: The SBA specifies the amount of certain fees each fiscal year for all loans approved during that year.
Note 2: For example, the guaranty fee on a $100,000 loan with an 85% guaranty would be 2% of $85,000 or $1,700, of which the lender may retain $425.
Note 3: For example, the guaranty fee on a $5,000,000 loan with a 75% guaranty (3.75 million guaranteed portion) would be 3.5% of $1,000,000 ($35,000) plus 3.75% of $2,750,000 ($103,125) with totals $138,125.
SBA 7(a) Loan Prohibited fees
There are fees SBA loan applicants are not allowed to pay, in other words you must not pay any money during your application process in case you want to be charged. They include Processing fees, origination fees, application fees, points, brokerage fees, bonus points, and other fees that could be charged to an SBA. However, the only time you are likely to pay a commitment fee is when you bid for a loan under the Export Working Capital loan program.
Businesses That Qualify for Special Consideration for SBA 7(a) Loan
The following businesses receive special considerations for the 504 SBA loans.
- Franchises are qualified except in circumstances where the franchisor retains power to control operations to such an extent that is as good as an employment contract.
- Fishing vessels
- Recreational facilities and clubs
- Farms and agricultural businesses
- Medical facilities
- An Eligible passive company
- Legal aliens
- Probation or parole
- Business with change of ownership
Businesses That Are not eligible for SBA 7(a) Loan
- Pyramid sales plans, where a participant’s primary incentive is based on the sales made by an ever-increasing number of participants.
- Firms involved in illegal activities.
- Real estate investment firms when the loan is used for investment purposes.
- Firms involved in speculative activities that develop profits from fluctuations in price rather than through the normal course of trade, such as wildcatting for oil and dealing in commodities futures, when not part of the regular activities of the business.
- Dealers of rare coins and stamps
- Firms involved in lending activities, such as banks, finance companies, factors, leasing companies, insurance companies, and any other firm whose stock in trade is money.
- Charitable, religious, or other nonprofit or eleemosynary institutions, government-owned corporations, consumer and marketing cooperatives, and churches and organizations promoting religious objectives
- Firms involved in Gambling activities which include any business whose principal activity is gambling. The rule does not restrict loans to businesses that obtain less than one-third of their annual gross income from either the sale of official state lottery tickets under a state license, or legal gambling activities licensed and supervised by a state authority.
100 most active SBA 7a Loan lenders
This table is updated monthly, for more information you can check the lender activity reports.
| Lender Name | Approval Count | Approval Amount |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 223 | $307,149,100 |
| Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc. | 334 | $219,101,500 |
| The Huntington National Bank | 974 | $137,704,600 |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 108 | $106,125,900 |
| Wells Fargo Bank, National Association | 473 | $78,413,700 |
| Enterprise Bank & Trust | 47 | $59,027,500 |
| Cadence Bank | 157 | $57,017,800 |
| KeyBank National Association | 133 | $55,938,600 |
| United Midwest Savings Bank, National Association | 182 | $50,156,200 |
| Byline Bank | 42 | $47,329,000 |
| Bank of Hope | 47 | $45,316,400 |
| First Bank of the Lake | 31 | $43,601,700 |
| U.S. Bank, National Association | 416 | $42,680,200 |
| Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC | 32 | $39,538,800 |
| First Home Bank | 82 | $38,586,000 |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 60 | $37,477,400 |
| Millennium Bank | 20 | $36,365,300 |
| Pinnacle Bank | 34 | $36,214,200 |
| FinWise Bank | 26 | $36,079,300 |
| First Financial Bank | 41 | $35,967,200 |
| Berkshire Bank | 32 | $33,074,300 |
| Commonwealth Business Bank | 27 | $30,400,000 |
| MUFG Union Bank, National Association | 19 | $30,137,600 |
| First Internet Bank of Indiana | 29 | $30,025,000 |
| Regions Bank | 21 | $29,475,700 |
| Bank of the West | 34 | $29,151,500 |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 249 | $28,247,800 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 249 | $28,247,800 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 121 | $27,687,000 |
| TD Bank, National Association | 302 | $27,434,300 |
| Comerica Bank | 68 | $26,490,600 |
| Umpqua Bank | 29 | $25,707,500 |
| Bank of America, National Association | 62 | $24,886,000 |
| LendingClub Bank, National Association | 16 | $24,209,700 |
| Citizens Bank | 34 | $22,851,000 |
| Hanmi Bank | 24 | $21,960,100 |
| Customers Bank | 33 | $21,165,500 |
| Truist Bank d/b/a Branch Banking & Trust Co | 21 | $20,562,200 |
| PNC Bank, National Association | 92 | $20,034,300 |
| CIBC Bank USA | 19 | $18,683,000 |
| First IC Bank | 15 | $18,675,500 |
| Santa Cruz County Bank | 9 | $17,911,000 |
| First Savings Bank | 22 | $17,850,700 |
| BancFirst | 35 | $17,819,400 |
| Midwest Regional Bank | 27 | $17,484,000 |
| Craft Bank | 10 | $17,454,700 |
| Mission Valley Bank | 9 | $17,249,800 |
| Bank of George | 4 | $16,137,000 |
| NewBank | 8 | $15,950,000 |
| Columbia State Bank | 68 | $15,875,200 |
| Bank Five Nine | 12 | $15,813,000 |
| Plains State Bank | 6 | $15,702,100 |
| First Bank | 19 | $15,405,200 |
| HomeTrust Bank | 16 | $15,359,900 |
| Webster Bank, National Association | 64 | $15,236,800 |
| BankVista | 18 | $15,137,600 |
| Wallis Bank | 9 | $15,094,700 |
| Fifth Third Bank | 27 | $15,069,700 |
| Zions Bank, A Division of | 28 | $14,650,900 |
| Old National Bank | 16 | $14,592,700 |
| Home Loan Investment Bank, F.S.B. | 4 | $14,445,000 |
| United Community Bank | 23 | $14,406,000 |
| MVB Bank, Inc. | 11 | $14,317,500 |
| Hanover Community Bank | 9 | $14,069,000 |
| First National Bank of Pennsylvania | 14 | $14,044,400 |
| Five Star Bank | 53 | $14,029,000 |
| Nicolet National Bank | 21 | $13,912,800 |
| Patriot Bank, National Association | 10 | $13,792,500 |
| Vinings Bank | 8 | $13,605,500 |
| Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB | 14 | $13,316,900 |
| Mountain America FCU | 20 | $13,145,800 |
| US Metro Bank | 4 | $12,956,000 |
| Level One Bank | 5 | $12,943,300 |
| St. Louis Bank | 10 | $12,840,000 |
| First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | 14 | $12,647,300 |
| Pacific City Bank | 10 | $12,573,000 |
| IncredibleBank | 13 | $12,443,000 |
| The Bancorp Bank | 22 | $12,378,700 |
| Citizens Bank, National Association | 20 | $12,365,300 |
| Genisys CU | 6 | $12,125,600 |
| VelocitySBA, LLC | 9 | $12,024,500 |
| Synovus Bank | 10 | $11,918,300 |
| CalPrivate Bank | 9 | $11,866,800 |
| Banco Popular de Puerto Rico | 47 | $11,806,300 |
| Alaska Growth Capital BIDCO, Inc. | 6 | $11,774,900 |
| Frandsen Bank & Trust | 11 | $11,687,900 |
| T Bank, National Association | 6 | $11,490,000 |
| First Business Bank | 11 | $11,429,600 |
| Security Bank | 9 | $11,259,000 |
| SouthState Bank, National Association | 15 | $11,187,500 |
| Heritage Bank, A Division of | 9 | $10,992,100 |
| American Equity Bank | 21 | $10,830,200 |
| Woori America Bank | 10 | $10,825,000 |
| Peoples Bank | 29 | $10,817,500 |
| Amerant Bank, National Association | 6 | $10,792,000 |
| NBT Bank, National Association | 11 | $10,774,300 |
| American Bank, National Association | 6 | $10,753,500 |
| Hancock Whitney Bank | 18 | $10,594,000 |
| First State Bank of Texas | 5 | $10,473,000 |
| Premier Bank | 11 | $10,450,300 |
| First State Bank | 14 | $10,345,500 |
Source: Sba.gov