SBA loans in New Hampshire: who lends, what gets bought, how it performs
Since FY2018, SBA lenders have approved 342 7(a) loans to buy an existing business in New Hampshire, totaling $260M. The median loan was $325,000, 50% lower than the $645,250 national median for SBA-financed acquisitions. Volume rose 68% from FY2024 to FY2026.
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SBA lenders in New Hampshire
The lenders that made the most SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in New Hampshire, FY2018 to FY2026.
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 33 | 9.6% | $45.4M | |
| 2 | Rockland Trust Company | 25 | 7.3% | $16M | |
| 3 | Meredith Village Savings Bank | 23 | 6.7% | $13.6M | |
| 4 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 19 | 5.6% | $9.9M | |
| 5 | Merrimack County Savings Bank | 18 | 5.3% | $6.5M | |
| 6 | Bar Harbor Bank & Trust | 14 | 4.1% | $5M | |
| 7 | Customers Bank | 12 | 3.5% | $15M | |
| 8 | Savings Bank of Walpole | 12 | 3.5% | $5.8M | |
| 9 | Kennebunk Savings Bank | 12 | 3.5% | $1.8M | |
| 10 | Beacon Bank and Trust | 10 | 2.9% | $18.7M |
What this tells a buyer
- Deal size band. Half of New Hampshire acquisition loans fell between $128,250 and $1,012,500. The nationwide band is $283,000 to $1,465,000.
- Share of national volume. New Hampshire accounts for 0.7% of all SBA acquisition loans and ranks number 36 of 54 states and territories by count.
- Industry concentration. Full-Service Restaurants is the most financed business type here (31 loans, 9% of the state). The top three industries together are 18%.
- Lender concentration. Live Oak Banking Company made 10% of the state's acquisition loans. No single lender dominates, so there are several lenders with local acquisition experience.
- Franchise resales. 11% of acquisition loans in New Hampshire involved a franchised brand; the most frequent is Budget Blinds (5 loans).
How New Hampshire compares
| Measure | New Hampshire | All acquisitions |
|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $325,000 | $645,250 |
| Middle half of loans | $128,250 to $1,012,500 | $283,000 to $1,465,000 |
| Average initial rate | 7.10% | 7.76% |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Charge-off rate (seasoned loans) | 0.8% | 3.5% |
| Loans in sample | 342 | 48,902 |
The median for New Hampshire acquisition loans is $325,000, well below the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions nationally.
The middle half runs $128,250 to $1,012,500, 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 7.10%, below the 7.76% national average.
Seasoned loans were charged off at 0.8%, well below the 3.5% rate for all acquisition loans.
Loan size distribution
| Loan size | New Hampshire | All acquisitions |
|---|---|---|
| Under $350K | 50% | 30% |
| $350K to under $1M | 25% | 33% |
| $1M to under $2M | 15% | 19% |
| $2M and over | 10% | 17% |
Most New Hampshire acquisition loans (75%) were under $1M, and the largest single band is Under $350K at 50%, against 30% 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 10% of New Hampshire acquisition loans, and the top three lenders together made 24%. 33 of the 64 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, 114 New Hampshire acquisition loans were approved. That is 70% more than the 67 approved in FY2023 and FY2024. The median was $437,500, above the $325,000 median across all years.
New Hampshire acquisition loans by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 24 | $11.8M | $142,500 | |
| FY2019 | 30 | $14.4M | $150,000 | |
| FY2020 | 27 | $17.8M | $422,300 | |
| FY2021 | 48 | $28.2M | $291,750 | |
| FY2022 | 32 | $24.7M | $243,750 | |
| FY2023 | 27 | $17.3M | $350,000 | |
| FY2024 | 40 | $31.5M | $493,500 | |
| FY2025 | 47 | $44.3M | $400,000 | |
| FY2026 | 67 | $70.2M | $473,300 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 129 New Hampshire acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 1 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 0.8% by loan count and 0.1% by dollars. 65 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 New Hampshire is 78% 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.
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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Top industries in New Hampshire
| # | Industry | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full-Service Restaurants | 31 | 9.1% | $11.4M | |
| 2 | Limited-Service Restaurants | 20 | 5.8% | $6.5M | |
| 3 | General Automotive Repair | 12 | 3.5% | $6.2M | |
| 4 | Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars | 8 | 2.3% | $4.7M | |
| 5 | Child Care Services | 8 | 2.3% | $3.4M | |
| 6 | Convenience Retailers | 7 | 2.0% | $6.9M | |
| 7 | Landscaping Services | 7 | 2.0% | $5.7M | |
| 8 | Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | 7 | 2.0% | $3.6M | |
| 9 | Sporting Goods Retailers | 7 | 2.0% | $1.8M | |
| 10 | Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) | 6 | 1.8% | $5.6M |
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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Franchise brands bought in New Hampshire
| # | Franchise | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Budget Blinds | 5 | 1.5% | $3.2M | |
| 2 | Mosquito Joe | 4 | 1.2% | $3M | |
| 3 | Servpro | 3 | 0.9% | $3.8M | |
| 4 | Dairy Queen | 3 | 0.9% | $1.4M | |
| 5 | Tropical Smoothie Cafe | 2 | 0.6% | $1.4M | |
| 6 | CertaPro Painters | 2 | 0.6% | $1.2M | |
| 7 | LINE-X | 1 | 0.3% | $3.6M | |
| 8 | Visiting Angels | 1 | 0.3% | $2.7M | |
| 9 | Crumbl | 1 | 0.3% | $1.8M | |
| 10 | Home Instead | 1 | 0.3% | $1.3M | |
| 11 | Econo Lodge | 1 | 0.3% | $1.3M | |
| 12 | Midas | 1 | 0.3% | $770K | |
| 13 | Smartstyle | 1 | 0.3% | $511K | |
| 14 | The UPS Store | 1 | 0.3% | $249K | |
| 15 | Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions | 1 | 0.3% | $135K |
Acquisitions by industry in New Hampshire
The 3 industries with the most acquisition loans in New Hampshire (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 | 31 | $150,000 | n/a |
| Limited-Service Restaurants | 20 | $147,750 | n/a |
| General Automotive Repair | 12 | $387,000 | n/a |
Questions buyers ask
How much do buyers borrow to buy a business in New Hampshire?
The median SBA 7(a) acquisition loan in New Hampshire was $325,000 across 342 loans (FY2018 to FY2026), 50% lower than the $645,250 national median. The middle half of loans ran from $128,250 to $1,012,500. 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 New Hampshire?
Live Oak Banking Company (33), Rockland Trust Company (25), Meredith Village Savings Bank (23), Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (19), Merrimack County Savings Bank (18). Live Oak Banking Company alone accounts for 10% of New Hampshire acquisition loans. See each lender page for industries and states served.
What kinds of businesses are bought with SBA loans in New Hampshire?
Full-Service Restaurants (31), Limited-Service Restaurants (20), General Automotive Repair (12), Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (8), Child Care Services (8). The top three industries make up 18% of the state's acquisition loans.
How often do SBA acquisition loans fail in New Hampshire?
In the seasoned cohort (FY2018 to FY2021), among 129 New Hampshire acquisition loans: 0.8% charged off, 78% lower than the 3.5% national acquisition average.
How does New Hampshire compare with other states?
New Hampshire ranks number 36 of 54 states and territories by acquisition loan count, with 0.7% of national volume (342 of 48,902 loans) and $260M approved. Browse the full state ranking.
How much do you need down for an SBA loan to buy a business in New Hampshire?
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 New Hampshire acquisition loans was $325,000, and the middle half ran $128,250 to $1,012,500.
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 114 New Hampshire acquisition loans in FY2025 and FY2026.
Which banks make SBA loans for a business in New Hampshire?
By loan count, FY2018 to FY2026: Live Oak Banking Company (33), Rockland Trust Company (25), Meredith Village Savings Bank (23), Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (19), Merrimack County Savings Bank (18). Live Oak Banking Company made 10% of New Hampshire acquisition loans. Counts show past approvals only and do not predict whether a lender will approve a particular deal.
That draft favors the seller. We review it for the buyer, line by line.
Submit Transaction DetailsAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
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Related
- Full-Service Restaurants nationally
- Limited-Service Restaurants nationally
- General Automotive Repair nationally
- Live Oak Banking Company
- Rockland Trust Company
- Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company
- 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, "New Hampshire: SBA acquisition loan data", https://sbaacquisitiondata.com/state/nh (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/nh.json.