Starting Gate Financial
Financing ProgramsSBA Financing

Financing Program

SBA Financing

SBA 7(a) and 504 loans offer the lowest long-term cost of capital for qualified owner-operated businesses. We structure your application the way lenders and the SBA expect — improving approval outcomes and preserving your equity.

Loan Range

$150,000 – $5,500,000

Term Range

10 – 25 years

Structure

Government-backed financing for owner-operated businesses

What It's Used For

Common Use Cases

Purchase or expand an owner-operated business

Acquire commercial real estate with owner-occupancy

Refinance high-cost existing business debt

Finance a business acquisition or partner buyout

Fund franchise startup or multi-unit expansion

Program Details

Key Features

SBA 7(a) loans up to $5 million

SBA 504 for real estate and heavy equipment up to $5.5M

Terms up to 25 years for real estate, 10 years for working capital

Variable interest rates tied to WSJ Prime

Lower down payment requirements than conventional loans

Eligible for acquisition, expansion, and refinance

How It Works

How This Financing Is Structured

SBA 7(a) loans are partially guaranteed by the federal government, allowing lenders to extend credit to businesses that wouldn't qualify conventionally. SBA 504 loans split financing between a bank (50%) and a Certified Development Company (40%) with a 10% equity injection. Terms extend to 25 years for real estate.

Fit Assessment

Is This the Right Program?

✓ This program IS a good fit when:

  • Businesses that can't qualify for conventional financing
  • Acquisitions requiring longer amortization periods
  • Startups with strong projections but limited history
  • Owner-occupied real estate purchases

✗ This program is NOT the right fit when:

  • Businesses in ineligible SBA industries
  • Borrowers who need funding in under 30 days
  • Companies with unresolved federal tax debt
  • Real estate investors buying non-owner-occupied property

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep Exploring

Related Programs

Ready to Move Forward

Check SBA Eligibility

No cost. No obligation. A direct conversation about whether this program fits your deal.