Plain-English guides for first-time borrowers, plus an interactive Data Lab built for operators who want decision-grade statistics on the FY2025 SBA 7(a) market.
Ten paraphrased, web-optimized guides covering everything from 'what is a 7(a)?' to lender selection. Written for first-time borrowers.
Interactive charts and tables built from FY2025 SBA program data. The same insights deal teams pay six figures to access.
$37.3B
7(a) volume in FY2025
13.2% YoY growth
78.1K
Loans approved
22.5% more than FY2024
49% / 72%
Big-bank vs. CDFI approval
Same file, very different outcomes
1.93%
Acquisition default rate
29% lower than non-acquisition
The flagship SBA program in plain English — what it actually is, who funds it, and why a federal guarantee turns lender no's into yes's.
Read articleTwo qualification gates, not one — SBA eligibility plus lender underwriting. Plus the 2026 ownership-rule change that excludes thousands of borrowers who used to qualify.
Read articleHow much you can borrow, how long you have to pay it back, and the rate caps the SBA enforces by loan size. Plus what's actually negotiable.
Read articleHeadline rate vs. effective APR. The fees nobody mentions, the third-party costs that surprise borrowers, and what a $500K loan actually costs over ten years.
Read articleThe mechanics of the federal guarantee — who's protected, what triggers a purchase, and why the secondary market premium drives lender behavior more than borrowers realize.
Read articleSix factors decide whether your file gets a yes — and they're not all weighted equally. The insider hierarchy of what underwriters actually care about.
Read article45% of SBA applications get declined. Here's the actual ranked list of why — and how to fix the avoidable ones before submitting.
Read articleIncomplete documents are the #1 cause of SBA delays and rejections. Here's the actual list, organized by use case, with what each document is for.
Read articleSame file, different lender, very different outcomes — and rates that range from 7.6% to 12%+. Here's how to pick the lender that fits your profile.
Read articleDrop your tax returns and P&L. Answer a few questions. Walk out with the same lender-ready file a $15K broker delivers.