SBA loans in Arizona: who lends, what gets bought, how it performs
Since FY2018, SBA lenders have approved 1,095 7(a) loans to buy an existing business in Arizona, totaling $1.3B. The median loan was $770,000, 19% higher than the $645,250 national median for SBA-financed acquisitions.
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SBA lenders in Arizona
The lenders that made the most SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in Arizona, FY2018 to FY2026.
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 122 | 11.1% | $192M | |
| 2 | St. Louis Bank | 76 | 6.9% | $98.2M | |
| 3 | Midwest Regional Bank | 68 | 6.2% | $60.9M | |
| 4 | Celtic Bank Corporation | 55 | 5.0% | $55.7M | |
| 5 | Zions Bancorporation, National Association | 34 | 3.1% | $44.2M | |
| 6 | United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 33 | 3.0% | $21.3M | |
| 7 | Arizona Financial Credit Union | 32 | 2.9% | $25M | |
| 8 | Bell Bank | 26 | 2.4% | $39.7M | |
| 9 | America First Federal Credit Union | 26 | 2.4% | $29.7M | |
| 10 | Evolve Bank and Trust | 24 | 2.2% | $19.1M |
What this tells a buyer
- Deal size band. Half of Arizona acquisition loans fell between $369,550 and $1,523,600. The nationwide band is $283,000 to $1,465,000.
- Share of national volume. Arizona accounts for 2.2% of all SBA acquisition loans and ranks number 18 of 54 states and territories by count.
- Industry concentration. Full-Service Restaurants is the most financed business type here (54 loans, 5% of the state). The top three industries together are 12%.
- Lender concentration. Live Oak Banking Company made 11% of the state's acquisition loans. No single lender dominates, so there are several lenders with local acquisition experience.
- Franchise resales. 16% of acquisition loans in Arizona involved a franchised brand; the most frequent is Motel 6 (4 loans).
How Arizona compares
| Measure | Arizona | All acquisitions |
|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $770,000 | $645,250 |
| Middle half of loans | $369,550 to $1,523,600 | $283,000 to $1,465,000 |
| Average initial rate | 8.06% | 7.76% |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Charge-off rate (seasoned loans) | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Loans in sample | 1,095 | 48,902 |
The median for Arizona acquisition loans is $770,000, above the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions nationally.
The middle half runs $369,550 to $1,523,600, 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 8.06%, above the 7.76% national average.
Seasoned loans were charged off at 3.5%, in line with the 3.5% rate for all acquisition loans.
Loan size distribution
| Loan size | Arizona | All acquisitions |
|---|---|---|
| Under $350K | 22% | 30% |
| $350K to under $1M | 37% | 33% |
| $1M to under $2M | 22% | 19% |
| $2M and over | 19% | 17% |
Most Arizona acquisition loans (59%) were under $1M, and the largest single band is $350K to under $1M at 37%, against 33% of all acquisition loans.
Bands are fixed dollar ranges chosen for comparison. They are not SBA program limits.
Lender concentration
Live Oak Banking Company made 11% of Arizona acquisition loans, and the top three lenders together made 24%. 70 of the 139 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, 275 Arizona acquisition loans were approved. That is about the same as the 276 approved in FY2023 and FY2024. The median was $793,200, in line with the $770,000 median across all years.
Arizona acquisition loans by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 73 | $68.7M | $525,000 | |
| FY2019 | 123 | $130M | $675,000 | |
| FY2020 | 113 | $127M | $780,300 | |
| FY2021 | 126 | $143M | $833,550 | |
| FY2022 | 109 | $147M | $997,400 | |
| FY2023 | 142 | $164M | $758,050 | |
| FY2024 | 134 | $161M | $736,000 | |
| FY2025 | 130 | $162M | $810,700 | |
| FY2026 | 145 | $174M | $793,200 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 434 Arizona acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 15 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 3.5% by loan count and 1.3% by dollars. 246 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 Arizona is in line with 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 industries in Arizona
| # | Industry | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full-Service Restaurants | 54 | 4.9% | $51.7M | |
| 2 | Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | 39 | 3.6% | $47.9M | |
| 3 | General Automotive Repair | 39 | 3.6% | $42.7M | |
| 4 | Limited-Service Restaurants | 35 | 3.2% | $21.7M | |
| 5 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 28 | 2.6% | $37.5M | |
| 6 | Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels | 23 | 2.1% | $70.1M | |
| 7 | Landscaping Services | 23 | 2.1% | $29.3M | |
| 8 | All Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 22 | 2.0% | $31.2M | |
| 9 | Offices of Certified Public Accountants | 21 | 1.9% | $13.3M | |
| 10 | Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | 20 | 1.8% | $14.2M |
The purchase agreement decides what you bought, not the loan approval.
Request Engagement AssessmentAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
Franchise brands bought in Arizona
| # | Franchise | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motel 6 | 4 | 0.4% | $12.9M | |
| 2 | BrightStar Care | 4 | 0.4% | $5.9M | |
| 3 | Servpro | 4 | 0.4% | $4.9M | |
| 4 | Signarama | 4 | 0.4% | $1.4M | |
| 5 | The Goddard School | 3 | 0.3% | $11.6M | |
| 6 | Ace Hardware | 3 | 0.3% | $6.6M | |
| 7 | Domino's Pizza | 3 | 0.3% | $2.7M | |
| 8 | Midas | 3 | 0.3% | $2.5M | |
| 9 | NAPA AutoCare | 3 | 0.3% | $1.6M | |
| 10 | Dairy Queen | 3 | 0.3% | $1.2M | |
| 11 | Best Western | 2 | 0.2% | $8.6M | |
| 12 | Batteries Plus | 2 | 0.2% | $5.4M | |
| 13 | Primrose Schools | 2 | 0.2% | $4M | |
| 14 | Super 8 | 2 | 0.2% | $3.9M | |
| 15 | Home Instead | 2 | 0.2% | $3.6M |
Acquisitions by industry in Arizona
The 20 industries with the most acquisition loans in Arizona (minimum ten). Charge-off rates appear where at least 20 loans are old enough to measure.
| Industry | Loans | Median loan | Charge-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Service Restaurants | 54 | $685,850 | n/a |
| Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | 39 | $882,400 | 0.0% |
| General Automotive Repair | 39 | $850,000 | n/a |
| Limited-Service Restaurants | 35 | $400,000 | n/a |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 28 | $864,100 | n/a |
| Landscaping Services | 23 | $1,206,000 | n/a |
| Hotels and Motels | 23 | $3,325,000 | n/a |
| All Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 22 | $758,450 | n/a |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants | 21 | $450,000 | n/a |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | 20 | $589,300 | n/a |
| Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores | 18 | $1,238,500 | n/a |
| All Other Miscellaneous Retailers | 18 | $746,000 | n/a |
| Home Health Care Services | 17 | $680,000 | n/a |
| Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings | 14 | $526,400 | n/a |
| Car Washes | 13 | $830,000 | n/a |
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services | 13 | $363,000 | n/a |
| Offices of Chiropractors | 11 | $372,000 | n/a |
| Janitorial Services | 11 | $496,000 | n/a |
| Offices of Dentists | 10 | $600,000 | n/a |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | 10 | $373,000 | n/a |
Questions buyers ask
How much do buyers borrow to buy a business in Arizona?
The median SBA 7(a) acquisition loan in Arizona was $770,000 across 1,095 loans (FY2018 to FY2026), 19% higher than the $645,250 national median. The middle half of loans ran from $369,550 to $1,523,600. A loan is not the purchase price: it is net of the buyer's equity injection and usually includes some working capital.
Which banks make the most SBA acquisition loans in Arizona?
Live Oak Banking Company (122), St. Louis Bank (76), Midwest Regional Bank (68), Celtic Bank Corporation (55), Zions Bancorporation, National Association (34). Live Oak Banking Company alone accounts for 11% of Arizona acquisition loans. See each lender page for industries and states served.
What kinds of businesses are bought with SBA loans in Arizona?
Full-Service Restaurants (54), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (39), General Automotive Repair (39), Limited-Service Restaurants (35), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (28). The top three industries make up 12% of the state's acquisition loans.
How often do SBA acquisition loans fail in Arizona?
In the seasoned cohort (FY2018 to FY2021), among 434 Arizona acquisition loans: 3.5% charged off, in line with the 3.5% national acquisition average.
How does Arizona compare with other states?
Arizona ranks number 18 of 54 states and territories by acquisition loan count, with 2.2% of national volume (1,095 of 48,902 loans) and $1.3B approved. Browse the full state ranking.
How much do you need down for an SBA loan to buy a business in Arizona?
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 Arizona acquisition loans was $770,000, and the middle half ran $369,550 to $1,523,600.
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 275 Arizona acquisition loans in FY2025 and FY2026.
Which banks make SBA loans for a business in Arizona?
By loan count, FY2018 to FY2026: Live Oak Banking Company (122), St. Louis Bank (76), Midwest Regional Bank (68), Celtic Bank Corporation (55), Zions Bancorporation, National Association (34). Live Oak Banking Company made 11% of Arizona acquisition loans. Counts show past approvals only and do not predict whether a lender will approve a particular deal.
The purchase agreement decides what you bought, not the loan approval.
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Related
- Full-Service Restaurants nationally
- Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly nationally
- General Automotive Repair nationally
- Live Oak Banking Company
- St. Louis Bank
- Midwest Regional Bank
- All states
- Buyer's guide to the data
State is the project state recorded by the lender (where the acquired business operates), not the borrower's mailing state.
Cite this data
SBA Acquisition Data, "Arizona: SBA acquisition loan data", https://sbaacquisitiondata.com/state/az (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/state/az.json.