{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-the-lender-charge-an-additional-packaging-fee-on-top-of-the-sba-fees","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/can-the-lender-charge-an-additional-packaging-fee-on-top-of-the-sba-fees","question":"Can the lender charge an additional \"packaging fee\" on top of the SBA fees?","topic":"Rate & fees","audience":"borrower","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"Generally, no, lenders cannot charge an additional \"packaging fee\" to the borrower on top of the SBA guaranty fee and their own customary closing costs.","rule":"SBA regulations (13 CFR 103) restrict the fees lenders and their agents can charge. Lenders can pass through certain costs, like appraisal, legal, and environmental fees, but they cannot charge separate 'packaging' or 'brokerage' fees to the borrower for services typically covered by the lender's interest rate and loan fees. The SBA views such fees as excessive.","example":"A lender provides an SBA 7(a) loan offer including the SBA guaranty fee and standard closing costs. If they then try to add a separate '$5,000 loan packaging fee' to the borrower, this would be considered a prohibited charge by the SBA.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders must comply with SBA's fee regulations to maintain their Preferred Lender Status and ensure the loan remains eligible for the guaranty. Charging unauthorized fees can lead to penalties and even loss of the SBA guaranty if discovered during an audit or loan review.","required_facts":["Prohibited fees","SBA regulations","Lender compliance","Packaging/brokerage fees"],"source_families":["13 CFR Part 103 - Standards for Conducting Business with SBA","SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","7(a) Loan Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility"],"official_sources":[{"title":"13 CFR Part 103 - Standards for Conducting Business with SBA","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-103"},{"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":"7(a) Loan Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility","url":"https://www.sba.gov/partners/lenders/7a-loan-program/terms-conditions-eligibility"}],"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":"Lender Packaging Fees","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lender-packaging-fees"},{"term":"Lender packaging fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lender-packaging-fee"},{"term":"Packaging Fees","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/packaging-fees"},{"term":"Packaging fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/packaging-fee"},{"term":"Lender fees","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lender-fees"},{"term":"Claim on the SBA Guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/claim-on-the-sba-guarantee"}],"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":"2026-06-13","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-13"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-the-lender-charge-an-additional-packaging-fee-on-top-of-the-sba-fees","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."]}