Starting Gate Financial

SGF Insights

Business Financing & Capital Structure

Educational resources for business owners navigating SBA loans, commercial real estate, equipment financing, and working capital.

Industries

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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

MCA 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 →
Tools

How 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 →
Industries

Working 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 →
Programs

Term 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 →
Programs

Startup 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 →
Programs

Real 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 →
Industries

Healthcare 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 →
Programs

Franchise 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 →
Education

Banks 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 →
Industries

Restaurant 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 →
Programs

Fix 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 →
Tools

FICA 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 →
Programs

Equipment Financing Strategy

How equipment financing preserves working capital, which structures fit your business, and what lenders look for before approving.

March 22, 2026Read Article →
Industries

Contractor 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 →
Programs

Lines 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 →
Programs

Merchant 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 →
Programs

SBA 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 →
Programs

Asset-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 →