SBA Loan Programs

As with the vast majority of SBA loan programs, funding provided through the 7(a) loan program doesn’t actually come from the Small Business Administration. Rather, the borrowing process works similarly to a traditional bank loan, with the only difference being that the SBA acts as a guarantor to reduce the level of risk to lenders. Many large banks loan money as part of the 7(a) loan program, along with several community banks and some online banks.

Since the 7(a) loan program offers so much flexibility in use of funds, it is far easier to narrow down the individual businesses or circumstances for which 7(a) loans are not a good fit.

You can’t use this SBA loan program to reimburse a business owner for outstanding expenses, to pay delinquent taxes, or to buy out one of your business owners.

Other than that, you’re good to go! General working capital. Purchasing a building or equipment. Paying the salaries of your employees until you turn a profit. Purchasing inventory or general supplies. Pretty much any expense you can think of can be covered by a loan from the 7(a) program. This is what makes the 7(a) loan program the default choice for most small business owners seeking funds through the US Small Business Administration.

To qualify for the 7(a) program, the small business owner must have a strong personal credit history (a FICO score of at least 650 is typical), and the business should have a solid financial record. You’ll also need to put up some collateral and sign a personal guarantee. Although new businesses can sometimes qualify, most successful applicants have been operating their businesses for two years or more.

Interest rates on 7(a) loans vary based on your intermediary lender as well as the size of your loan and repayment schedule. The SBA sets maximum interest rates that lenders can’t exceed. Subject to those maximums, individual lenders will determine the exact rate depending upon the applicant’s qualifications and the level of industry risk facing each business.

Those maximums vary from Prime + 2.25% to Prime + 4.75%. The Prime Rate is a market interest rate that serves as a benchmark for many types of loans. In addition to your interest rates, fees also affect your loan cost. The main fee on SBA 7(a) loans is the SBA guarantee fee, which goes up to 3.75% of the guaranteed amount of the loan.

You can learn more about the cost of 7(a) loans in our post on SBA loan rates. Since the SBA mandates the maximum interest rates on SBA loans, funds you obtain through the 7(a) loan program tend to carry some of the most affordable interest rates around.

Repayment terms range between 5 to 25 years on 7(a) loans depending on what you’re using the loan for. The longest terms are for real estate purchases, and the shortest terms are for working capital.

Several lenders participate in the 7(a) loan program. This includes large banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, as well as smaller community banks. Whenever possible, apply through an SBA Preferred Lender. These lenders are authorized to make approval decisions without the SBA’s review, which speeds up the application process.

Your SBA loan application will require a lot of paperwork and details, so we recommend allowing at least six weeks for the application process before you need cash in hand. Online platforms like SmartBiz speed up the application process. A Fundera loan specialist can help you determine if you’re eligible for the SBA 7(a) loan program and put together your loan application.

Within the umbrella of the 7(a) loan program, there are actually more SBA loan programs. Beyond the general 7(a) standard loan, there are different types of SBA loans for certain industries, financing needs, and entrepreneurial demographics. These SBA loan programs are less common than the standard 7(a) loan, but they could be a good fit for some businesses.

Here are the loan programs under the 7(a) loan umbrella.

7(a) Small Loan

Loans up to $350,000. The SBA determines eligibility, and the turnaround time (5 to 10 days) is faster than the traditional 7(a) loan.

SBA Express

Loans up to $350,000 with a faster turnaround time. These loans have a 36-hour turnaround for approval, but that means smaller loan amounts and higher interest rates. If you’re looking for the SBA’s Patriot Express Loan Program, it’s no longer active—but the SBA Express Loan is a good alternative to this program.

Export Express

This program is for exporters looking for a streamlined method to obtain SBA-backed financing for loans up to $500,000. You’ll get an answer on approval in 24 hours.

Export Working Capital

Export Working Capital loans, going up to $5 million, are for short-term loans for export businesses.

Veterans Advantage

VA SBA Loans of up to $350,000 for veteran-owned businesses. These loans come with reduced fees on financing.

CAPLines

The SBA’s line of credit programs designed to provide working capital and cash flow solutions for small business owners.

As we mentioned, CDC/504 loans have a somewhat complex structure:

• A bank funds up to 50% of project costs.
• A nonprofit certified development company (CDC) funds up 40% of project costs. These nonprofits are affiliated with the SBA and aim to create jobs and enhance development in their local economies.
• The final 10% of project costs come from the borrower, most often in the form of a cash down payment.

It is important to understand that if you pursue of CDC/504 loan for your business, you are effectively seeking two separate loans—the CDC portion of the loan which is subject to SBA guidelines, and the bank portion which is not.

The exact process and terms, particularly of the CDC portion of your loan, can vary widely based on your geographic area and your local certified development company’s specific goals.

Since multiple parties are involved with 504/CDC loans and high dollar amounts are at stake, it is no wonder that these loans accounted for about 17% of total SBA-backed funds offered in 2017 but just 7% of the total number of loans. Compared with the other primary types of SBA loans, this one fits for a more specialized subset of small business borrowers.

Include a CDC/504 loan among your potential options if you’re seeking a commercial real estate property for which you plan to occupy at least 51% of the space. You should also consider a CDC/504 loan if you are planning renovations to your business or need to purchase equipment.

As with the 7(a) loan program, you need excellent personal credit (at least 650) to qualify for the SBA 504/CDC loan program. There is also a public policy aspect to the eligibility standards. You need to create or retain at least one job for every $65,000 of funding that the CDC provides. You can also meet other public policy goals. We recommend checking with your local CDC to determine whether your business will meet these standards before pursuing a 504 loan application.

As we’ve mentioned, the CDC/504 loan is actually two separate loans, and that distinction extends to cost. Banks can charge their own interest rates on their portion of the loan, without any intrusion from the SBA. However, the SBA sets guidelines for the maximum interest rates on the CDC/504 loan. The CDC can only charged fixed interest rates. Those interest rates are currently around 5%. The repayment terms range between 10 to 25 years.

Provided that you meet the criteria for a CDC/504 loan, you’ll want to first connect with a CDC in your local community to begin the application process. In some cases, your local CDC will be the one to secure your business loan. In other cases, the CDC may work in partnership with another SBA-approved lender.

Remember that if a CDC/504 loan does not turn out to be the right fit for your business, the 7(a) loan program can also be used to purchase fixed assets and make upgrades. That might end up being a more accessible choice.

Unlike the other types of SBA loans, the Microloan program stands out as the only one in which the funds for individual loans come directly from the SBA. Nonprofit intermediaries borrow up to $5 million at a time directly from the Small Business Administration, and then dole out that capital to individual borrowers according to their own qualification standards.

Although more limited than the other SBA loan programs, SBA microloans can be used for a relatively wide variety of purposes. For example, you can use these loans to purchase materials, pay staff, or pay for advertising or marketing. However, you cannot use an SBA Microloan to refinance debt or to purchase real estate.

An SBA microloan can be a great option for any small business owner who would see a positive impact on their business from capital less than $50,000.

The exact qualification terms and minimum requirements vary among intermediary lenders, so you should check with your local intermediary to determine their exact application process and standards. However, you can generally expect that you will need a personal credit score of at least 600, and you will need to put up collateral on the loan and sign a personal guarantee.

As with any type of SBA loan, expect that you’ll need to present a well formulated business plan as part of your application. This is important for all SBA loan programs, but especially for newer businesses, which tend to apply for the Microloan program.

While borrowers can obtain up to $50,000 through this program, the average Microloan that the SBA funded in fiscal year 2017 was just $13,884. SBA Microloans have shorter terms compared to the other types of SBA loans. They carry terms of up to six years with interest rates between 6.5% and 13%. The average Microloan interest rate in the SBA’s 2017 fiscal year was 7.5%.

The SBA works through local intermediaries to make Microloans, so you’ll want to first find a local intermediary in your area and contact them to learn more about the application process and requirements.

Despite the smaller size of SBA microloans, you can expect the application process to be equally thorough. Getting loan approval and receiving the funds in your bank account can take several weeks. We suggest submitting your SBA microloan application as soon as possible, long before you have an immediate need.