What Is The Maximum Sba Loan

How Much Can I Get With An Sba Loan

Our small business owners are often eager to cut to the chase. With close to 40 years in the industry, TMC Financing has been asked this question over and over: How much can I get with an SBA Loan? Well, the answer is not so black and white.

First of all, there are several SBA Programs that small business owners can turn to when they are in need of financing. Here is a brief run down, excluding some loans targeted more specifically such as the SBA Export Loan and SBA Disaster Loans.

SBA Microloan: Ideal for business owners in need of a small amount of financing. Funds can be used to start or expand a business. Funds cannot be used towards real estate or to refinance. No down payment is required however collateral is.

So, how much can you get with an SBA Microloan? Borrowers can get up to $25,000.

SBA 7a Loan: This the most common SBA Loan, best used when financing is needed for working capital. Funds can also be used for fixed assets, construction, and for refinancing. The down payment starts at 10%, the interest rate is typically variable, and collateral is often required.

So, how much can you get with an SBA 7a loan? Borrowers can get up to $5,000,000. This is the maximum total project cost.

So how much can you get with an SBA 504 Loan? Here is where the gray area lies.

How SBA 504 Loans Work

• 50% – Bank

Sba Maximum Loan Amount By Way Of A Lower Guaranty

An SBA lender can also opt to take a lower guaranty under the 7a program. The typical guaranty is 75%, but an SBA lender can opt for a lower guaranty in order to acheive a higher loan amount for larger transactions. You will occasionally see lenders do this to accommodate a transaction over $5 million. It is not typical and again, reserved for only stronger transactions but it is something that is done.

Similar to the 504, this is a function of backing into the maximum allowable SBA loan based on the available SBA guaranty. The maximum SBA loan guaranty to any business is $3.75 million and for most lenders this means a maximum loan amount of $5 million because if you divide $3.75 million by .75 you get $5 million.

So, if a lender feels strongly enough about a particular borrower/transaction they can take a lower SBA guarantee and leverage it into a higher loan amount. For instance, lets say a borrower needed a loan amount greater than $5 million, did not want to put more or anything down and the lender did not want to provide a 2nd mortgage. The lender instead could take a lower guarantee and make it work.

As an example, last year one of our lenders offered 100% financing to a doctor looking to build a new office with a total loan amount not to exceed $5.575 million. They got to this amount by taking a guaranty of just 67.3% vs. the usual 75% because they felt like the doctor was very established, had great cash flow, credit, etc. and was therefore worth the risk.

Sba Disaster Loan Eligibility & Terms

Disaster loans are used to cover costs that arent covered by insurance or FEMA. Both for-profit and private non-profit businesses are eligible. Because disaster loans are still loans, the SBA will still be interested in your creditworthiness and ability to repay. Here are the basic eligibility requirements:

• Must be in a declared disaster area
• Must have experienced physical or economic damage to your business
• Must have demonstrated the ability to repay the loan
• Must have acceptable credit

Eligible applicants can borrow loans with these terms:

• Most loans have a maximum borrowing amount of $2M, but the amount you are offered depends on need and repayment ability.
• If you dont have credit available elsewhere, the loan has a maximum term length of 30 years if you do have credit available elsewhere, the maximum term length is seven years.
• For loans over $25,000, the SBA will require that you pledge any collateral that you have available.

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Sba Loan Changes: December 2021

The SBA will accept applications for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan until Dec. 31, 2021. Theyll process applications until funds are exhausted.

The SBA will also accept Supplemental Targeted Advance applications until Dec. 31, 2021, but may not be able to process applications submitted too close to the deadline. They encourage business owners to apply by Dec. 10.

These fall 2021 changes to the COVID-19 EIDL program are still in effect:

• Loan limits have increased. Borrowers can apply for up to $2 million in COVID EIDL loan funds, up from the previous cap of $500,000.

• Repayment terms have been extended. COVID EIDL borrowers will begin repayments two years after the origination of the loan.

• Eligible use of funds has been expanded. COVID EIDL borrowers can now spend loan funds to prepay commercial debt or make payments on federal business debt in addition to covering operating expenses, buying equipment and paying other debt.

Paycheck Protection Program loans are no longer available. Heres information about PPP loan forgiveness.

Faqs About Sba Loans For Startups & New Businesses

Yes. Startups can qualify for SBA loans as long as they can demonstrate the ability to repay the loan.

To qualify for an SBA loan, youll need to provide proof that your business is legitimate and you have the ability to repay the loan. Depending on the loan program, you might have to provide documentation like:

• Business plans

Learn more in our guide to SBA loan requirements.

Getting an SBA loan for your startup can be quite hard. You will have to provide extensive documentation that proves that you have the experience, plan, and resources necessary to run a business and repay your loan.

Yes, SBA startup loans often require collateral. However, some SBA loans might not require collateral, such as CDC/504 loans, microloans, and some loans under $25,000.

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Acceptable Uses Of Eidl Loans

These funds can be used for normal operating expenses and working capital. The SBA lists the following expenses to provide some possible examples.

• Continuation of health care benefits
• Rent
• Utilities
• Fixed debt payments

As of Sept. 8, 2021, acceptable uses for COVID-19 EIDL funds have been expanded to include prepaying commercial debt and paying federal business debt.

Benefits Of An Sba Loan

You can reap multiple benefits from an SBA-backed loan, including lower interest rates and longer loan terms. However, your situation will be unique to your business. Weighing the benefits between an SBA loan and a conventional loan may come down to something outside of a conventional benefits list.

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What If My Sba Disaster Loan Application Is Denied

SBA disaster loan applications can be denied for a few different reasons the most common being a shaky credit history and a demonstrated inability to repay loans.

If youve been denied an SBA disaster loan, you have up to 6 months to submit an appeal to the SBAs Disaster Assistance Processing and Disbursement Center . If your application is denied again, you have another opportunity to appeal the decision.

Apply to multiple lenders with just one application

Rates Also Vary Depending On The Type Of 504 Lender

Conservative 504 Lenders

There are numerous different varieties of 504 lenders with different business models and different appetites for certain types of loans. Some lenders â both big and small â will only do ârelatively easyâ loans. They keep these loans on their balance sheet and they typically have a lot of freedom with what rate they offer depending on their source of funds.

Other lenders will have very restrictive guidelines for the types of properties they will lend on. For instance, many lenders do not like to lend to the hotel industry. Some do not like anything to do with assisted living. Others will not consider gas stations or convenience stores or car washes.

Every lender is different, but if your loan request fits a lenders âcredit boxâ then you can end up getting an outstanding rate.

Again, 504 lenders come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes a big bank is the right fit, sometimes they arenât. Typically, the bigger the bank, the more conservative the lender and the lower the loan to value.

Small, mid-size and regional banks also have their place in the market and some offer outstanding terms.

There are also some niche lenders and smaller lenders who can be very aggressive with their rate offerings or offer much more flexible credit and underwriting guidelines.

Secondary Market Lenders

Private Lenders

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Faqs About Sba Loan Rates

Typical rates for SBA small business loans in December 2021 are as follows:

• Current rates for SBA 7 loans: 5.50% 9.75%
• Current rates for SBA CDC/504 loans: Approximately 3.22% 3.56%
• Current rates for EIDL loans for COVID relief:
• 3.75% for for-profit businesses

Because most SBA loan interest rates change over time based on the prime rate or another variable base rate, its difficult to give a specific number to the average SBA loan rate. However, SBA loans tend to have lower rates than lenders in the private marketplace.

In addition to the interest rate, the SBA, issuing lenders, and intermediaries charge extra fees. These fees will vary depending on the amount of money you are requesting and the organizations you are working with.

For example, SBA 7 loan intermediary SmartBiz states that SBA lenders in their network typically charge an application fee of up to $3,000, bank closing costs which typically add up to around $450, and some third party fees. All SBA loans are also subject to guarantee fees which are between 0% and 3.75% of the guaranteed portion of the loan.

Sba 7 Loan Amounts Maturity Interest Rates And Fees

The SBA 7 loan might be right for your business, so we want to make sure you have all of the information you need to make a decision. This page includes the details of the SBA 7 loan terms and rates, as well as specifics about loan amounts and maturity rates. Also, if youre making an SBA loan checklist, you might find the items you need here. Here are all of the loan terms, at a glance, followed by a more detailed explanation of each below. If you’re in a hurry, check out our loan terms fact sheet below.

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Where Do I Get An Sba 7 Loan

These loans are made by banks and other financial institutions approved by the SBA to participate in SBA lending. Their job is to ensure the loan application meets the SBA requirements. If they do so and the borrower defaults on the SBA guaranteed loan, they can collect on the guaranty from the SBA.

However, they do not want to have to rely on the SBA guaranty. For one thing it only covers a portion of the loan loan amounts), and for another, a lender with too many defaulted loans may not be able to continue making SBA loans. So expect the lender to scrutinize your application to make sure your business is likely to repay the loan.

You may see the term Preferred Lending Partner, or PLP. This type of preferred lender has been given approval by the SBA to underwrite their SBA loans and make credit decisions without SBA approval . A PLP may be able to process an SBA loan application more quickly.

Also keep in mind that each lender may have its own preferred target customer. As long as a lender meets the SBA requirements and doesnt discriminate on a prohibited basis, it may impose additional requirements. If your application with one SBA lender doesnt get approved, try to find out why and determine whether thats due to SBA loan requirements or the lenders internal standards.

Sba 7 Loan Eligibility & Terms

If you run a for-profit business, you are likely eligible for a 7 business loan in the eyes of the SBA. However, the partner lenders are ultimately responsible for borrower eligibility. In general, to qualify for a loan, you will need to meet these requirements:

• Own a business that is at least two years old
• Have fair credit
• Have strong cash flow and debt-to-income ratio

If eligible, borrowers benefit from long-term, low-interest loans that can be used for most general business purposes.

• Most loans have a maximum borrowing amount of $5 million, but SBA Express loans max out at $350,000. The amount you are eligible for will depend on the use of proceeds, your cash flow, and other factors.
• The maximum term length is 10 years for most loans, including inventory, working capital, and equipment. For real estate, the maximum term length is 25 years.
• The SBA will guarantee a portion of your loan. For loans of $150,000 or less, the SBA will guarantee 85% of the loan. If your loan is above $150,000, the SBA will guarantee 75% of the loan. Express loans carry a maximum guarantee of 50%.
• The SBA charges a guarantee fee of 0% to 3.75% and a possible prepayment penalty. SBA partners might also charge fees, such as closing costs, referral fees, packaging fees, or others.

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How Sba Loan Rates Are Set

The SBA sets interest rate guidelines for lenders, which helps keep small-business owners’ borrowing costs low.

Interest rates for SBA 7 loans are the daily prime rate, which changes based on actions taken by the Federal Reserve, plus a lender spread. The spread is negotiated between the borrower and the lender, and can result in either fixed or variable interest rates. However, the SBA caps the maximum spread lenders can charge based on the size and maturity of the loan.

A lender providing an SBA loan may also calculate interest rates using the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate plus 3% or the SBAs optional peg rate instead of the daily prime rate.

Heres a breakdown of SBA business loan terms and rates, including interest and fees.

Will I Qualify For An Sba Loan

Eligibility requirements vary from loan to loan, but here are some of the basic SBA requirements you should keep in mind:

• Be located in the US by a US citizen whos at least 21-years-old
• Have no bankruptcies or foreclosures within the last 3 years
• Have no outstanding tax liens
• Have reasonable owner equity to invest, whether thats time, money, or both
• Prove that youve sought out alternative financial resources and were unable to obtain a loan from one of these sources before seeking an SBA loan

Youll need to have financial documents, projections, and a business plan to prove your ability to repay the loan.

Both your personal credit score and your business credit score will play a role in your ability to get approved for an SBA loan.

Request a copy of your personal credit report and check for errors, such as missing payments or other incorrect information. You can obtain a copy of your report from multiple sources, generally for a fee. Annualcreditreport.com is a great resource that can provide you with these reports for free.

If you identify any errors, take the time to have the mistakes resolved with the credit bureaus before you apply for a loan. If your personal credit score is in the mid 600s or below, you may want to consider building your score before applying.

The SBA will also look at your FICO Small Business Scoring Service , which is a measure of your businesss creditworthiness. Here are current minimum SBSS scores:

• Cash flow

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Eligibility & Terms For Cdc/504

Not all businesses can qualify for a CDC/504 loan. Apart from showing proof of your ability to pay the loan, there are several other criteria that you must meet.

Once your for-profit business qualifies for a CDC/504 loan, an SBA agent will discuss the terms. Most CDC/504 loans come with the following terms:

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Loan Rates For Sba Cdc/504

If youre a small business whos in need of urgent financing for fixed assets such as real estate and machinery, consider applying for an SBA CDC/504 loan. This loan program is a project that involves three parties the borrower, the financial partner, and Community Development Corporations .

The CDCs involvement, which funds 40% of the loan, makes the CDC/504 loan possible. The remaining chunk is split between the financial partner and the borrower .

This division of funding contribution may change depending on the age of the business applying for the loan. Generally, if your company is less than two years old, you are considered new. This means you will pay a higher percentage of the cost.

The CDC/504 loan appeals to small businesses because it usually has low, fixed interest rates and, of course, more significant loan amounts since it comes from more than one source.

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Collateral For An Sba 7 Loan

Collateral is a term that describes the assets a borrower is prepared to put up as security for a loan. Lenders want borrowers to pledge assets as collateral to minimize their risk in lending money. The lender knows that it has something of value it can potentially seize and sell if the loan goes into default.

The SBA has two requirements for collateral for this type of loan: