The U.S. Small Business Administration doesn’t lend money directly. It guarantees a portion of loans made by partner lenders, which lowers their risk and unlocks longer terms, smaller down payments, and more flexible underwriting than conventional business debt. That guarantee is what makes a 10–25 year payback and as little as 10% down possible for small-business owners and owner-operators.
Jaken Finance Group helps you get matched to the right SBA program — and when a deal can’t wait the 45–90+ days an SBA file often takes, we can bridge it now and let the SBA loan take out the bridge later. Request commercial financing to start, or call (833) 264-7776.
SBA programs at a glance
| Program | Max amount | Rate (Q3 2026) | Term | Down | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | $5M | Prime + 3.0–6.5% (≈9.75–13.25%) | ≤25 yr RE / 10 yr other | ~10% | Flexible: acquisition, working capital, equipment, owner-occupied CRE |
| SBA 504 | SBA portion ≤$5.5M (projects to ~$30M) | Long-term fixed (CDC debenture) | ≤25 yr RE | ~10% | Owner-occupied CRE & major fixed assets |
| SBA Express | $500K | Prime + higher markup | Varies | Varies | Faster turnaround; revolving lines |
| SBA Microloan | $50K (avg ≈$15K) | ≈8–13% | ≤7 yr | Varies | Startups, small working-capital needs |
| SBA CAPLines | Shares $5M 7(a) ceiling | 7(a)-style | Revolving | Varies | Working capital & contract lines |
| SBA Export | Up to $5M | 7(a)-style | Varies | Varies | Exporters’ working capital & growth |
Rates float with the prime rate (about 6.75% in Q3 2026); confirm current pricing at application. The two workhorses are 7(a) (the flexible option across working capital, acquisition, and real estate) and 504 (purpose-built for owner-occupied real estate and equipment at a long-term fixed rate).
What SBA loans can fund
SBA programs finance far more than real estate. Explore the use cases:
- Owner-occupied commercial real estate — buy the building your business operates from
- Ground-up commercial construction — build owner-occupied space
- Business acquisition & partner buyouts — buy a business or a partner’s share
- Equipment & machinery — finance long-life fixed assets
- Working capital & inventory — fund operations and growth
- Franchise financing — open or expand an approved franchise
- Startup financing — launch with 7(a) or a microloan
- Business debt refinancing — restructure higher-cost debt
SBA financing by industry
SBA lends heavily on special-use and owner-operated businesses. Dedicated guides for the most common industries:
- SBA gas station & C-store loans — environmental and fuel-volume underwriting
- SBA car wash loans — express tunnels, equipment, membership revenue
- SBA hotel & motel loans — RevPAR, flags, and the PIP
- SBA self-storage loans — occupancy and lease-up
- SBA restaurant loans — acquisition, franchise, and buildout
- SBA auto repair shop loans — equipment and environmental
- SBA medical & dental practice loans — practice acquisition and buy-ins
- SBA assisted living facility loans — licensing and census
SBA eligibility in 2026
SBA financing is broadly accessible but rule-bound. Typical requirements:
- A for-profit U.S. small business meeting SBA size standards
- Roughly 680+ FICO for standard 7(a) (650+ for Express; some microloans accept 575+)
- Usually two or more years in business — though startups qualify on select programs
- 51%+ owner-occupancy (60%+ for new construction) for commercial real estate
- Debt service coverage around 1.15x on most files
New for 2026: as of March 1, 2026, 100% of a business’s direct and indirect owners must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals residing in the United States. This is a significant recent change — confirm ownership eligibility early in the process.
The SBA process — and when speed matters
An SBA file moves through lender underwriting, SBA review, and closing — commonly 45 to 90+ days. That timeline is fine when you’re refinancing or planning ahead, but it loses deals in competitive markets. This is where Jaken Finance Group’s model fits:
- Bridge now, SBA later. We fund the acquisition on a fast bridge loan for a commercial building — closing in days — and the SBA loan refinances it once the paperwork clears.
- The deal SBA won’t do. Because SBA requires majority owner-occupancy, non-owner-occupied investors turn to hard money, bridge, or DSCR — see can real estate investors use SBA loans?
SBA vs the alternatives
Not sure SBA is the right tool? Compare:
- SBA 504 vs 7(a) for owner-occupied commercial real estate
- Commercial bridge loan vs SBA loan
- SBA vs conventional vs bridge for owner-occupied CRE
- The SBA 51% occupancy rule explained
Get matched with Jaken Finance Group
Jaken Finance Group helps small-business owners and real estate investors access the right SBA program — and pairs it with the fast commercial and bridge financing SBA timelines can’t match. Whether you need a 504 for the building you operate from, a 7(a) for an acquisition, or a bridge to close now and refinance into SBA later, start with one request.
Request commercial financing or call (833) 264-7776 — the more detail you provide, the faster we can return an answer and a letter of intent.
Authoritative program details: SBA — loan programs and SBA 7(a) terms & eligibility. Rates and rules change; verify current terms at application. Jaken Finance Group facilitates SBA financing with lending partners and provides its own commercial and bridge loan programs.