Sporting Goods Retailers: SBA business acquisition loan data
291 SBA 7(a) loans since FY2018 financed the purchase of an existing business classified as Sporting Goods Retailers (NAICS 459110), totaling $201M. Median loan $360,000, 44% lower than the all-acquisition median. Annual volume fell 16% from FY2024 to FY2026.
That draft favors the seller. We review it for the buyer, line by line.
Submit Transaction DetailsFree consultation. All 50 states.
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 $809,000 would be in the top quarter of SBA acquisition loans in this industry.
- Share of all acquisitions. This industry is 0.6% of all SBA-financed business purchases, ranking #37 of 300 industries tracked.
- Geography. Florida leads with 24 loans; the top five states account for 33% of the industry's acquisitions.
- Jobs. Lenders reported 2,484 jobs supported across these loans, about 8.5 per acquisition, a rough proxy for the size of business changing hands.
Sporting Goods Retailers acquisitions by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 22 | $12.5M | $284,150 | |
| FY2019 | 33 | $17.6M | $350,000 | |
| FY2020 | 26 | $16.3M | $288,100 | |
| FY2021 | 34 | $19.3M | $312,000 | |
| FY2022 | 36 | $24.3M | $333,000 | |
| FY2023 | 40 | $42.4M | $474,000 | |
| FY2024 | 38 | $31.6M | $457,500 | |
| FY2025 | 30 | $18.5M | $397,250 | |
| FY2026 | 32 | $19M | $345,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 115 Sporting Goods Retailers acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 3 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 2.6% by loan count and 0.7% by dollars. 54 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 Sporting Goods Retailers is 26% 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.
That draft favors the seller. We review it for the buyer, line by line.
Submit Transaction DetailsAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
Top states
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 24 | 8.2% | $12M | |
| 2 | Minnesota | 21 | 7.2% | $15.9M | |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 17 | 5.8% | $9.9M | |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 17 | 5.8% | $6.3M | |
| 5 | Colorado | 16 | 5.5% | $18.1M | |
| 6 | California | 15 | 5.2% | $5.8M | |
| 7 | Ohio | 15 | 5.2% | $4.9M | |
| 8 | Michigan | 13 | 4.5% | $6.1M | |
| 9 | Texas | 12 | 4.1% | $13.3M | |
| 10 | Washington | 12 | 4.1% | $8.9M |
Most active lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National Bank | 28 | 9.6% | $10M | |
| 2 | Live Oak Banking Company | 14 | 4.8% | $23.5M | |
| 3 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 8 | 2.7% | $5.8M | |
| 4 | Customers Bank | 5 | 1.7% | $5M | |
| 5 | Union Bank and Trust Company | 5 | 1.7% | $2.4M | |
| 6 | Beacon Bank and Trust | 4 | 1.4% | $5.1M | |
| 7 | Newtek Small Business Finance, LLC | 4 | 1.4% | $5M | |
| 8 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 4 | 1.4% | $4.1M | |
| 9 | American Momentum Bank | 4 | 1.4% | $2.9M | |
| 10 | Celtic Bank Corporation | 4 | 1.4% | $2.4M |
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
Request Engagement AssessmentFree consultation. All 50 states.
Franchise brands in Sporting Goods Retailers
10% of acquisition loans in this industry involved a franchised unit. Brands with the most SBA-financed resales:
| # | Brand | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Play It Again Sports | 25 | 86.2% | $10.2M | |
| 2 | Fleet Feet Sports | 1 | 3.4% | $402K |
Questions buyers ask
How much is a typical SBA loan to buy a business in Sporting Goods Retailers?
Median $360,000 across 291 acquisition loans (FY2018 to FY2026); the middle half ran $200,000 to $809,000. That is 44% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
Which lenders finance the most Sporting Goods Retailers acquisitions?
The Huntington National Bank (28), Live Oak Banking Company (14), Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (8), Customers Bank (5), Union Bank and Trust Company (5).
Are businesses in Sporting Goods Retailers often franchised?
Sometimes. 10% of SBA acquisition loans in this industry financed a franchised unit. Top brands: Play It Again Sports, Fleet Feet Sports.
How risky are SBA loans for buying a business in Sporting Goods Retailers?
Of 115 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), 2.6% charged off, 26% lower than the 3.5% benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans.
What loan terms are common for Sporting Goods Retailers acquisitions?
Median term 10 years, average initial rate 7.82% at approval (blended across years and fixed/variable structures). Terms longer than 10 years usually indicate real estate was included in the purchase.
The purchase agreement decides what you bought, not the loan approval.
Request Engagement AssessmentAll 50 states. Free consultation.
Advertise on this site: lenders, brokers, valuation and insurance firms. See options