Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers: SBA business acquisition loan data
261 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2018 financed the purchase of an existing business classified as Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (NAICS 458110), totaling $160M. Median loan $341,000, 47% lower than the all-acquisition median. Annual volume rose 41% from FY2024 to FY2026.
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Reading this industry's numbers
- Deal size. The loan excludes the buyer's equity and any seller note and may include working capital. A loan request far above $677,000 would be in the top quarter of SBA acquisition loans in this industry.
- Share of all acquisitions. This industry is 0.5% of all SBA-financed business purchases, ranking #43 of 300 industries tracked.
- Geography. Texas leads with 21 loans; the top five states account for 32% of the industry's acquisitions.
- Jobs. Lenders reported 2,009 jobs supported across these loans, about 7.7 per acquisition, a rough proxy for the size of business changing hands.
Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers acquisitions by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 22 | $11.2M | $213,550 | |
| FY2019 | 35 | $9.4M | $142,800 | |
| FY2020 | 32 | $22M | $266,600 | |
| FY2021 | 25 | $11.1M | $325,000 | |
| FY2022 | 17 | $7.8M | $450,000 | |
| FY2023 | 34 | $18.4M | $416,750 | |
| FY2024 | 27 | $15.5M | $378,000 | |
| FY2025 | 31 | $29.2M | $509,200 | |
| FY2026 | 38 | $35.2M | $559,500 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 114 Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 4 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 3.5% by loan count and 1.4% by dollars. 58 have already been paid in full.
For comparison, the charge-off rate across all SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in the same cohort is 3.5%, so Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers is in line with the acquisition-loan average. Non-acquisition 7(a) loans (every other stated purpose) approved FY2018 to FY2021 charged off at 6.2%.
"Charged off" is the SBA's final loss action on a defaulted loan after collection efforts. It lags default by a year or more, which is why only older cohorts are measured. It is not the same as a delinquency rate, and loans still outstanding can still fail. See charge-off in the glossary.
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Top states
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 21 | 8.0% | $12.9M | |
| 2 | California | 19 | 7.3% | $13.4M | |
| 3 | Florida | 16 | 6.1% | $10.7M | |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 15 | 5.7% | $12.1M | |
| 5 | Ohio | 12 | 4.6% | $9.3M | |
| 6 | New York | 11 | 4.2% | $4.8M | |
| 7 | Minnesota | 11 | 4.2% | $3.7M | |
| 8 | Missouri | 10 | 3.8% | $4.2M | |
| 9 | Colorado | 10 | 3.8% | $3.8M | |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 9 | 3.4% | $3.7M |
Most active lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National Bank | 14 | 5.4% | $5.4M | |
| 2 | Live Oak Banking Company | 11 | 4.2% | $11.8M | |
| 3 | Zions Bancorporation, National Association | 7 | 2.7% | $8.7M | |
| 4 | Citizens Bank | 6 | 2.3% | $2.2M | |
| 5 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 5 | 1.9% | $9.8M | |
| 6 | United Community Bank | 5 | 1.9% | $5.3M | |
| 7 | Pinnacle Bank | 5 | 1.9% | $5M | |
| 8 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 5 | 1.9% | $2.3M | |
| 9 | Hancock Whitney Bank | 5 | 1.9% | $2.2M | |
| 10 | Bank of America, National Association | 4 | 1.5% | $3.2M |
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Franchise brands in Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers
12% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised unit. Brands with the most SBA-financed resales:
| # | Brand | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plato's Closet | 12 | 37.5% | $7.6M | |
| 2 | Once Upon A Child | 7 | 21.9% | $4M | |
| 3 | Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More | 2 | 6.3% | $530K | |
| 4 | Fully Promoted | 1 | 3.1% | $220K | |
| 5 | Fleet Feet Sports | 1 | 3.1% | $215K |
Questions buyers ask
How much is a typical SBA loan to buy a business in Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers?
Median $341,000 across 261 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026); the middle half ran $150,000 to $677,000. That is 47% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Which lenders finance the most Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers acquisitions?
The Huntington National Bank (14), Live Oak Banking Company (11), Zions Bancorporation, National Association (7), Citizens Bank (6), First Internet Bank of Indiana (5).
Are businesses in Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers often franchised?
Sometimes. 12% of SBA acquisition loans in this industry financed a franchised unit. Top brands: Plato's Closet, Once Upon A Child, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, Fully Promoted, Fleet Feet Sports.
How risky are SBA loans for buying a business in Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers?
Of 114 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), 3.5% charged off, in line with the 3.5% benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans.
What loan terms are common for Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers acquisitions?
Median term 10 years, average initial rate 7.89% at approval (blended across years and fixed/variable structures). Terms longer than 10 years usually indicate real estate was included in the purchase.
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
Request Engagement AssessmentAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
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