SBA Acquisition Guides
Educational fundamentals for SBA lending, due diligence, and buyer education
Written by acquisition practitioners, backed by public lending data
Understanding Add-Backs: What SBA Lenders Will (and Won't) Accept
Sellers inflate SDE with generous add-backs. Lenders strip them to what tax returns verify. The gap between those numbers is where SBA deals live or die. Here's what actually gets accepted.
What SMBash 2026 Taught Us About Buying a Business in a Harder Market
Field notes from SMBash 2026: why the ETA playbook has changed, the buyer market is more crowded, and trust has become the scarcest asset.
SBA 7(a) Interest Rates for Business Acquisitions - Q2 2026 Update
Median SBA 7(a) acquisition loan rate: 8.75% (2.00% over prime). Based on 826 loans in Q2 2026. Volume up 17% from Q1.
The SBA FY 2027 Budget: What Business Acquirers Actually Need to Know
The SBA FY 2027 budget expands 7(a) to $40B while cutting the agency. What it means for acquirers: legislative tracks, credit tightening, and a working model for the next 12 months.
What SBA Lenders Actually Look For in Your Application
Learn what SBA 7(a) lenders prioritize when evaluating acquisition loans. DSCR thresholds, red flags, add-backs, and a practical rule for deal sizing.
SBA Retires SBSS Score for 7(a) Small Loans
SBA Procedural Notice 5000-876777 eliminates the SBSS credit score for 7(a) Small loans under $350,000. Most SBA acquisition buyers won't see changes to their underwriting process as they are above that threshold.
Setting the Foundation
Your tactical guide to starting your business search with the essential legal and operational foundations for ETA success.
The Case for Self-Funded Search: Your Path to Real Ownership
Compare traditional search funds vs. self-funded search in business acquisition. Learn why self-funded search offers the most direct route to entrepreneurial ownership.
The SBA Just Expanded Rate Options for 7(a) Loans. Here's What It Means for Your Acquisition.
The SBA added SOFR and Treasury rates as new base rate options for 7(a) loans effective March 2026. What this means for your acquisition financing.
SBA Updates Citizenship and Residency Requirements with 5% Ownership Exception
SBA Procedural Notice 5000-872050 amends SOP 50 10 8 to allow businesses with up to 5% ownership by non-resident U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents to qualify for 7(a) and 504 loans.
SBA Revises SOP 50 10 8 with Technical Updates for 7(a) and 504 Programs
SBA Procedural Notice 5000-872764 updates Standard Operating Procedure 50 10 8 with technical clarifications for both 7(a) and 504 loan programs, including changes to collateral policies, ESOP valuation requirements, and MARC loan processing rules.
SBA Discontinues SBSS Score Requirement for 7(a) Small Loans
SBA Procedural Notice 5000-875701 announces the discontinuation of the FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) Score requirement for 7(a) Small Loans, requiring lenders to use commercial credit analysis processes instead.