Engineering Services: SBA business acquisition loan data
212 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2018 financed the purchase of an existing business classified as Engineering Services (NAICS 541330), totaling $313M. Median loan $909,500, 41% higher than the all-acquisition median. Annual volume rose 192% from FY2024 to FY2026.
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
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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 $2,256,750 would be in the top quarter of SBA acquisition loans in this industry.
- Share of all acquisitions. This industry is 0.4% of all SBA-financed business purchases, ranking #51 of 300 industries tracked.
- Geography. California leads with 27 loans; the top five states account for 42% of the industry's acquisitions.
- Jobs. Lenders reported 4,393 jobs supported across these loans, about 20.7 per acquisition, a rough proxy for the size of business changing hands.
Engineering Services acquisitions by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 14 | $27.1M | $1,238,200 | |
| FY2019 | 14 | $17.4M | $687,800 | |
| FY2020 | 20 | $23M | $620,000 | |
| FY2021 | 23 | $45.1M | $1,367,000 | |
| FY2022 | 14 | $16.2M | $737,500 | |
| FY2023 | 21 | $39.7M | $1,325,000 | |
| FY2024 | 13 | $23.7M | $1,000,000 | |
| FY2025 | 55 | $69.5M | $644,600 | |
| FY2026 | 38 | $51.9M | $806,350 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 71 Engineering Services acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), none have been charged off by the SBA. 42 have already been paid in full.
For comparison, Engineering Services has none charged off, against the 3.5% average across all SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in the same cohort. 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.
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
Request Engagement AssessmentAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
Top states
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 27 | 12.7% | $34.1M | |
| 2 | Florida | 25 | 11.8% | $32.2M | |
| 3 | Texas | 15 | 7.1% | $14.3M | |
| 4 | Maryland | 12 | 5.7% | $23.6M | |
| 5 | New Jersey | 9 | 4.2% | $17.1M | |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 9 | 4.2% | $12.6M | |
| 7 | Michigan | 9 | 4.2% | $11.9M | |
| 8 | Washington | 8 | 3.8% | $14.6M | |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 8 | 3.8% | $9M | |
| 10 | Ohio | 6 | 2.8% | $11M |
Most active lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 25 | 11.8% | $53.9M | |
| 2 | The Huntington National Bank | 25 | 11.8% | $30.3M | |
| 3 | Byline Bank | 6 | 2.8% | $14.7M | |
| 4 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 6 | 2.8% | $8.6M | |
| 5 | Old National Bank | 5 | 2.4% | $8.9M | |
| 6 | Hancock Whitney Bank | 5 | 2.4% | $3.9M | |
| 7 | Fifth Third Bank | 4 | 1.9% | $6.7M | |
| 8 | First Bank of the Lake | 4 | 1.9% | $4.9M | |
| 9 | CIBC Bank USA | 4 | 1.9% | $3.2M | |
| 10 | Bank of America, National Association | 3 | 1.4% | $9.6M |
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
Request Engagement AssessmentFree consultation. All 50 states.
Questions buyers ask
How much is a typical SBA loan to buy a business in Engineering Services?
Median $909,500 across 212 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026); the middle half ran $350,000 to $2,256,750. That is 41% higher than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Which lenders finance the most Engineering Services acquisitions?
Live Oak Banking Company (25), The Huntington National Bank (25), Byline Bank (6), First Internet Bank of Indiana (6), Old National Bank (5).
Are businesses in Engineering Services often franchised?
Rarely. Only 0% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised business; most are independent operators.
How risky are SBA loans for buying a business in Engineering Services?
Of 71 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), none charged off, against the 3.5% benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans.
What loan terms are common for Engineering Services acquisitions?
Median term 10 years, average initial rate 7.92% 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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