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Our simple application takes less than 5-7 minutes to complete.
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Choose the offer that best fits your needs by comparing loan amounts and terms.
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Finalize your loan offer with the lender you selected to receive your funds.
If you’re in the market for a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA), you’re likely curious about how these lending arrangements compare to standard loans and how much interest borrowers are required to pay. While most traditional lenders offer standard annual percentage rates (APRs) that apply to all of their loans, it’s not quite as simple with SBA loans. That’s because there are several different types of SBA loans, and each one has its own specific interest rate.
To help you compare SBA loan interest rates, here’s an overview of the different types of business loans and their APRs.
Currently, SBA 7(a) loan rates are 7.75% – 10.25%.
At the time of this writing, SBA 504 loan rates are 4.39% – 6.67%.
SBA CAPLines rates are typically 5% to 10%.
With SBA Export loans, APRs are usually 4.5% to 6.5% above prime, which equates to 9% to 11%.
Interest rates on SBA Microloans currently fall between 6.5% and 13%.
SBA disaster loan interest rates range from 4% to 8% based on whether or not your business has credit elsewhere.
And, while we’re on the topic of rates, it’s important to note that the current SBA loan failure rate is 17.4%, which is down from 24.7% in 2008. That equates to roughly one in six businesses, which are unable to repay their loans.
Now that you have a better idea about SBA business loan rates, you might be curious about how these loans compare to traditional lending options. Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of these loans.
Many borrowers are initially attracted to these lending arrangements because the average interest rates for SBA loans are generally lower than those offered by standard bank loans. But why is this the case? In a nutshell, it’s because borrowers are vetted thoroughly and there’s less risk associated with these loans.
Depending on the specific type of SBA loan you’re considering applying for, you’ll first need to satisfy several different criteria in order to qualify. These requirements vary significantly based on the type of loan you’re interested in.
Based on your credit score, a lender might require a down payment in order to secure your loan. If you have a credit score of 680 or above, expect to fork over a deposit between 10% and 20% of the total loan amount.
The absolute maximum amount of an SBA loan is $5.5 million, although most small businesses request far less funding.
Business owners can use funds from SBA loans for a variety of purposes, ranging from inventory to office supplies and real estate to debt refinancing. However, depending upon which type of SBA loan your business is approved for, the actual lender may impose certain restrictions regarding what you can use the money for.
The terms for SBA loans can vary tremendously depending on what type of loan you choose and what you use the money for. SBA Microloans, for instance, have a maximum term length of six years, whereas SBA 7(a) loans used for real estate purchases can extend up to 25 years.
A credit score of 640 is typically the lowest score needed in order to get approved for an SBA loan, although the higher your score is, the better terms you’ll qualify for.
In some instances, you may be required to provide collateral in order to secure an SBA loan. Generally, this is the case for applicants who have poor credit scores or those who are asking for a relatively high level of funding.
The amount of time it takes to get approved for an SBA loan can vary widely based on which type of loan you apply for. For instance, finding out whether or not your business is approved for an SBA Community Advantage loan can take up to a month, but receiving a decision for an SBA Express Loan can take less than 36 hours.
It’s a misnomer that the SBA provides funds directly. Rather, the organization has a broad network of partners that connect entrepreneurs with the funding they seek. Here are two of the most popular SBA loan lenders and their advantages and drawbacks.
SmartBiz issues SBA Loans that range from $30,000 to $350,000 with repayment terms spanning from 5 to 10 years.
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| Loan Amount: | $30,000 – $350,000 |
| APR Range: | 9.7% – 11.04% |
| Time To Fund: | Typically take several weeks to fund, but can fund as quickly as within seven days. |
| Loan Term: | Maximum loan term is 10 years. |
| Origination Fee: | 4.00% |
| How To Qualify: | 675+ Personal credit score $50,000+ Annual revenue |
| Great Option For: | Borrowers with good credit SBA loans Funding real estate purchases Refinancing debt |
| Credit Check? | Soft credit check and hard pull |
| Co-Applicants Accepted? | No cosigners |
| Direct Pay-Off To Creditors? | No |
| Click “Check Rates” to apply to SmartBiz Apply Now | |
» MORE: SmartBiz SBA Loan Review
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| Loan Amount: | $1,000 to $2 million |
| APR Range: | 30% maximum APR |
| Time to Fund: | Access your capital in as little as 24 hours |
| Loan Term: | 1 to 25 years |
| Origination Fee: | Varies |
| How To Qualify: | 550 minimum credit score $12,000+ Annual revenue |
| Great Option For: | High loan amounts Small businesses with low annual revenues Business owners with below-average credit score |
| Credit Check? | Soft credit check and hard pull |
| Co-Applicants Accepted? | No cosigners |
| Direct Pay-Off To Creditors? | No |
| Click “Check Rates” to apply to Lendio Apply Now | |
Hopefully, you now know more about SBA loan rates and SBA loans in general. For more information about how any of these loans work, visit the Small Business Association’s website at www.sba.gov.
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