Marketing Consulting Services: SBA business acquisition loan data
88 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2018 financed the purchase of an existing business classified as Marketing Consulting Services (NAICS 541613), totaling $85.5M. Median loan $707,300, 10% higher than the all-acquisition median. Annual volume fell 50% 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 $1,298,750 would be in the top quarter of SBA acquisition loans in this industry.
- Share of all acquisitions. This industry is 0.2% of all SBA-financed business purchases, ranking #110 of 300 industries tracked.
- Geography. California leads with 10 loans; the top five states account for 39% of the industry's acquisitions.
- Jobs. Lenders reported 852 jobs supported across these loans, about 9.7 per acquisition, a rough proxy for the size of business changing hands.
Marketing Consulting Services acquisitions by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 4 | $6.9M | $901,800 | |
| FY2019 | 4 | $2.5M | $584,000 | |
| FY2020 | 3 | $4.4M | $1,872,000 | |
| FY2021 | 13 | $9M | $694,600 | |
| FY2022 | 13 | $8.3M | $262,500 | |
| FY2023 | 10 | $14.4M | $936,700 | |
| FY2024 | 18 | $14.4M | $768,000 | |
| FY2025 | 14 | $14.1M | $707,700 | |
| FY2026 | 9 | $11.6M | $969,500 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 24 Marketing Consulting Services 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 4.2% by loan count and 2.1% by dollars. 12 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 Marketing Consulting Services is 18% 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.
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
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Top states
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 10 | 11.4% | $6.4M | |
| 2 | Texas | 8 | 9.1% | $5.2M | |
| 3 | Florida | 6 | 6.8% | $6.3M | |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5 | 5.7% | $3.8M | |
| 5 | Colorado | 5 | 5.7% | $3.7M | |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4 | 4.5% | $8.9M | |
| 7 | Illinois | 4 | 4.5% | $4.4M | |
| 8 | New York | 4 | 4.5% | $2.3M | |
| 9 | Ohio | 4 | 4.5% | $699K | |
| 10 | Kansas | 3 | 3.4% | $3.6M |
Most active lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 12 | 13.6% | $10.9M | |
| 2 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 6 | 6.8% | $9.1M | |
| 3 | The Huntington National Bank | 5 | 5.7% | $1.7M | |
| 4 | CIBC Bank USA | 3 | 3.4% | $5M | |
| 5 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 3 | 3.4% | $3.3M | |
| 6 | Truliant FCU | 3 | 3.4% | $3M | |
| 7 | Fifth Third Bank | 3 | 3.4% | $2.8M | |
| 8 | United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 3 | 3.4% | $2.5M | |
| 9 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | 2 | 2.3% | $4.1M | |
| 10 | Pathward National Association | 2 | 2.3% | $1.6M |
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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Questions buyers ask
How much is a typical SBA loan to buy a business in Marketing Consulting Services?
Median $707,300 across 88 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026); the middle half ran $288,000 to $1,298,750. That is 10% higher than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Which lenders finance the most Marketing Consulting Services acquisitions?
Live Oak Banking Company (12), First Internet Bank of Indiana (6), The Huntington National Bank (5), CIBC Bank USA (3), Wells Fargo Bank National Association (3).
Are businesses in Marketing Consulting Services often franchised?
Rarely. Only 1% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised business; most are independent operators.
How risky are SBA loans for buying a business in Marketing Consulting Services?
Of 24 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), 4.2% charged off, 18% higher than the 3.5% benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans.
What loan terms are common for Marketing Consulting Services acquisitions?
Median term 10 years, average initial rate 8.45% 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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