Most people don't buy a business with cash — they finance it, and in the US the most common tool for a small-business acquisition is an SBA 7(a) loan. Understanding how it works (and getting pre-qualified early) is what lets you move quickly and credibly when the right business appears.
The SBA 7(a) program lets a bank lend to you with a government guarantee, which makes lenders willing to finance a business purchase they otherwise wouldn't. General features (confirm current rules — SBA terms change, and this is not a loan offer or financial advice):
Get pre-qualified with an SBA lender before you're deep into a specific deal. It tells you your real budget, signals to sellers and brokers that you're serious, and prevents the heartbreak of agreeing to a price you can't finance. Many experienced buyers build a relationship with two or three SBA-preferred lenders early.
Deals are often a stack: an SBA loan for most of it, your equity injection, and sometimes seller financing — the seller carries a note for part of the price, paid from the business's future cash flow. Seller financing also signals the seller believes the business will keep performing, which is reassuring. Earn-outs and working-capital adjustments can also feature.
Every business and borrower is different, and SBA rules and caps change. Use the form below and we'll connect you with SBA-experienced lenders who finance acquisitions in your range — free, and we're not a lender ourselves.
These active SBA 7(a) lenders are compiled from public sources and unverified, listed for your research — not an endorsement, ranking, or loan offer. Confirm current SBA programs, rates, and eligibility directly with each lender. “SBA Preferred Lender” reflects each lender’s own public statement.
Nation's top SBA 7(a) lender by volume; participates in the SBA Preferred Lender Program (PLP).
SBA loan page →Nation's largest originator by volume of SBA 7(a) loans for seven consecutive years.
SBA loan page →One of the largest non-bank SBA 7(a) lenders nationally; ranked among the top SBA 7(a) lenders by volume.
SBA loan page →Top-five SBA Preferred Lender; national SBA 7(a) lender for business acquisitions.
SBA loan page →Non-bank SBA Preferred Lender that lends in all 50 states.
SBA loan page →Online-only national SBA 7(a) lender; holds SBA Preferred Lender status.
SBA loan page →Multi-state SBA 7(a) lender in the Southeast, ranked among the top SBA 7(a) lenders by volume.
SBA loan page →SBA Preferred Lender; ranks #1 in SBA lending in its Maine-to-Florida East Coast footprint.
SBA loan page →National SBA-preferred lender offering SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.
SBA loan page →Preferred SBA lender that sources, approves, and funds SBA loans nationwide.
SBA loan page →Most US small-business acquisitions use an SBA 7(a) loan, often combined with your equity injection and sometimes seller financing. Get pre-qualified with an SBA lender before you make an offer.
The SBA typically requires a minimum equity injection — commonly around 10% for an acquisition — though lenders may require more, and part can sometimes come from seller financing on standby. Verify current SBA rules with a lender.
A bank loan backed by an SBA guarantee that makes lenders willing to finance business acquisitions, commonly up to a published maximum (often cited around $5M — verify the current cap) with terms up to about 10 years.