Founder
Syed Raza, Founder of Starting Gate Financial
Syed Raza is the founder of Starting Gate Financial and has spent 7 years in commercial finance, structuring SBA 7(a), SBA 504, commercial real estate and working capital loans, including gas station and convenience store acquisitions. An entrepreneur before he founded SGF and still building businesses today, he approaches every loan file the way a business owner would.
Specialties
Insights Library
Articles by Syed Raza
SBA Loans for Restaurant Purchases & Buildouts
Buying a restaurant or funding a buildout costs more than a merchant cash advance can cover. Here's how SBA 7(a) and 504 financing works for it.
September 1, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA Grocery Guarantee vs. Standard SBA 7(a) Loans
90% guarantee vs. 75%. Same SBA, different math. Compare the Grocery Guarantee to standard 7(a) to see which one actually fits your food business.
September 1, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA Grocery Guarantee Loan: Requirements & Eligibility
The 90% SBA Grocery Guarantee has a real approval bar. Here's the credit, collateral, and documentation grocers and food suppliers need to qualify.
September 1, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA Loans: Richardson & N. Texas
A local broker's view of SBA financing in Richardson and North Texas: what actually closes, realistic timelines, and where DFW deals stall.
August 31, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA Loan Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility factors that actually move an SBA underwriting decision, beyond the generic checklist: credit, cash flow, and industry risk.
August 31, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA 7(a) vs. 504 for Gas Stations
When a gas station's land and canopy justify a 504's fixed-rate real estate financing versus a 7(a)'s working-capital-blended structure.
August 31, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA 7(a) for Texas Gas Stations
How SBA 7(a) financing works for buying a Texas gas station or convenience store, from eligibility through underwriting to close.
August 31, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA Environmental Assessment
What a Phase I environmental assessment costs, how long it adds to your SBA timeline, and how to finance tank remediation on a gas station purchase.
August 31, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA vs. Conventional Loans
SBA vs. conventional business loans compared on rate, term, down payment, speed, and guarantees — and a simple framework for choosing.
July 18, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA Loan Requirements for 2026
What SBA lenders actually require in 2026 — credit, equity injection, ownership rules, and the SOP 50 10 8 changes that reshaped underwriting.
July 18, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA Made in America Loan Guide
SBA Made in America loans give manufacturers a 90% guarantee and waived fees through Sept 30, 2026. Who qualifies and how to file before the deadline.
May 8, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA Grocery Guarantee Loan
The SBA Grocery Guarantee backs food supply chain loans up to $5M at 90%. See who qualifies — farmers to truckers — and how to apply before funds move.
May 8, 2026Read Article →ProgramsMCA Factor Rate vs. Interest Rate
Factor rates hide the true cost of an MCA. Learn how to convert a factor rate to real APR and compare it honestly against loan interest.
April 19, 2026Read Article →ToolsHow to Use a Business Loan Calculator
Get accurate payment estimates from a business loan calculator — the right inputs, what the output misses, and how lenders read the same numbers.
April 19, 2026Read Article →IndustriesWorking Capital for Restaurants
Rising food costs and seasonal gaps squeeze restaurant cash flow. How to structure the right working capital financing before the pressure hits.
March 28, 2026Read Article →ProgramsTerm Loans for Small Businesses
How business term loans are structured, what lenders require, and how to position your file for a clean approval instead of a decline.
March 23, 2026Read Article →ProgramsStartup Financing Guide
What startup financing really costs, which programs fund businesses under 2 years old, and how lenders evaluate early-stage borrowers.
March 23, 2026Read Article →ProgramsReal Estate Investor Financing
Fix-and-flip, DSCR rental, and bridge loans compared — how each is structured and how investors get deals funded on deal timelines.
March 23, 2026Read Article →IndustriesHealthcare Equipment Financing
Equipment loans, working capital, and SBA programs for medical practices — how to acquire what you need without straining thin margins.
March 23, 2026Read Article →ProgramsFranchise Financing Guide
How lenders evaluate franchise deals, which SBA and conventional programs apply, and how to get funded before the doors open.
March 23, 2026Read Article →EducationBanks vs. Alternative Financing
Why banks decline good businesses, what alternative lenders offer instead, and how to choose before pressure forces an expensive decision.
March 23, 2026Read Article →IndustriesRestaurant Cash Flow Financing
How restaurant operators structure financing around tight margins, high fixed costs, and seasonal swings — and stay solvent while growing.
March 22, 2026Read Article →ProgramsFix and Flip Financing Guide
Fix-and-flip loans are underwritten on the deal, not the borrower. How lenders evaluate ARV, draws, and exits — and how to get funded.
March 22, 2026Read Article →ToolsFICA Tip Credit Guide
Most qualifying restaurants leave FICA tip credit money unclaimed. How the §45B credit works, who qualifies, and how much you can recover.
March 22, 2026Read Article →ProgramsEquipment Financing Strategy
How equipment financing preserves working capital, which structures fit your business, and what lenders look for before approving.
March 22, 2026Read Article →IndustriesContractor Financing Between Jobs
Long payment cycles drain contractor cash flow. How experienced construction firms structure financing to keep projects moving and grow.
March 22, 2026Read Article →ProgramsLines of Credit vs. Term Loans
Lines of credit and term loans solve different problems. The structural difference — and a simple test for which one fits your business.
March 22, 2026Read Article →ProgramsMerchant Cash Advances: True Cost
Merchant cash advances offer fast capital, but the true cost is often misunderstood. Here's what business owners need to evaluate before signing.
March 16, 2026Read Article →ProgramsSBA Loan Approval: A Step-by-Step Guide
The SBA approval process step by step — documentation, underwriting, and how to position your file so lenders say yes the first time.
March 16, 2026Read Article →ProgramsAsset-Based Lending vs Factoring
Asset-based lending and factoring both unlock cash from receivables — but cost, control, and structure differ. Which one fits your business?
November 12, 2024Read Article →