GUIDE
SBA financing for buying a business
What the SBA's 7(a) program is, in the SBA's own terms.
The lender makes the loan
The U.S. Small Business Administration describes the 7(a) program as its primary program for financial assistance to small businesses. On the SBA's terms page, specific terms are negotiated between the borrower and a participating lender, subject to SBA requirements. For most 7(a) programs, the SBA states that it guarantees up to 85 percent of loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75 percent of loans above $150,000, with a lower guaranty on SBA Express. Those percentages are the SBA's published description and can change. Read the current page before you rely on them.
We do not lend, do not issue an SBA guaranty, and do not take a credit application on this website. A form here is not an approval.
The business still has to make sense
A guaranty is not a reason to overpay. The lender will ask for the same statements a cash buyer should ask for. Seller financing, if any, is a separate negotiation with the seller.
Start with what you want to buy. Financing is a constraint on that brief, not a substitute for it.
Questions
Can I apply for an SBA loan on this site?
No. You apply with a lender. This page explains the public program and then points you to a buyer profile if you are ready to describe the company you want.
Does a guaranty mean the loan is approved?
No. The lender decides whether to make the loan. The SBA guaranty is not a promise to you from us.