Full-Service Restaurants: SBA business acquisition loan data
2,797 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2018 financed the purchase of an existing business classified as Full-Service Restaurants (NAICS 722511), totaling $1.9B. Median loan $411,700, 36% lower than the all-acquisition median. Annual volume rose 16% from FY2024 to FY2026.
- Loans, FY2018-FY2026
- 2,797
- Median loan
- $411,700 (middle half $225,000 to $819,000)
- Top lender
- The Huntington National Bank (10%, 266 loans)
- Top state
- California
- Charge-off, FY2018-FY2021 loans
- 5.9% (all-acquisition: 3.5%)
- FY2026 loans (latest complete year)
- 389 (+2% vs FY2025)
SBA lenders approved 2,797 7(a) loans to buy restaurants from FY2018-FY2026, with a median of $411,700 and a middle half of $225,000 to $819,000. The Huntington National Bank made 10% of them. 5.9% of 1,127 seasoned loans were charged off, 66% higher than the 3.5% all-acquisition rate.
Financing one? Read the guide: How to get an SBA loan to buy a restaurant
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The median SBA loan to buy restaurants was $411,700 across 2,797 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026), 36% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions. The Huntington National Bank, Hanmi Bank and Bank of Hope made the most of them. Of 1,127 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), 5.9% were charged off, 66% higher than the 3.5% average for all SBA acquisition loans.
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 $819,000 would be in the top quarter of SBA acquisition loans in this industry.
- Share of all acquisitions. This industry is 5.7% of all SBA-financed business purchases, ranking #1 of 300 industries tracked.
- Geography. California leads with 420 loans; the top five states account for 43% of the industry's acquisitions.
- Jobs. Lenders reported 58,418 jobs supported across these loans, about 20.9 per acquisition, a rough proxy for the size of business changing hands.
How the Full-Service Restaurants industry compares
| Measure | Full-Service Restaurants | All acquisitions |
|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $411,700 | $645,250 |
| Middle half of loans | $225,000 to $819,000 | $283,000 to $1,465,000 |
| Average initial rate | 8.08% | 7.76% |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Charge-off rate (seasoned loans) | 5.9% | 3.5% |
| Loans in sample | 2,797 | 48,902 |
The median for loans to buy restaurants is $411,700, below the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions nationally.
The middle half runs $225,000 to $819,000, against $283,000 to $1,465,000 nationally; the median term is 10 years, the same as the national median; the average initial rate is 8.08%, above the 7.76% national average.
Seasoned loans were charged off at 5.9%, well above the 3.5% rate for all acquisition loans.
Loan size distribution
| Loan size | Full-Service Restaurants | All acquisitions |
|---|---|---|
| Under $350K | 42% | 30% |
| $350K to under $1M | 38% | 33% |
| $1M to under $2M | 14% | 19% |
| $2M and over | 6% | 17% |
Most loans to buy restaurants (81%) were under $1M, and the largest single band is Under $350K at 42%, against 30% of all acquisition loans.
Bands are fixed dollar ranges chosen for comparison. They are not SBA program limits.
Lender concentration
The Huntington National Bank made 10% of loans to buy restaurants, and the top three lenders together made 18%. 202 of the 580 lenders involved made three or more. Repeat experience is spread across many banks. That is a rough guide to how many banks have seen this kind of deal before.
Recent activity
In FY2025 and FY2026 combined, 769 loans to buy restaurants were approved. That is 19% more than the 646 approved in FY2023 and FY2024. The median was $499,000, above the $411,700 median across all years.
Full-Service Restaurants acquisitions by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 262 | $134M | $300,000 | |
| FY2019 | 396 | $216M | $350,000 | |
| FY2020 | 266 | $139M | $345,400 | |
| FY2021 | 203 | $147M | $450,000 | |
| FY2022 | 255 | $190M | $434,300 | |
| FY2023 | 311 | $222M | $482,000 | |
| FY2024 | 335 | $208M | $393,000 | |
| FY2025 | 380 | $292M | $492,000 | |
| FY2026 | 389 | $331M | $500,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 1,127 Full-Service Restaurants acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 66 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 5.9% by loan count and 2.8% by dollars. 595 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 Full-Service Restaurants is 66% higher 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.
The purchase agreement decides what you bought, not the loan approval.
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Top states
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 420 | 15.0% | $239M | |
| 2 | Texas | 230 | 8.2% | $194M | |
| 3 | Florida | 208 | 7.4% | $193M | |
| 4 | Washington | 200 | 7.2% | $131M | |
| 5 | Georgia | 136 | 4.9% | $89.3M | |
| 6 | Illinois | 119 | 4.3% | $69.8M | |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 108 | 3.9% | $87.5M | |
| 8 | Michigan | 96 | 3.4% | $56.9M | |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 86 | 3.1% | $55.5M | |
| 10 | New Jersey | 85 | 3.0% | $100M |
Most active lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National Bank | 266 | 9.5% | $122M | |
| 2 | Hanmi Bank | 148 | 5.3% | $77.4M | |
| 3 | Bank of Hope | 102 | 3.6% | $40.5M | |
| 4 | PCB Bank | 46 | 1.6% | $26M | |
| 5 | Celtic Bank Corporation | 43 | 1.5% | $31.1M | |
| 6 | Beacon Bank and Trust | 42 | 1.5% | $64.5M | |
| 7 | Open Bank | 40 | 1.4% | $18M | |
| 8 | GBC International Bank | 39 | 1.4% | $24.8M | |
| 9 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 38 | 1.4% | $9.5M | |
| 10 | Plumas Bank | 36 | 1.3% | $24M |
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
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Franchise brands in Full-Service Restaurants
10% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised unit. Brands with the most SBA-financed resales:
| # | Brand | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subway | 21 | 7.5% | $4.8M | |
| 2 | Firehouse Subs | 9 | 3.2% | $2.7M | |
| 3 | Dickey's Barbecue Pit | 8 | 2.9% | $2.8M | |
| 4 | Golden Corral | 7 | 2.5% | $16.9M | |
| 5 | Denny's | 7 | 2.5% | $10M | |
| 6 | Johnny's Pizza | 6 | 2.1% | $2.3M | |
| 7 | IHOP | 5 | 1.8% | $3.9M | |
| 8 | Buffalo Wings & Rings | 5 | 1.8% | $3.7M | |
| 9 | Dairy Queen | 5 | 1.8% | $3.3M | |
| 10 | Beef 'O' Brady's | 5 | 1.8% | $1.7M | |
| 11 | Round Table Pizza | 4 | 1.4% | $3.9M | |
| 12 | Jimmy John's | 4 | 1.4% | $3.2M | |
| 13 | Little Caesars | 4 | 1.4% | $3.2M | |
| 14 | The Brass Tap Craft Beer Bar | 4 | 1.4% | $2.7M | |
| 15 | Tropical Smoothie Cafe | 4 | 1.4% | $1.5M |
Questions buyers ask
How much is a typical SBA loan to buy a business in Full-Service Restaurants?
Median $411,700 across 2,797 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026); the middle half ran $225,000 to $819,000. That is 36% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Which lenders finance the most Full-Service Restaurants acquisitions?
The Huntington National Bank (266), Hanmi Bank (148), Bank of Hope (102), PCB Bank (46), Celtic Bank Corporation (43).
Are businesses in Full-Service Restaurants often franchised?
Sometimes. 10% of SBA acquisition loans in this industry financed a franchised unit. Top brands: Subway, Firehouse Subs, Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Golden Corral, Denny's.
How risky are SBA loans for buying a business in Full-Service Restaurants?
Of 1,127 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), 5.9% charged off, 66% higher than the 3.5% benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans.
What loan terms are common for Full-Service Restaurants acquisitions?
Median term 10 years, average initial rate 8.08% at approval (blended across years and fixed/variable structures). Terms longer than 10 years usually indicate real estate was included in the purchase.
How much do you need down for an SBA loan to buy a restaurant?
The SBA requires the buyer to make an equity injection, commonly 10% of total project cost, and a lender may ask for more. The SBA file does not record injections, so the figures here are the financed portion: the median for loans to buy restaurants was $411,700, and the middle half ran $225,000 to $819,000.
How long does an SBA acquisition loan take?
For a change-of-ownership 7(a) loan, 45 to 90 days from application to close is typical. It varies by lender and by how quickly third-party reports, such as the business valuation and appraisal, come back. The SBA file records approval dates, not application dates, so this site cannot measure it. Lenders approved 769 loans to buy restaurants in FY2025 and FY2026.
Which banks make SBA loans for a restaurant?
By loan count, FY2018 to FY2026: The Huntington National Bank (266), Hanmi Bank (148), Bank of Hope (102), PCB Bank (46), Celtic Bank Corporation (43). The Huntington National Bank made 10% of loans to buy restaurants. Counts show past approvals only and do not predict whether a lender will approve a particular deal.
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
Request Engagement AssessmentAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
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Related
Cite this data
SBA Acquisition Data, "Full-Service Restaurants: SBA acquisition loan data", https://sbaacquisitiondata.com/industry/full-service-restaurants-722511 (data as of September 30, 2026). Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) loan file, data.sba.gov. Aggregated by SBA Acquisition Data.
The figures on this page are also published as JSON at https://sbaacquisitiondata.com/data/industry/full-service-restaurants-722511.json.