{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-there-any-specific-upfront-fees-i-need-to-pay-directly-to-the-sba-when-getting-a-7-a-l","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/are-there-any-specific-upfront-fees-i-need-to-pay-directly-to-the-sba-when-getting-a-7-a-l","question":"Are there any specific upfront fees I need to pay directly to the SBA when getting a 7(a) loan?","topic":"Rate & fees","audience":"borrower","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"No, you do not pay fees directly to the SBA. However, your lender will charge you an upfront guaranty fee that is remitted to the SBA on your behalf.","rule":"While the SBA does not collect fees directly from borrowers, it charges an upfront guaranty fee to the lender for providing the guaranty. The lender is permitted to pass this fee on to the borrower as part of the loan closing costs. This fee is a percentage of the guaranteed portion of the loan and varies by loan amount.","example":"For a $1,000,000 SBA 7(a) loan with an 85% guaranty, the guaranteed portion is $850,000. If the upfront guaranty fee rate is 3%, your lender would collect $25,500 from you at closing and remit it to the SBA.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders accurately calculate and collect the upfront guaranty fee from the borrower at closing, then remit it to the SBA within the required timeframe. Incorrect calculation or remittance can impact the loan's standing with the SBA.","required_facts":["Upfront guaranty fee","Paid to lender","Remitted to SBA","Loan closing cost","Guaranteed portion"],"source_families":["SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","7(a) Fees Effective During Fiscal Year 2026"],"official_sources":[{"title":"SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/SOP%2050%2010%208%20Technical%20Updates%20effective%206.1.2025.docx"},{"title":"13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120"},{"title":"7(a) Fees Effective During Fiscal Year 2026","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/Info%20Notice%20-%207%28a%29%20Fees%20FY%202026%20%28FINAL%208-28-25%29.pdf"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Besides the interest rate, what upfront fees will I pay for a $1 million SBA 7(a) loan at closing?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/besides-the-interest-rate-what-upfront-fees-will-i-pay-for-a-1-million-sba-7-a-loan-at-clo"},{"question":"How are the ongoing servicing fees for an SBA 7(a) loan calculated and paid?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-are-the-ongoing-servicing-fees-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-calculated-and-paid"},{"question":"What are the typical interest rates for an SBA 7(a) loan, and are they fixed or variable?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-are-the-typical-interest-rates-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-and-are-they-fixed-or-variable"},{"question":"What is the \"SBA guaranty fee\" I pay on an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-sba-guaranty-fee-i-pay-on-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Are there any other lender-specific fees beyond the SBA guaranty fee and ongoing servicing fee?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-there-any-other-lender-specific-fees-beyond-the-sba-guaranty-fee-and-ongoing-servicing"},{"question":"Can the lender charge their own separate processing or origination fees for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-the-lender-charge-their-own-separate-processing-or-origination-fees-for-an-sba-7-a-loa"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"SBA Upfront Guaranty Fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-upfront-guaranty-fee"},{"term":"Repair to the guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/repair-to-the-guaranty"},{"term":"Specific Lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/specific-lien"},{"term":"Upfront Fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/upfront-fee"},{"term":"Industry-Specific Metric","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/industry-specific-metric"},{"term":"Upfront Guaranty Fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/upfront-guaranty-fee"}],"related_tools":[{"name":"SBA 7(a) payment & fee calculator","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/calculator"},{"name":"Find an active SBA 7(a) lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/lenders"}],"data_freshness":{"last_reviewed":"2026-06-14","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-14"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-there-any-specific-upfront-fees-i-need-to-pay-directly-to-the-sba-when-getting-a-7-a-l","source_type":"DealRoom Q&A"},"caveats":["Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against official sources before relying on it for a live deal.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice and not an approval decision."]}