SBA program rules for business buyers
The rules for buying a business with a Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) loan are explained on these 11 pages, one rule area each. Every page cites the SBA rulebook (SOP 50 10 8.1) heading it relies on and adds data from 48,902 acquisition loans, as of September 30, 2026. They describe program rules, not how to structure a deal.
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The 11 explainers
- SBA Loan Eligibility: What Disqualifies a Business Buyer
Which business types and applicants the SOP rules out, the credit-elsewhere test and the size test. - SBA Loan Citizenship Requirements 2026: Green Card Holders
Who may own an SBA-financed business, why green card holders are excluded and the guaranty exception. - SBA Loan Down Payment: Equity Injection Rules for 7(a) Buyers
The 10% equity injection for an Initial Acquisition and what counts toward it. - SBA Form 155 Standby Agreement: Seller Notes on SBA Loans
How a seller note is treated as equity and what full standby means. - SBA 7(a) Loan Terms 2026: Maturity, Rate Caps, Prepayment
Maturity, variable-rate spread caps by loan size and the prepayment fee. - SBA Loan Payment Table: $250K to $5M at 7(a) Rate Caps
Monthly payments on loans from $250,000 to $5,000,000, with the rate cap for each loan size. - SBA Loan Fees 2026: Guaranty Fee Table, Annual Fee, Lender Fees
The upfront guaranty fee tiers, who pays them and what lenders and packagers may charge. - SBA Loan Personal Guarantee: Who Signs and What It Covers
Who signs a personal guaranty, how collateral works and what happens when it falls short. - SBA 7(a) vs 504 Loans: How the Rules Differ for Acquisitions
How the 7(a) and 504 programs differ for a purchase, and how the two combine. - How Long Does SBA Loan Approval Take? Acquisition Timeline
The steps from application to closing and where the calendar is set. - SBA SOP 50 10 8.1: What Changed for Business Acquisition Loans
What changed between SOP 50 10 8 and 8.1 for acquisition loans, and the $5 million versus $10 million question.
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