# Buying a Business in New Jersey: SBA Lending

Change-of-ownership SBA 7(a) approvals in New Jersey, FY2020 through FY2025. Every figure is read from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan-level dataset (as of June 30, 2026).

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Also on this site: https://searchspheresource.com/data/acquisition-lending
Source: https://searchspheresource.com/data/acquisition-lending/new-jersey
Last checked: 2026-10-02

## The Numbers

- Loans since FY2020: 840, $993,309,100 approved in total
- FY2025 loans: 191, $239,359,300 approved
- Median loan: $724,000
- Share of national acquisition lending: 2.3%

## The Most Active Lenders in New Jersey

Ranked by change-of-ownership loans written in the covered years. A bank high here is a bank that has already said yes to this kind of deal in this state.

1. Live Oak Banking Company: 109 loans
2. Peapack Private Bank and Trust: 61 loans
3. Beacon Bank and Trust: 45 loans
4. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB: 35 loans
5. The Huntington National Bank: 32 loans

## What Gets Financed in New Jersey

- Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers: 76 loans
- Full-Service Restaurants: 58 loans
- Limited-Service Restaurants: 39 loans
- Child Care Services: 33 loans
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers: 19 loans

## Method and Source

- SBA 7(a) FOIA loan-level dataset (as of June 30, 2026): https://data.sba.gov/dataset/7a-504-foia
- Coverage: FY2020 through FY2025
- Segment: SBA 7(a) approvals with BusinessAge "Change of Ownership"

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