08/18/2026
What is a 7(a) loan?
The 7(a) loan program, SBA’s primary business loan program, provides a loan guarantee to lenders that allow them to provide financial help for small businesses with special requirements. 7(a) loans can be used for:
Acquiring, refinancing, or improving real estate and buildings
Short- and long-term working capital Refinancing current business debt Purchasing and installation of machinery and equipment, including AI-related expenses Purchasing furniture, fixtures, and supplies Changes of ownership (complete or partial) Multiple purpose loans, including any of the above The maximum loan amount for a 7(a) loan is $5 million. Key eligibility factors are based on what the business does to receive its income, its credit history, and where the business operates.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible for 7(a) loan assistance, businesses must:
Be an operating business
Operate for profit
Be located in the U.S.
Be small under SBA size requirements
Not be a type of ineligible business
Not be able to obtain the desired credit on reasonable terms from non-federal, non-state, and non-local government sources
Be creditworthy and demonstrate a reasonable ability to repay the loan.
