SBA loans in Georgia: who lends, what gets bought, how it performs
Since FY2018, SBA lenders have approved 1,774 7(a) loans to buy an existing business in Georgia, totaling $2.4B. The median loan was $875,000, 36% higher than the $645,250 national median for SBA-financed acquisitions.
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SBA lenders in Georgia
The lenders that made the most SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in Georgia, FY2018 to FY2026.
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metro City Bank | 170 | 9.6% | $415M | |
| 2 | Live Oak Banking Company | 164 | 9.2% | $238M | |
| 3 | The Huntington National Bank | 79 | 4.5% | $76.6M | |
| 4 | Renasant Bank | 73 | 4.1% | $77.9M | |
| 5 | United Community Bank | 66 | 3.7% | $56.4M | |
| 6 | SouthState Bank, National Association | 56 | 3.2% | $63.7M | |
| 7 | Pinnacle Bank | 45 | 2.5% | $63.6M | |
| 8 | GBank | 40 | 2.3% | $108M | |
| 9 | Georgia Banking Company | 34 | 1.9% | $35.2M | |
| 10 | Open Bank | 33 | 1.9% | $52.9M |
What this tells a buyer
- Deal size band. Half of Georgia acquisition loans fell between $379,175 and $1,904,700. The nationwide band is $283,000 to $1,465,000.
- Share of national volume. Georgia accounts for 3.6% of all SBA acquisition loans and ranks number 9 of 54 states and territories by count.
- Industry concentration. Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels is the most financed business type here (153 loans, 9% of the state). The top three industries together are 23%.
- Lender concentration. Metro City Bank made 10% of the state's acquisition loans. No single lender dominates, so there are several lenders with local acquisition experience.
- Franchise resales. 26% of acquisition loans in Georgia involved a franchised brand; the most frequent is The UPS Store (21 loans).
Georgia acquisition loans by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 163 | $190M | $833,000 | |
| FY2019 | 229 | $265M | $695,000 | |
| FY2020 | 206 | $279M | $925,500 | |
| FY2021 | 216 | $340M | $991,150 | |
| FY2022 | 169 | $249M | $978,000 | |
| FY2023 | 174 | $240M | $817,500 | |
| FY2024 | 182 | $269M | $914,350 | |
| FY2025 | 234 | $321M | $857,500 | |
| FY2026 | 201 | $289M | $909,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 814 Georgia acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 26 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 3.2% by loan count and 1.2% by dollars. 455 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 Georgia is 9% 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.
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Top industries in Georgia
| # | Industry | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels | 153 | 8.6% | $456M | |
| 2 | Full-Service Restaurants | 136 | 7.7% | $89.3M | |
| 3 | Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | 120 | 6.8% | $335M | |
| 4 | Limited-Service Restaurants | 106 | 6.0% | $57.5M | |
| 5 | Child Care Services | 56 | 3.2% | $102M | |
| 6 | Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production | 47 | 2.6% | $71.3M | |
| 7 | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores | 45 | 2.5% | $57.1M | |
| 8 | Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | 36 | 2.0% | $21.3M | |
| 9 | Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated) | 33 | 1.9% | $16.5M | |
| 10 | Car Washes | 31 | 1.7% | $83.7M |
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Franchise brands bought in Georgia
| # | Franchise | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The UPS Store | 21 | 1.2% | $9.4M | |
| 2 | Quality Inn | 15 | 0.8% | $45.6M | |
| 3 | Subway | 15 | 0.8% | $3.5M | |
| 4 | American Deli | 12 | 0.7% | $4.3M | |
| 5 | Primrose Schools | 11 | 0.6% | $32.9M | |
| 6 | Red Roof Inn | 10 | 0.6% | $26.2M | |
| 7 | Baymont | 10 | 0.6% | $25.9M | |
| 8 | Motel 6 | 9 | 0.5% | $21.5M | |
| 9 | La Quinta | 8 | 0.5% | $35.9M | |
| 10 | Sleep Inn | 8 | 0.5% | $28.9M | |
| 11 | Days Inn | 8 | 0.5% | $19.2M | |
| 12 | Super 8 | 7 | 0.4% | $13.8M | |
| 13 | Ace Hardware | 7 | 0.4% | $8.5M | |
| 14 | Econo Lodge | 6 | 0.3% | $13.4M | |
| 15 | Home Instead | 6 | 0.3% | $5.9M |
Acquisitions by industry in Georgia
The 20 industries with the most acquisition loans in Georgia (minimum ten). Charge-off rates appear where at least 20 loans are old enough to measure.
| Industry | Loans | Median loan | Charge-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels and Motels | 153 | $2,940,000 | 0.0% |
| Full-Service Restaurants | 136 | $487,500 | 4.2% |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | 120 | $2,625,500 | 3.4% |
| Limited-Service Restaurants | 106 | $383,750 | 5.9% |
| Child Care Services | 56 | $1,625,000 | 0.0% |
| Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production | 47 | $1,240,000 | 11.4% |
| Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores | 45 | $900,000 | 0.0% |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | 36 | $367,150 | n/a |
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services | 33 | $350,000 | n/a |
| Car Washes | 31 | $2,686,000 | 4.5% |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | 30 | $915,000 | n/a |
| Landscaping Services | 23 | $978,000 | n/a |
| Home Health Care Services | 22 | $612,500 | n/a |
| General Automotive Repair | 21 | $805,500 | n/a |
| Pet Care Services | 20 | $499,900 | n/a |
| Offices of Chiropractors | 20 | $281,900 | n/a |
| Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | 19 | $1,160,000 | n/a |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 18 | $740,500 | n/a |
| Chicken Egg Production | 18 | $1,465,000 | n/a |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants | 16 | $642,500 | n/a |
Questions buyers ask
How much do buyers borrow to buy a business in Georgia?
The median SBA 7(a) acquisition loan in Georgia was $875,000 across 1,774 loans (FY2018 to FY2026), 36% higher than the $645,250 national median. The middle half of loans ran from $379,175 to $1,904,700. 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 Georgia?
Metro City Bank (170), Live Oak Banking Company (164), The Huntington National Bank (79), Renasant Bank (73), United Community Bank (66). Metro City Bank alone accounts for 10% of Georgia acquisition loans. See each lender page for industries and states served.
What kinds of businesses are bought with SBA loans in Georgia?
Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (153), Full-Service Restaurants (136), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (120), Limited-Service Restaurants (106), Child Care Services (56). The top three industries make up 23% of the state's acquisition loans.
How often do SBA acquisition loans fail in Georgia?
In the seasoned cohort (FY2018 to FY2021), among 814 Georgia acquisition loans: 3.2% charged off, 9% lower than the 3.5% national acquisition average.
How does Georgia compare with other states?
Georgia ranks number 9 of 54 states and territories by acquisition loan count, with 3.6% of national volume (1,774 of 48,902 loans) and $2.4B approved. Browse the full state ranking.
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Related
- Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels nationally
- Full-Service Restaurants nationally
- Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers nationally
- Metro City Bank
- Live Oak Banking Company
- The Huntington National 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.