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Educational fundamentals for SBA lending, due diligence, and buyer education
We analyzed 20,000+ SBA acquisition loans from 2018-2026. The spread across lenders is 2+ points. Here's what drives the difference and how to use it.
SBA Policy Notice 5000-879464 creates a waiver for the prior loss rule when an applicant's owner held a small, non-controlling interest in a business that defaulted on an SBA loan.
A stage-by-stage guide to the SBA 7(a) acquisition loan process. Realistic timelines, document requirements, and the questions to ask at each phase.
SBA acquisition loan defaults follow a predictable path. Here's what the process looks like, how personal guarantees are enforced, and what experienced buyers do differently.
Business brokers receive 150-300 NDAs per quality listing. Learn the filtering criteria that determine which buyers get a response and how to stand out in a saturated market.
The SBA doubled the combined 7(a) and 504 loan limit from $5M to $10M, effective July 4, 2026. Programs are now decoupled. What acquisition buyers need to know about deal structuring.
Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) determines whether your SBA acquisition gets funded. Learn how lenders calculate it, what kills deals, and how to back into your max loan amount.
Seller notes are present in the vast majority of small business acquisitions. Here's how they work under current SBA rules, why sellers agree, and how experienced buyers structure them.
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.
Field notes from SMBash 2026: why the ETA playbook has changed, the buyer market is more crowded, and trust has become the scarcest asset.
Median SBA 7(a) acquisition loan rate: 8.75% (2.00% over prime). Based on 704 loans in Q1 2026.
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.