SBA 7(a) · Conventional · Seller-Financed Stacks
Loans to buy a business — structured to close.
Summit structures business acquisition loans from $250,000 to $10,000,000. SBA 7(a) up to $5M, conventional bank acquisition debt, and senior + seller + equity stacks for larger deals. Pre-qualification, valuation, and lender placement managed end-to-end.
- Capital
- $250K – $10M
- Min Equity
- 10%
- Rates From
- 9.5% APR
- Term
- 10–25 yrs
Your options
Five ways to finance a business acquisition.
SBA 7(a) Acquisition
$250K – $5M45–90 days
Most common path. 10-year term, 10% equity, rates Prime + 1.5–3%. Cash-flow driven underwriting.
SBA 504 + 7(a)
$1M – $10M60–120 days
For acquisitions with real estate. 504 for the building, 7(a) for goodwill, working capital, and inventory.
Conventional Acquisition Loan
$1M – $25M60–120 days
For strong borrowers (3+ years operating history, FICO 720+). Lower rate, larger size, faster underwriting.
Seller Note on Standby
$50K – $5MConcurrent
Seller financing structured to satisfy SBA equity injection. Reduces buyer cash to as low as 5%.
ROBS (401(k) Rollover)
$50K – $2M3–4 weeks
Use retirement funds tax-free as equity injection. Pairs with SBA 7(a) for low-cash acquisitions.
Mezzanine / Sponsor Debt
$1M – $25M30–60 days
Subordinated layer above SBA/conventional for larger acquisitions or rollups.
FAQ
Business acquisition loans, answered.
How do I get a loan to buy a business?
Most business acquisitions are financed with SBA 7(a) loans (up to $5M, 10-year term, 10% equity injection), conventional bank acquisition loans (for stronger borrowers and larger deals), or seller financing combined with senior debt. Summit structures the stack — senior SBA + seller note + equity — to close at the highest possible LTV.
How much do I need down to buy a business?
SBA 7(a) requires a minimum 10% equity injection (5% from buyer + 5% from seller note on standby is acceptable). Conventional acquisition loans typically require 20–30% down. Cash, retirement rollover (ROBS), home equity, and sponsor capital all qualify as equity.
What's the maximum SBA loan to buy a business?
SBA 7(a) loans cap at $5,000,000 per borrower (aggregate across all SBA loans). For acquisitions above $5M, Summit stacks the SBA 7(a) with a pari passu conventional loan or mezzanine debt to reach 70–85% LTV.
Can I buy a business with no money down?
Rarely with no cash at all — but creative structures get close. Seller financing on standby, 401(k)/IRA rollover for business startups (ROBS), home equity lines, and partner capital can all serve as the equity injection. The deal economics (cash flow coverage) matter more than where the equity comes from.
How long does a business acquisition loan take to close?
SBA 7(a) acquisition loans typically close in 45–90 days from full file submission. Conventional acquisition loans run 60–120 days. Summit accelerates by pre-qualifying the deal, ordering third-party reports (appraisal, environmental, business valuation) early, and managing the lender's checklist daily.
Do I need a business valuation to buy a business?
Yes for SBA acquisition loans over $250,000 — SBA requires an independent third-party business valuation. For conventional loans, lenders almost always require one. Summit's process pre-screens the deal economics against the seller's asking price before you pay for a valuation.
The capital stack to close your acquisition.
Soft-pull pre-qualification. No obligation. Same-day decisions on revenue-based products.