Your Local SBA

Financing

Get Street Map & Driving Directions to Local SBA Financing Resources

The SBA offers a variety of special loan programs to eligible small businesses that cannot borrow on reasonable terms from conventional lenders.  The most appropriate loan program will vary with the amount of financing needed and the use of loan proceeds.  In most cases, the SBA's maximum loan guarantee amount is $1,500,000.  These loans are done through lenders with SBA guaranteeing the loan they make. 

In Georgia, we encourage potential borrowers to utilize our business development programs, such as SCORE, and the Women's Business Centers to help them prepare business plans and loan applications.  For more detailed information go to financing your business on the SBA website.

7(A) & 504 Lender Ranking

SBA Business Loans

7(a) Loan Guaranty Program - One of SBA’s primary lending programs, the 7(a) program provides long-term and short-term loans on reasonable terms that can satisfy the requirements of almost any new or growing small business - 7(a) Loan for complete details.

Specialized Programs Under the 7(a) program:

Financing for Specific Needs

CAPLines - Designed to help small businesses meet their short-term and cyclical working-capital needs with five separate programs - Caplines for complete details.

Export Working Capital and International Trade Loans - Designed to increase short-term and long-term financing for exporters - Export Working Capital, and International Trade Loans for complete details.

DELTA - Designed to provide financial and technical assistance to defense-dependent small firms adversely affected by cutbacks in defense - Delta Loans for complete details.

  • Small Business Investment Companies
    If you are seeking venture capital rather than a conventional or SBA guaranteed loan, you will be interested in our Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program and the Angel Capital Network - SBIC - for information regarding the SBIC program and ADVO for the Angel Capital Network.

    The Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program. SBICs, licensed by the Small Business Administration, are privately organized and privately managed investment firms. They are participants in a vital partnership between government and the private sector economy. With their own capital and with funds borrowed at favorable rates through the Federal Government, SBICs provide venture capital to small independent businesses, both new and already established.
  • Certified Development Companies
    The 504 Certified Development Company (CDC) Program provides growing businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land and buildings. A Certified Development Company is a nonprofit corporation set up to contribute to the economic development of its community or region. CDCs work with the SBA and private-sector lenders to provide financing to small businesses. There are about 290 CDCs nationwide. Each CDC covers a specific area. Go here to view the list of Certified Development Companies
  • Preferred Lenders
    Certified & Preferred lenders are those who have been heavily involved in regular SBA loan-guaranty processing and have met certain other criteria. Lender who is experienced with SBA Programs. They receive full delegation of lending authority which results in faster service. Also Regular 7(a) loans are also reviewed at the District Office. Go here to view the list of Preferred Lenders
  • SBA Express
    SBA Express relies completely on the lender's credit analysis, forms and procedures to apply SBA guarantees to a loan without prior credit approval from SBA. In return for this flexibility, participating lenders agree to accept a maximum loan guarantee of 50%. The maximum loan amount is $350,000. Go here to view the list of SBA Express Lenders
  • Patriot Express 
    SBA has established a new pilot program for veterans and members of the military family planning to establish or expand a small business.  This program improves on the SBA Express program with loans up to $500,000 and qualify for SBA's maximum guaranty of up to 85% for loans up to $150,000 and 75% for loans between $150,000 and $500,000.  Patriot Express loans feature SBA's lowest maximum interest rates of 2.25% - 4.75% over prime depending upon the size and maturity of the loan.  A list of participating SBA lenders can be found at this link.
  • Microlenders
    The MicroLoan Program was developed to increase the availability of very small loans to prospective small business borrowers. Under this program, the SBA makes funds available to nonprofit intermediaries, who in turn make loans to eligible borrowers in amounts that range from under $100 to a maximum of $35,000. The average loan size is $10,000. Completed applications can usually be processed by the intermediary in less than one week. Approved Microloan Participants
  • ExportExpress
    ExportExpress combines lending and technical assistance to help small businesses that have difficulty in obtaining adequate export financing.  Allowing for a wide variety of uses for loan proceeds, it is the SBA's most flexible export financing program. 
  • Surety Bond Guarantees
    By law, prime contractors to the federal government must post surety bonds on federal construction projects valued at $100,000 or more. Many state, county, city and private-sector projects require bonding as well. The SBA can guarantee bid, performance and payment bonds for contracts up to $2 million for small businesses that cannot obtain bonds through regular commercial channels. Bonds may be obtained in two ways: prior approval-- contractors apply through a surety bonding agent. The guaranty goes to the surety; and preferred Sureties--preferred sureties are authorized by the SBA to issue, monitor and service bonds without prior SBA approval. Go here to view the list of Surety Bond Agents.

Also see:

  • SBA's National HUBZone site for a description of the HUBZone Program, including how to find out if you are located in a HUBZone, and how to apply for HUBZone Certification.