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SBA summary / program page

7(a) Loan Program — Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility

Published by U.S. Small Business Administration · Last checked by CapBench: 2026-06-13

Official source — this controls

View on SBA.gov

Opens on SBA.gov — the authoritative original.

What this source is

The SBA's official summary page for 7(a) loan program terms, conditions, and borrower eligibility. It consolidates the program's key parameters — loan amounts, maturities, guaranty percentages, interest rate caps, fee structure, and basic eligibility requirements — in one place for lenders and borrowers to reference.

Why it matters for buyers

This is the SBA's official starting point for understanding what the 7(a) program offers. While the CFR and SOP contain more detail, this page gives buyers and lenders a quick, authoritative overview of program parameters. CapBench's tools — the calculator, the eligibility checker, the rates page — are all calibrated against the rules summarized here.

Topics this source controls

  • Program overview and loan purpose summary
  • Maximum loan amount ($5 million)
  • Loan maturity (10 years for working capital/equipment; up to 25 for real estate)
  • Guaranty percentages (85% up to $150K; 75% above)
  • Interest rate caps and current spreads
  • Fee schedule (guaranty fees, servicing fees, late fees)
  • Basic borrower eligibility (for-profit, U.S.-based, size standards, creditworthy)
  • Ineligible businesses list

Related CapBench Q&A

These CapBench Q&A pages cite 7(a) Terms & Eligibility directly.

Browse all SBA 7(a) Q&A

Related CapBench tools

CapBench is not the SBA — the official source controls

This page summarizes 7(a) Terms & Eligibility for informational purposes. CapBench is not affiliated with the SBA or any federal agency. The official source at www.sba.gov is the authoritative version. SBA rules change; always verify against the current official source before relying on any rule for a live deal. This is not legal, tax, or financial advice.

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AI summary

This guide explains 7(a) Loan Program — Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility — a sba summary / program page published by U.S. Small Business Administration — in plain English: what the document is, why it matters for business buyers, and the specific topics it controls (Program overview and loan purpose summary, Maximum loan amount ($5 million), Loan maturity (10 years for working capital/equipment; up to 25 for real estate)). CapBench organizes and summarizes it, but the official source always controls — verify against it before relying on any rule for a live deal. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and CapBench is not a lender.

Source: CapBench SBA Intelligence, based on public SBA, lender, franchise, FDIC, and related records. CapBench is not a lender and does not guarantee financing.

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