Which SBA loan fits your plan.
Four programs cover almost every use of funds — purchase, expand, refinance, equip, or buy a business. Here's how they differ, and who each one fits.
Most common
SBA 7(a)
Up to $5M
The workhorse SBA loan. Working capital, business acquisition, partner buyouts, debt refinance, or expansion — with terms up to 10 years (25 when real estate is involved).
- Best for: acquisitions, buyouts, refinancing expensive debt, growth capital.
- Lower monthly payments from long amortization.
- Borderline files repackaged into fundable ones.
Real estate
SBA 504
Up to $5.5M
For owner-occupied commercial real estate and major equipment — long, fixed-style terms and as little as 10% down, so you can own instead of rent.
- Best for: buying your building, ground-up construction, heavy equipment.
- As little as 10% down on many projects.
- Long fixed-style financing that keeps the payment predictable.
Starter
SBA Microloan
Up to $50k
Right-sized first financing for newer or smaller businesses — inventory, equipment, or working capital, without the weight of a full 7(a) file.
- Best for: newer businesses, small equipment, first working-capital need.
- Smaller dollar amounts with a lighter application.
- A clean on-ramp to a larger SBA loan later.
Two more paths
Faster, or not sure where you fit.
SBA Express
Up to $500k
A streamlined path with a faster lender decision and lighter paperwork, for smaller deals that don't need the full 7(a) process.
We'll tell you
$0 to ask
Tell us your goal and we'll point you to the right program — if any fits — before you fill out a full application.
Estimate your payment
See roughly what an SBA loan costs.
Estimate only, for illustration. Actual SBA rates, terms, and eligibility are set by the lender. Checking eligibility won't affect your credit.
Not sure which program fits?
Start the eligibility check and tell us your goal — we'll match you to the right SBA program and the lenders that fund it.