Limited-Service Restaurants acquisitions in Colorado: SBA loan data
Since FY2018, SBA lenders have approved 46 7(a) loans to buy an existing business classified as Limited-Service Restaurants in Colorado, totaling $24.9M. The median loan was $405,650. That is 2.5% of the 1,870 acquisition loans in Colorado.
- Loans, FY2018-FY2026
- 46
- Median loan
- $405,650 (middle half $226,125 to $607,500)
- Top lender
- Live Oak Banking Company (22%, 10 loans)
- Charge-off, FY2018-FY2021 loans
- 8.0% (all-acquisition: 3.5%)
- FY2026 loans (latest complete year)
- 2
SBA lenders approved 46 7(a) loans to buy a business classified as Limited-Service Restaurants in Colorado from FY2018-FY2026, with a median of $405,650 and a middle half of $226,125 to $607,500. 8.0% of 25 seasoned loans were charged off, 127% higher than the 3.5% all-acquisition rate. FY2026 had 2 loans.
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How Limited-Service Restaurants in Colorado compares
| Measure | Limited-Service Restaurants in... | Colorado, all industries | Limited-Service Restaurants, nationwide | All acquisitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $405,650 | $661,000 | $350,000 | $645,250 |
| Middle half of loans | $226,125 to $607,500 | $339,175 to $1,392,050 | $202,500 to $693,375 | $283,000 to $1,465,000 |
| Average initial rate | 7.72% | 7.79% | 7.83% | 7.76% |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Charge-off rate (seasoned loans) | 8.0% | 4.1% | 5.3% | 3.5% |
| Loans in sample | 46 | 1,870 | 2,222 | 48,902 |
The median for loans to buy fast-food restaurants in Colorado is $405,650, below the $661,000 median for all Colorado acquisitions, above the $350,000 median for Limited-Service Restaurants acquisitions nationwide and below the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions nationally.
The middle half runs $226,125 to $607,500, 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 7.72%, in line with the 7.76% national average.
Seasoned loans were charged off at 8.0%, well above the 4.1% rate for all Colorado acquisitions, well above the 5.3% rate for Limited-Service Restaurants acquisitions nationwide and well above the 3.5% rate for all acquisition loans.
Loan size distribution
| Loan size | Limited-Service Restaurants in... | All acquisitions |
|---|---|---|
| Under $350K | 41% | 30% |
| $350K to under $1M | 48% | 33% |
| $1M to under $2M | 7% | 19% |
| $2M and over | 4% | 17% |
Most loans to buy fast-food restaurants in Colorado (89%) were under $1M, and the largest single band is $350K to under $1M at 48%, 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 22% of loans to buy fast-food restaurants in Colorado, and the top three lenders together made 30%. 1 of the 31 lenders involved made three or more. Only 1 lender has repeat experience here. That is a rough guide to how many banks have seen this kind of deal before.
Recent activity
In FY2025 and FY2026 combined, 5 loans to buy fast-food restaurants in Colorado were approved. That is 58% fewer than the 12 approved in FY2023 and FY2024. The median was $275,000, below the $405,650 median across all years.
Limited-Service Restaurants acquisition loans in Colorado by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 5 | $2M | $400,000 | |
| FY2019 | 6 | $1.9M | $289,700 | |
| FY2020 | 7 | $3.1M | $520,000 | |
| FY2021 | 7 | $6.2M | $633,000 | |
| FY2022 | 4 | $3.4M | $432,550 | |
| FY2023 | 6 | $3M | $295,250 | |
| FY2024 | 6 | $2.3M | $350,500 | |
| FY2025 | 3 | $658K | $203,000 | |
| FY2026 | 2 | $2.3M | $1,170,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 25 Limited-Service Restaurants in Colorado acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 2 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 8.0% by loan count and 10.9% by dollars. 16 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 Limited-Service Restaurants in Colorado is 127% 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.
The purchase agreement decides what you bought, not the loan approval.
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Top lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 10 | 21.7% | $8.9M | |
| 2 | Beacon Bank and Trust | 2 | 4.3% | $1.1M | |
| 3 | SouthState Bank, National Association | 2 | 4.3% | $1.1M | |
| 4 | BMO Bank National Association | 2 | 4.3% | $855K | |
| 5 | First National Bank of Omaha | 2 | 4.3% | $639K |
Top franchise brands
| # | Franchise | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marco's Pizza | 4 | 8.7% | $6.2M | |
| 2 | Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza | 4 | 8.7% | $1.5M | |
| 3 | Jimmy John's | 2 | 4.3% | $3M | |
| 4 | Firehouse Subs | 2 | 4.3% | $990K | |
| 5 | Cold Stone Creamery | 2 | 4.3% | $965K |
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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Questions buyers ask
How much do SBA loans for Limited-Service Restaurants acquisitions in Colorado run?
The median SBA 7(a) loan was $405,650 across 46 loans (FY2018 to FY2026), with the middle half between $226,125 and $607,500. The loan excludes the buyer's equity and any seller note and may include working capital, so the price is usually higher than the loan.
Which banks finance Limited-Service Restaurants acquisitions in Colorado?
Live Oak Banking Company (10), Beacon Bank and Trust (2), SouthState Bank, National Association (2), BMO Bank National Association (2), First National Bank of Omaha (2). Some lenders repeatedly finance this industry in this state; the counts above show which.
How often do Limited-Service Restaurants acquisition loans fail in Colorado?
8.0% of 25 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021) were charged off, against 3.5% for all SBA acquisition loans. With a sample this size, treat the figure as a direction, not a precise rate.
Are franchised businesses part of Limited-Service Restaurants acquisitions in Colorado?
28 of the 46 loans (61%) involved a franchise brand, most often Marco's Pizza (4).
How much do you need down for an SBA loan to buy a fast-food restaurant in Colorado?
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 loans to buy fast-food restaurants in Colorado was $405,650, and the middle half ran $226,125 to $607,500.
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 5 loans to buy fast-food restaurants in Colorado in FY2025 and FY2026.
Which banks make SBA loans for a fast-food restaurant in Colorado?
By loan count, FY2018 to FY2026: Live Oak Banking Company (10), Beacon Bank and Trust (2), SouthState Bank, National Association (2), BMO Bank National Association (2), First National Bank of Omaha (2). Live Oak Banking Company made 22% of loans to buy fast-food restaurants in Colorado. Counts show past approvals only and do not predict whether a lender will approve a particular deal.
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Related
- All Colorado acquisitions
- Financing one? How to get an SBA loan to buy a fast food restaurant
- Limited-Service Restaurants nationally
- Limited-Service Restaurants in California
- Limited-Service Restaurants in Washington
- Limited-Service Restaurants in Texas
- Limited-Service Restaurants in Georgia
- Limited-Service Restaurants in Pennsylvania
- Limited-Service Restaurants in Michigan
- Limited-Service Restaurants in Illinois
- Limited-Service Restaurants in Florida
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Small samples move a lot: each loan in this combination is 2% of the count. Industry is the NAICS code the lender recorded. See the methodology.
Cite this data
SBA Acquisition Data, "Limited-Service Restaurants in Colorado: SBA acquisition loan data", https://sbaacquisitiondata.com/state/co/limited-service-restaurants-722513 (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/co/limited-service-restaurants-722513.json.