How to get an SBA loan to buy a franchise resale
- Loans, FY2018-FY2026
- 1,574
- Median loan by segment
- $228,200 to $3,489,500 by segment
- Top lender
- GBank (209 loans)
- Top state
- California
- Charge-off, FY2018-FY2021 loans
- 1.4% (all-acquisition: 3.5%)
- FY2026 loans (latest complete year)
- 148 (+6% vs FY2025)
SBA lenders approved 1,574 7(a) loans to buy a franchise in the ten brands with the most loans from FY2018-FY2026, with segment medians of $228,200 to $3,489,500. GBank made 209 of them. 1.4% of 773 seasoned loans were charged off, 60% lower than the 3.5% all-acquisition rate.
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Short answer
An SBA 7(a) loan is a loan from an SBA-approved lender, with a government guaranty on part of it, and its eligible uses of proceeds include complete or partial changes of ownership. For franchise resales in the SBA file, median loans by brand ran from $228,200 to $3,489,500. Most buyers get it from an SBA lender that already does these deals: GBank, The Huntington National Bank and Live Oak Banking Company made the most.
Source: sba.gov 7(a) loans
What the data shows for franchise resale acquisitions
Since FY2018, SBA lenders have recorded 8,849 franchise acquisition loans in total; the tables cover the ten brands with the most loans (1,574), six of them hotel brands. The lender, state, charge-off and trend figures below pool those ten brands. Medians differ by brand, so the table lists each one: median loans by brand ran from $228,200 to $3,489,500. Pooled across segments, 1.4% of 773 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021) were charged off, 2.1 percentage points below the 3.5% rate for all SBA acquisition loans. Annual volume rose 17% from 127 loans in FY2024 to 148 in FY2026.
| Brand | Loans | Median loan | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| The UPS Store | 348 | $393,000 | $264,750 to $594,400 |
| Subway | 217 | $228,200 | $150,000 to $355,000 |
| Quality Inn | 188 | $2,993,500 | $2,289,500 to $3,800,000 |
| Super 8 | 140 | $1,953,000 | $1,454,000 to $2,526,250 |
| Days Inn | 128 | $2,205,000 | $1,729,500 to $3,370,450 |
| Motel 6 | 116 | $2,468,250 | $1,830,000 to $3,696,250 |
| Home Instead | 114 | $642,500 | $278,750 to $1,350,000 |
| Ace Hardware | 111 | $957,500 | $391,000 to $1,784,000 |
| Best Western | 109 | $3,489,500 | $2,567,000 to $4,449,000 |
| Red Roof Inn | 103 | $2,666,000 | $2,120,500 to $3,488,500 |
Top five lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GBank | 209 | $572M | |
| 2 | The Huntington National Bank | 95 | $100M | |
| 3 | Live Oak Banking Company | 95 | $122M | |
| 4 | First Western SBLC, LLC d/b/a Peachtree Group | 62 | $133M | |
| 5 | Stearns Bank National Association | 47 | $9.9M |
Top five states
| # | State | Loans | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 129 | $202M | |
| 2 | Ohio | 105 | $166M | |
| 3 | Georgia | 98 | $154M | |
| 4 | Texas | 97 | $200M | |
| 5 | Illinois | 81 | $133M |
See the default-rate page for the charge-off method and its limits, and the All franchise brands for full tables.
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How a 7(a) change-of-ownership loan works
Proceeds. Stock purchases, redemptions and asset purchases can qualify; an asset purchase must take "all or substantially all of the assets of the seller's business" and continue it (the SOP does not define "substantially all"). The business must be a Borrower or Co-Borrower. Appendix 15 sorts acquisitions into four types: Initial Acquisition (the default, an outsider buying 100%), Business Expansion, Owner Buyout, and ESOP & Cooperative.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Change of Ownership Requirements; Types of Changes of Ownership; sba.gov 7(a) loans
Maximum and guaranty. The maximum Standard 7(a) loan is $5,000,000. SBA guarantees 85% of loans up to $150,000 and 75% above, to a $3,750,000 maximum guaranty. SOP 50 10 8.1 says 7(a) Small (up to $350,000) and SBA Express (up to $500,000, 50% guaranty) may be used for changes of ownership, but Appendix 15 also says Standard 7(a) processing requirements apply to all change of ownership transactions, so confirm the processing path with the lender. Acquisition rules on equity, valuation, coverage and collateral apply either way.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Section B, Ch. 1, Maximum Loan Amount; Appendix 16, General Requirements; Appendix 15 (introduction); Section B, Ch. 2; sba.gov 7(a) loan program
Maturity. The business portion amortizes over 10 years at most, with no balloon. Real estate can run up to 25 years, as a separate loan or blended. An owner-occupied Special Purpose Property, such as a hotel, may get up to 25 years when 85% or more of project costs are real estate.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Loan Maturities; sba.gov SBA lenders
Rate caps. SBA caps the variable rate as a spread over the base rate: 6.5% for loans of $50,000 or less, 6% to $250,000, 4.5% to $350,000, and 3% above. The SOP gives no fixed-rate cap figure. SBA publishes the upfront guaranty fee each fiscal year on its 7(a) loan program page.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 18, Base Rate, Alternative Base Rate, Allowable Spread, and Frequency; Section A, Ch. 4, 7(a) Loan Program Fees
Who underwrites. The lender. A PLP lender approves in-house and SBA does not review the credit before issuing a loan number; for non-delegated lenders SBA decides. SBA Express is delegated only.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Section B, Ch. 1, Processing Methods
Who can borrow. Every owner must be a U.S. citizen or national living in the U.S.; green card holders cannot own any part under 8.1. Owners of 20% or more give unlimited guaranties. The SOP sets no minimum credit score, so each lender applies its own policy. Buyer and target together must meet size standards.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Section A, Ch. 1, Citizenship And Residency Requirements; Credit Not Available Elsewhere; Small Under SBA Size Requirements; Section A, Ch. 5, Guaranties
Equity injection and seller financing
Minimum equity. For an Initial Acquisition the minimum is 10% of total project cost, "all costs required to become operational, regardless of the source of funds, except for lines of credit and 504 loans," and it cannot be reduced or eliminated. For a Business Expansion or Owner Buyout the lender may reduce or eliminate it if the borrower has sufficient liquidity and working capital and no negative net worth.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Equity Requirements; Types of Changes of Ownership
What counts. Unborrowed cash (gifts included), a personal loan repaid from outside the business, grants without clawback and verified prepaid expenses count without limit; broker, education and advisory fees do not. Full-standby debt, a full-standby seller note and minority investments under 20% together cover at most half. The lender verifies equity before disbursing: expect a wire or check plus about 30 days of statements.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Source of Equity Injections; Limited Equity Injection Sources; Section B, Ch. 6, Loan Closing and Disbursement
Seller notes. A seller note counts as equity only if subordinated and on full standby, "no payments of principal or interest for the term of the 7(a) loan." Interest may accrue and be paid afterward, and 8.1 has no 24-month standby option. A note paid currently is allowed, but SBA and seller debt together cannot exceed the business valuation, cash flow must cover both, and interest-only debt is tested as if amortized over 10 years. A seller note can be refinanced after it has been in place and current for 36 months.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Seller Debt; Standby Debt Agreements; Change of Ownership Requirements; Adjusted Debt Service Coverage (DSC)
Other seller rules. In an Initial Acquisition or Business Expansion the seller cannot stay as owner or employee, though a consulting contract of up to 24 months in total is allowed. In a partial change the seller may stay; one keeping under 20% guarantees the loan for at least two years. Seller earnouts are prohibited, and any price above the valuation must be covered with equity.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Change of Ownership Requirements; Partial Change of Owner; Business Valuation Requirements - change of ownership
Beyond the minimum. The SOP sets floors, and lenders commonly look for cash left after closing beyond the minimum injection. The SOP specifies no amount, and policies differ by lender.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Section A, Ch. 1, Credit Not Available Elsewhere
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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Business valuation and third-party reports
Valuation. Every change of ownership needs financial due diligence. At a business purchase price of $350,000 or less the lender may do its own valuation unless buyer and seller are closely related (the SOP does not define that for 7(a)). Above it, expect an independent valuation ordered by the lender from an ASA, CBA, ABV, CVA or BCA credentialed appraiser; one the buyer, seller or broker commissioned will not satisfy SBA. The price excludes owner-occupied real estate, and the cost counts toward equity.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Business Valuation Requirements - change of ownership; Qualified Source; Financial Due Diligence; Lender Verification of Business Valuation Financial Data
Quality of Earnings. At $3 million or more (Initial Acquisition or Business Expansion) the lender also obtains an independent Quality of Earnings report with a cash proof, and sizes the loan from it.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Quality of Earnings
Real estate and equipment. Any real estate added to the deal is appraised for the lender by a state-licensed or certified appraiser (state-certified above $1,000,000) within 12 months. Equipment valued above book needs its own independent appraisal.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 19, Commercial real estate appraisal requirements; Valuation of fixed assets
Environmental. SBA requires an Environmental Investigation of commercial property offered as security, so a deal that includes real estate collateral should expect one. The SOP is silent on business-only purchases in leased space with no real estate lien. For a business whose NAICS code is not on the SOP's list of environmentally sensitive industries, a loan of $250,000 or less starts with a questionnaire, and larger loans add a Records Search with Risk Assessment. We did not identify franchise resales as an example on that list; the lender confirms the NAICS match.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Section A, Ch. 5, Environmental Policies and Procedures; Environmental Investigation Steps
Franchise documents. A franchise brand "must be on the Directory in order to obtain SBA financing," so confirm the listing first. The lender must hold the executed franchise documents before disbursing, and a franchisor-affiliated manager makes the business ineligible. The SOP does not mention SBA Form 2462 or set a transfer-consent rule; those are lender and franchisor requirements.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Section A, Ch. 1, Franchises; SBA Franchise Directory (effective October 28, 2026)
Licenses and permits. For Standard 7(a), evidence of required licenses is due "within no more than 90 days after final disbursement"; 7(a) Small and SBA Express list business licenses among conditions before disbursement, and many lenders require them earlier. Most franchise agreements require the franchisor to approve the transfer, and the lender must hold the executed franchise documents before disbursing. The SOP does not address this vertical's licenses.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Section B, Ch. 6, Loan Closing and Disbursement
What lenders look at in this vertical
Cash flow: historical coverage of post-closing debt must reach 1.25:1 for most buyers (1.15:1 for a business expansion; Owner Buyout: 1.25:1), on the last year or a two-year average, with no projections; global cash flow must reach 1:1. Owner-operator: lenders look at the buyer's experience in the business and, where a license is needed to own or operate it, evidence of one by the date the lender sets (within 90 days after final disbursement for Standard 7(a), before disbursement for 7(a) Small and SBA Express). Single-unit revenue is local, so lenders look at the unit's history, the brand's system health and the remaining franchise term. Lease: the SOP's lease-term rule applies when leasehold improvements or attached assets reach $500,000 or 30%, whichever is less; below that, lenders set policy. Working capital: cash for the transfer fee, any required remodel, and opening inventory. Collateral: Lenders must take liens on receivables and inventory, and if collateral falls short they take available equity in personal real estate (Appendix 15, Collateral shortfall).
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Lender’s Credit Analysis; Collateral Requirements for 7(a) Change of Ownership Loans; Collateral shortfall; Section A, Ch. 3, Occupancy and Leasing Requirements
Timeline
SBA states its review turnaround as 5 to 10 business days for a standard 7(a) application and 2 to 10 for 7(a) Small; the SOP itself sets no turnaround times. A PLP lender must have the valuation and any Quality of Earnings work formally engaged when it receives a loan number; a non-delegated file includes them with the application.
Source: SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15, Submission of application for guaranty; Change of Ownership Requirements; Section B, Ch. 1, Processing Methods; sba.gov 7(a) loan program
Document checklist
Lenders typically ask for these; lists vary.
- Personal financial statement and three years of personal tax returns
- Resume showing management experience relevant to the business
- Proof of the source of the equity injection, with bank statements
- Letter of intent or draft purchase agreement, with schedules
- Three years of business tax returns and financial statements, plus current interim statements
- Signed IRS transcript request (Form 4506-C) from the seller
- Debt schedule listing every loan and lien on business assets
- Fixed asset and inventory list
- Organizational documents and insurance certificates
- Franchise agreement and amendments
- Unit financial statements and royalty reports
- Franchisor transfer package and any required remodel or training requirements
- Lease with franchisor and landlord consent
- Franchisor application and approval letter
- Franchise disclosure document, if the franchisor provides one
Why these deals stall
- Specific to franchise resale: franchisor approval and transfer documents arriving late, when the lender must hold the executed franchise documents before disbursing (section 5).
- Also specific to franchise resale: a brand that is not on the SBA Franchise Directory, which the lender confirms first (section 5).
- Valuation below price: above a $350,000 business price the lender orders an independent valuation, and any price above it must be covered with equity (sections 4 and 5).
- Equity that cannot be documented: the lender verifies the injection before disbursing, and a seller note counts only on full standby (section 4).
- Cash flow below the minimum: historical coverage must reach 1.25:1 for most buyers, and projections cannot make up the gap (section 6).
- Lease and collateral: a short lease, or a collateral shortfall that calls for liens on personal real estate, can hold up closing (sections 5 and 6).
Questions buyers ask
How much is the down payment on an SBA loan to buy a franchise resale?
For an Initial Acquisition, the default type for a new buyer, SOP 50 10 8.1 sets a 10% minimum equity injection on total project cost and says it cannot be reduced or eliminated (Appendix 15, Equity Requirements). Lenders may ask for more; the SOP leaves that to each lender.
Can the seller finance part of the purchase of a franchise resale?
A seller note counts toward the equity injection only if it is subordinated and on full standby for the term of the 7(a) loan, and it can cover at most half of the injection (Appendix 15, Seller Debt). A note paid currently counts toward total debt, which cannot exceed the valuation.
How long does an SBA loan to buy a franchise resale take?
SBA states its review turnaround as 5 to 10 business days for a standard 7(a) application and 2 to 10 for 7(a) Small (sba.gov, 7(a) loan program page). The SOP itself sets no turnaround times.
Which banks make SBA loans to buy a franchise resale?
GBank (209), The Huntington National Bank (95), Live Oak Banking Company (95), First Western SBLC, LLC d/b/a Peachtree Group (62), Stearns Bank National Association (47), by loans in the SBA file, summed across the segments above.
Can I use SBA Express to buy a franchise resale?
SOP 50 10 8.1 says 7(a) Small (up to $350,000) and SBA Express (up to $500,000, 50% guaranty) may be used for changes of ownership, but Appendix 15 also says Standard 7(a) processing requirements apply to all change of ownership transactions, so confirm the processing path with the lender. Acquisition rules on equity, valuation, coverage and collateral apply either way.
What loan size is typical for a franchise resale?
Median loans by brand ran from $228,200 to $3,489,500 across 1,574 loans in the ten brands with the most loans (FY2018 to FY2026), against $645,250 for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Sources
SBA SOP 50 10 8.1 (effective October 1, 2026), headings cited:
- Appendix 15: Change of Ownership Requirements; Types of Changes of Ownership; Equity Requirements; Source of Equity Injections; Limited Equity Injection Sources; Standby Debt Agreements; Seller Debt; Business Valuation Requirements - change of ownership; Qualified Source; Quality of Earnings; Financial Due Diligence; Lender Verification of Business Valuation Financial Data; Collateral shortfall; Loan Maturities; Submission of application for guaranty; Lender’s Credit Analysis; Adjusted Debt Service Coverage (DSC); Collateral Requirements for 7(a) Change of Ownership Loans
- Section B, Ch. 6: Loan Closing and Disbursement
- Section B, Ch. 1: Maximum Loan Amount; Processing Methods
- Appendix 16: General Requirements
- Appendix 15 (introduction)
- Appendix 18: Base Rate, Alternative Base Rate, Allowable Spread, and Frequency
- Section A, Ch. 4: 7(a) Loan Program Fees
- Section B, Ch. 2
- Section A, Ch. 1: Citizenship And Residency Requirements; Credit Not Available Elsewhere; Franchises
- Section A, Ch. 3: Occupancy and Leasing Requirements
- Appendix 19: Commercial real estate appraisal requirements; Valuation of fixed assets
- Section A, Ch. 5: Environmental Policies and Procedures; Environmental Investigation Steps
SBA pages: 7(a) loans, 7(a) loan program, SBA lenders, Franchise Directory. Loan data: SBA 7(a) FOIA file, data.sba.gov, as of September 30, 2026.
Cite this guide: SBA Acquisition Data, "How to get an SBA loan to buy a franchise resale", https://sbaacquisitiondata.com/guides/sba-loan-to-buy-a-franchise-resale, published October 31, 2026 (data as of September 30, 2026).
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