2026 · 7(a) · 504 · Microloan · Express
SBA loan requirements, in plain English.
SBA loan requirements come from two places — the SBA itself (broad eligibility) and the lender (credit and underwriting overlay). Below are the actual 2026 requirements across every SBA product. Summit pre-screens against every overlay before submitting, so deals that get rejected at one bank find the right lender on the first try.
- Min TIB
- 2 years
- Min FICO
- 640+
- Equity Injection
- 10%
- Min DSCR
- 1.15x
Your options
The six SBA loan requirements that decide every deal.
Time in Business
2+ yearsMost lenders
Microloans accept startups. 7(a) acquisition uses target's history, not buyer's.
Personal Credit (FICO)
640 – 680+Lender overlay
SBA itself has no minimum. SBSS score 155+ required. Summit places sub-680 deals.
Equity Injection
10% minimumAcquisitions/Startups
Cash, seller note on standby, ROBS, or home equity. No injection for working capital refis.
Debt Service Coverage
1.15 – 1.25xCash flow test
Historical and projected cash flow must cover the new SBA debt plus existing debt.
Citizenship
US Citizen / LPRRequired
Lawful permanent residents (green card) qualify. Visa holders and non-residents do not.
Eligible Industry
Most for-profitSee exclusions
Excludes passive real estate, gambling, lending, MLM, cannabis, and federally illegal businesses.
FAQ
SBA loan requirements, answered.
What are the requirements for an SBA loan?
Core SBA loan requirements: (1) for-profit US business operating in an eligible industry, (2) owner is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, (3) demonstrated cash flow to service the debt (DSCR ≥ 1.15–1.25x), (4) 10% equity injection (for acquisitions/startups), (5) clean personal background check, (6) no delinquent federal debt. Most lenders overlay FICO 640+ and 2+ years operating history.
What credit score do I need for an SBA loan?
SBA itself has no minimum credit score — but every SBA lender does. The SBA-mandated FICO SBSS score (small business scoring service) must be 155+, and most preferred lenders require personal FICO 680+ for 7(a) and 640+ for SBA Express. Summit places sub-680 deals with lenders that overlay differently.
How long do I need to be in business for an SBA loan?
Most SBA 7(a) lenders require 2+ years of operating history. SBA microloans (≤$50K) accept startups. SBA 7(a) for business acquisition treats the target's operating history as the qualifying history, so the buyer doesn't need 2 years personally — they need industry experience and 10% equity.
What's the SBA equity injection requirement?
Standard 10% equity injection for business acquisitions, change-of-ownership transactions, and startups. The 10% can come from cash, seller financing on full standby for 24+ months, retirement rollover (ROBS), or home equity. Refinances and working capital loans on existing businesses generally have no equity injection requirement.
What industries are ineligible for SBA loans?
Ineligible industries include: passive real estate (rental property investors), gambling, adult entertainment, lending institutions, life insurance underwriters, religious organizations, multi-level marketing, and businesses engaged in illegal activity. Cannabis and CBD remain federally restricted regardless of state legality.
How much can I borrow with an SBA loan?
SBA 7(a) max is $5,000,000 per borrower (aggregate). SBA Express maxes at $500,000. SBA 504 has no hard cap but the SBA-guaranteed portion (CDC debenture) caps at $5.5M ($5.5M for energy / manufacturing). SBA microloans cap at $50,000.
How long does SBA loan approval take?
SBA Express: 36 hours for SBA approval after a complete file. SBA 7(a): 5–10 business days for SBA approval; 45–90 days from application to funding including lender underwriting and closing. SBA 504: 60–120 days due to the CDC debenture process.
Pre-qualify against every SBA overlay in one shot.
Soft-pull pre-qualification. No obligation. Same-day decisions on revenue-based products.