Guides

SBA loan guides

Plain-language answers for small-business owners, sourced from the SBA and written by someone with a banking background.

How SBA Loans Work: 7(a) vs 504

What an SBA loan actually is, and how the two main programs, 7(a) and 504, differ in purpose, size, and structure.

The general eligibility rules for SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, and what lenders look at beyond the SBA's baseline.

How interest rates and fees work on SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, and why the exact numbers change every year.

SBA lenders are not interchangeable. How to shortlist the right one using volume, loan size, and track-record data.