Data
SBA 7(a) acquisition loan statistics
The lending numbers behind buying a small business with an SBA loan — verified against government data and dated, because most figures circulating online aren't.
Verified Jul 10, 2026
Typical rate today
~9%
Prime (6.75% since Dec 11, 2025) + ~2.25%
Well-qualified borrowers
8.5–9.25%
Average rate, Q4 2025
8.86%
Across 1,148 change-of-control loans
Median acquisition loan
$775,350
Q4 2025 change-of-control
FY2025 acquisition loans
7,525
Change-of-ownership approvals
Single-loan 7(a) cap
$5,000,000
Combination structures reach ~$9,000,000
What changed in 2025
Mid-2025 SBA rule changes are reported to require seller notes counting toward the equity injection to sit on full standby for the life of the loan, alongside tighter collateral requirements — guides written before mid-2025 can mislead on structure.
Method & sources
Figures are drawn from the SBA's public loan-level data and analyses that recompute against it, cross-checked before publishing; each figure above carries the caveats of its source period. Q4 2025 reflects a shortened processing window (the late-2025 government shutdown paused SBA approvals for several weeks).
Run these numbers on your situation
The SBA acquisition calculator turns your cash into a supportable purchase price, payment, and the SDE a business needs — using exactly these figures.
Get updates when these figures move
Rates and rules change; this page is re-verified on a quarterly cycle. Leave an email to hear when it does.