SBA Questions, Answered Simply
Quick reads on 504 vs 7(a), down payments, eligibility, and what lenders actually look at — written by an SBA advisor, not by regulation.
Latest Articles
Can You Get an SBA Loan for a Management Buyout?
Buying the business you already run is one of the cleanest acquisition stories an SBA lender can hear — if you set it up right. Here's what to expect.
How to Get an SBA Loan to Buy a Business: The Step-by-Step Guide
Buying a business with SBA financing is a 60-90 day process with real sequence dependencies. Here's what actually happens — and where most deals fall apart.
Seller Keeping 15%? Here's the Guarantee That Comes With It
If a seller retains any ownership stake in a business after an SBA-financed sale, the SBA will almost certainly require them to personally guarantee the loan. Most sellers don't know this until the commitment letter lands.
One Customer Is 25% of Revenue. Here's How Lenders See That.
Customer concentration quietly kills more SBA and commercial loan deals than almost any other underwriting issue. Here's how lenders measure it — and how to structure around it.
When a Seller's Add-Backs Don't Add Back: SDE Adjustments Underwriters Actually Accept
Not every add-back a seller claims will survive underwriting. Here's which SDE adjustments SBA lenders accept, which they don't, and why the difference kills deals.
Stock Deal vs. Asset Deal: How SBA's New Rules Changed Your Options
SOP 50 10 8 quietly removed the buyer's choice on deal structure for most SBA acquisitions. Here's what changed, why it matters, and how to navigate it.
Phantom Equity in SBA Deals: How Sellers Keep Upside Without a Personal Guarantee
SOP 50 10 8 bars sellers from retaining real equity after an SBA-financed sale — but phantom equity is a legitimate workaround that gives sellers performance upside without triggering the guarantee requirement.
The 9:1 Debt-to-Worth Exception That Waives the 10% Injection for Partner Buyouts
Most SBA borrowers assume they need 10% down — period. But one debt-to-worth test can eliminate that injection requirement entirely for partner buyouts. Here's exactly how it works.
SBA Co-Borrower Rules: What the 20% Ownership Threshold Means for Your Deal
The SBA's E-Tran ownership transparency rule pulls every 20%-or-greater owner into the loan as a required guarantor — and it catches borrowers and their advisors off guard more often than anything else at LOI.
Using an SBA Loan to Buy Out a Business Partner: A How-To
Your business partner wants out. An SBA 7(a) loan can fund the buyout — but the deal structure, equity rules, and post-close ownership requirements trip up more borrowers than you'd expect.
Why Your SBA Loan Was Declined — and Which Fixes Actually Work
A declined SBA loan isn't always a dead end. Here are the 6 most common reasons lenders say no — and an honest assessment of which ones you can actually fix.
SBA 10% Down: Every Eligible Source (and 4 That No Longer Qualify)
The SBA's 10% equity injection requirement is one of the most misunderstood rules in small-business lending. Here's exactly what counts — and what doesn't.
Using a HELOC as Your SBA Down Payment: What to Know First
A HELOC can satisfy the SBA's equity injection requirement — but only if you handle the paperwork and debt-service math correctly. Here's what lenders actually check.
When Your SBA Loan Takes 90 Days: How to Build an LOI That Survives
SBA 7(a) loans routinely take 60–90 days to close. Here's how to write an LOI that keeps the deal alive when the timeline slips — and what kills it when you don't.
The SBA Franchise Directory Is Back: What It Means for Your Resale
The SBA Franchise Directory is back, and it changes the financing timeline for franchise resales. Here's what buyers, sellers, and their advisors need to know.
How to Price a Business So an SBA Buyer Can Actually Afford It
Most deals fall apart not because the buyer walks, but because the math never worked. Here's the debt service framework every seller and broker should run before listing price is set.
Your Buyer Needs $200K Down and Only Has $120K — Here's Where the Other $80K Comes From
Coming up $80K short on a business acquisition down payment doesn't kill the deal. Here are the real, lender-accepted ways to close the equity gap.
The One Lease Clause That Will Kill Your Buyer's SBA Loan
A single lease provision — the landlord's right to terminate on sale — can derail an SBA 7(a) acquisition loan weeks before closing. Here's how to spot it and fix it before you list the business.
How to Sell-Side Prep Your Business So a Buyer Can Get SBA Financing
Most deals die not because the buyer walks away, but because the business can't clear SBA underwriting. Here's how sellers can fix that before going to market.
The Seller Note Standby Rule Is Killing Deals — 5 Ways to Save Yours
The SBA's seller note standby requirement trips up more acquisitions than almost any other rule. Here are five concrete strategies to keep your deal alive.
No articles with that tag yet — check back soon, or ask the question directly.
On Deck
Articles in the queue. Want one prioritized? Tell us via the contact form — the question we hear most jumps the line.
- industry specific SBA 7(a) for HVAC Acquisitions: Why Most Banks Get It Wrong Coming soon
- acquisitions Reading Your Business Valuation: What the SBA Actually Wants to See Coming soon
- industry specific Restaurant SBA Loans: The Industry Most Banks Won't Touch Coming soon
- acquisitions SBA vs Seller Financing: The Math Most Buyers Skip Coming soon
- programs Refinancing an MCA with an SBA 7(a): When It Actually Works Coming soon