Exam Preparation and Tutoring: SBA business acquisition loan data
68 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2018 financed the purchase of an existing business classified as Exam Preparation and Tutoring (NAICS 611691), totaling $39.7M. Median loan $334,000, 48% lower than the all-acquisition median. Annual volume fell 36% from FY2024 to FY2026. 74% of these deals were franchised units.
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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 $622,125 would be in the top quarter of SBA acquisition loans in this industry.
- Share of all acquisitions. This industry is 0.1% of all SBA-financed business purchases, ranking #134 of 300 industries tracked.
- Geography. California leads with 10 loans; the top five states account for 50% of the industry's acquisitions.
- Jobs. Lenders reported 1,236 jobs supported across these loans, about 18.2 per acquisition, a rough proxy for the size of business changing hands.
Exam Preparation and Tutoring acquisitions by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 5 | $2.3M | $252,000 | |
| FY2019 | 14 | $6.5M | $347,700 | |
| FY2020 | 6 | $3.2M | $224,550 | |
| FY2021 | 5 | $2.6M | $381,000 | |
| FY2022 | 4 | $1.4M | $350,650 | |
| FY2023 | 6 | $5.4M | $357,500 | |
| FY2024 | 11 | $3.9M | $229,200 | |
| FY2025 | 10 | $5.4M | $404,000 | |
| FY2026 | 7 | $8.8M | $315,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 30 Exam Preparation and Tutoring acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 1 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 3.3% by loan count and 2.3% by dollars. 18 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 Exam Preparation and Tutoring is 5% lower than 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 | California | 10 | 14.7% | $9.6M | |
| 2 | Texas | 8 | 11.8% | $5.5M | |
| 3 | Florida | 6 | 8.8% | $6.1M | |
| 4 | New Jersey | 5 | 7.4% | $4M | |
| 5 | Missouri | 5 | 7.4% | $2.2M | |
| 6 | Illinois | 5 | 7.4% | $1.9M | |
| 7 | New York | 4 | 5.9% | $1.7M | |
| 8 | Michigan | 3 | 4.4% | $759K | |
| 9 | Washington | 2 | 2.9% | $1.6M | |
| 10 | Minnesota | 2 | 2.9% | $628K |
Most active lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 4 | 5.9% | $5.2M | |
| 2 | The Huntington National Bank | 4 | 5.9% | $4.3M | |
| 3 | Stearns Bank National Association | 4 | 5.9% | $523K | |
| 4 | Plumas Bank | 3 | 4.4% | $947K | |
| 5 | United Community Bank | 3 | 4.4% | $905K | |
| 6 | Bank of America, National Association | 2 | 2.9% | $4.3M | |
| 7 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 2 | 2.9% | $1.7M | |
| 8 | OakStar Bank | 2 | 2.9% | $178K | |
| 9 | First Merchants Bank | 2 | 2.9% | $159K | |
| 10 | East West Bank | 1 | 1.5% | $2.3M |
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
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Franchise brands in Exam Preparation and Tutoring
74% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised unit. Brands with the most SBA-financed resales:
| # | Brand | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sylvan Learning Centers | 17 | 34.0% | $11.8M | |
| 2 | Huntington Learning Center | 9 | 18.0% | $4.6M | |
| 3 | Mathnasium | 8 | 16.0% | $5.6M | |
| 4 | Kumon | 7 | 14.0% | $3.2M | |
| 5 | Brain Balance | 1 | 2.0% | $615K |
Questions buyers ask
How much is a typical SBA loan to buy a business in Exam Preparation and Tutoring?
Median $334,000 across 68 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026); the middle half ran $175,425 to $622,125. That is 48% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Which lenders finance the most Exam Preparation and Tutoring acquisitions?
Live Oak Banking Company (4), The Huntington National Bank (4), Stearns Bank National Association (4), Plumas Bank (3), United Community Bank (3).
Are businesses in Exam Preparation and Tutoring often franchised?
Yes, often. 74% of SBA acquisition loans in this industry financed a franchised unit. Top brands: Sylvan Learning Centers, Huntington Learning Center, Mathnasium, Kumon, Brain Balance.
How risky are SBA loans for buying a business in Exam Preparation and Tutoring?
Of 30 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), 3.3% charged off, 5% lower than the 3.5% benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans.
What loan terms are common for Exam Preparation and Tutoring acquisitions?
Median term 10 years, average initial rate 8.28% 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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