{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-guaranty-fee-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-and-who-pays-it","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/what-is-the-guaranty-fee-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-and-who-pays-it","question":"What is the \"guaranty fee\" for an SBA 7(a) loan and who pays it?","topic":"Loan Fees","audience":"new","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"The \"guaranty fee\" is an upfront fee charged by the SBA to the lender for providing the loan guaranty. It is typically passed on to the borrower, and its amount depends on the loan size and the guaranteed portion.","rule":"The SBA charges this fee to offset the costs of the 7(a) program. The fee structure for FY2026 includes a percentage of the guaranteed portion, which decreases for smaller loans and increases for larger loans. Lenders typically collect this fee from the borrower at loan closing and remit it to the SBA.","example":"For a $1 million SBA 7(a) loan with a 75% guaranty, the guaranteed portion is $750,000. If the fee rate is 3% on the guaranteed portion, the borrower would pay an upfront guaranty fee of $22,500 at closing.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders must accurately calculate the upfront guaranty fee based on the current fiscal year's schedule and collect it from the borrower at or before closing, remitting it to the SBA within the specified timeframe.","required_facts":["Guaranty fee","Upfront","Borrower pays","Loan amount","Guaranteed portion"],"source_families":["7(a) Fees Effective During Fiscal Year 2026","SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","SBA 7(a) Loan Guaranty Fee Calculator","13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans"],"official_sources":[{"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"},{"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":"SBA 7(a) Loan Guaranty Fee Calculator","url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/support-sba-7a-loan-guaranty-fee-calculator"},{"title":"13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Are there any annual service fees I must pay on an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/are-there-any-annual-service-fees-i-must-pay-on-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Is there an annual fee I pay on an SBA 7(a) loan besides the interest?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/is-there-an-annual-fee-i-pay-on-an-sba-7-a-loan-besides-the-interest"},{"question":"What are the main fees associated with an SBA 7(a) loan, besides interest?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-are-the-main-fees-associated-with-an-sba-7-a-loan-besides-interest"},{"question":"Does the SBA charge any fees to me directly for applying?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-the-sba-charge-any-fees-to-me-directly-for-applying"},{"question":"Besides upfront fees, are there ongoing annual fees for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/besides-upfront-fees-are-there-ongoing-annual-fees-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Are there any upfront fees a borrower typically pays for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/are-there-any-upfront-fees-a-borrower-typically-pays-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"SBA 7(a) loan guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan-guaranty"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan"},{"term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) Loan Program","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan-program"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) program","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-program"},{"term":"SBA guaranty fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-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":"2026-06-13","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-13"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-guaranty-fee-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-and-who-pays-it","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."]}