Sign Manufacturing: SBA business acquisition loan data
173 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2018 financed the purchase of an existing business classified as Sign Manufacturing (NAICS 339950), totaling $151M. Median loan $573,200, 11% lower than the all-acquisition median. 45% of these deals were franchised units.
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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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 $1,162,000 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 #60 of 300 industries tracked.
- Geography. Florida leads with 17 loans; the top five states account for 37% of the industry's acquisitions.
- Jobs. Lenders reported 2,188 jobs supported across these loans, about 12.6 per acquisition, a rough proxy for the size of business changing hands.
Sign Manufacturing acquisitions by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 11 | $8.7M | $541,800 | |
| FY2019 | 24 | $21.8M | $579,100 | |
| FY2020 | 18 | $16.7M | $714,300 | |
| FY2021 | 24 | $18.2M | $429,200 | |
| FY2022 | 13 | $11.1M | $577,100 | |
| FY2023 | 21 | $17.9M | $642,400 | |
| FY2024 | 22 | $22M | $780,000 | |
| FY2025 | 19 | $13.4M | $450,200 | |
| FY2026 | 21 | $20.8M | $564,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 77 Sign Manufacturing acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 5 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 6.5% by loan count and 4.0% by dollars. 33 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 Sign Manufacturing is 84% 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.
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Top states
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 17 | 9.8% | $12.9M | |
| 2 | Texas | 14 | 8.1% | $12.4M | |
| 3 | Illinois | 14 | 8.1% | $9M | |
| 4 | California | 12 | 6.9% | $16.1M | |
| 5 | Colorado | 7 | 4.0% | $4.6M | |
| 6 | Minnesota | 7 | 4.0% | $3.8M | |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 6 | 3.5% | $10.4M | |
| 8 | South Carolina | 6 | 3.5% | $6.6M | |
| 9 | New Jersey | 6 | 3.5% | $3.8M | |
| 10 | Michigan | 5 | 2.9% | $5.4M |
Most active lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 18 | 10.4% | $16.7M | |
| 2 | United Community Bank | 12 | 6.9% | $8.6M | |
| 3 | The Huntington National Bank | 7 | 4.0% | $5M | |
| 4 | Byline Bank | 6 | 3.5% | $9.7M | |
| 5 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 5 | 2.9% | $8.2M | |
| 6 | Fifth Third Bank | 5 | 2.9% | $2.8M | |
| 7 | PNC Bank, National Association | 4 | 2.3% | $4.5M | |
| 8 | Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company | 4 | 2.3% | $3.3M | |
| 9 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 3 | 1.7% | $3.1M | |
| 10 | Beacon Bank and Trust | 3 | 1.7% | $2.7M |
The purchase agreement decides what you bought, not the loan approval.
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Franchise brands in Sign Manufacturing
45% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised unit. Brands with the most SBA-financed resales:
| # | Brand | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FASTSIGNS | 40 | 51.9% | $35M | |
| 2 | Signarama | 21 | 27.3% | $12.9M | |
| 3 | Image360 | 7 | 9.1% | $3.5M | |
| 4 | Signs by Tomorrow | 6 | 7.8% | $2.5M | |
| 5 | Shredder Indoor Ski and Snowboard School | 1 | 1.3% | $990K |
Questions buyers ask
How much is a typical SBA loan to buy a business in Sign Manufacturing?
Median $573,200 across 173 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026); the middle half ran $265,200 to $1,162,000. That is 11% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Which lenders finance the most Sign Manufacturing acquisitions?
Live Oak Banking Company (18), United Community Bank (12), The Huntington National Bank (7), Byline Bank (6), Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (5).
Are businesses in Sign Manufacturing often franchised?
Yes, often. 45% of SBA acquisition loans in this industry financed a franchised unit. Top brands: FASTSIGNS, Signarama, Image360, Signs by Tomorrow, Shredder Indoor Ski and Snowboard School.
How risky are SBA loans for buying a business in Sign Manufacturing?
Of 77 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), 6.5% charged off, 84% higher than the 3.5% benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans.
What loan terms are common for Sign Manufacturing acquisitions?
Median term 10 years, average initial rate 7.76% at approval (blended across years and fixed/variable structures). Terms longer than 10 years usually indicate real estate was included in the purchase.
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
Submit Transaction DetailsAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
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