{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-maximum-amount-of-money-a-single-borrower-or-group-of-affiliated-businesses-ca","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/what-is-the-maximum-amount-of-money-a-single-borrower-or-group-of-affiliated-businesses-ca","question":"What is the maximum amount of money a single borrower or group of affiliated businesses can owe across all SBA 7(a) loans?","topic":"Loan limits","audience":"borrower","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"The maximum aggregate outstanding loan amount for a single borrower or group of affiliated businesses across all SBA 7(a) loans is $5 million.","rule":"This cap ensures that SBA resources are distributed broadly among small businesses. Even if multiple 7(a) loans are taken out for different purposes or by affiliated entities, the total outstanding principal amount guaranteed by the SBA cannot exceed $5 million for that borrower/group.","example":"If a buyer has an existing SBA 7(a) loan for $2 million for a previous business, they can only get an additional SBA 7(a) loan for up to $3 million for a new acquisition, assuming affiliation rules apply.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders must identify all affiliated entities and track the total outstanding SBA loan exposure for a borrower group. This requires thorough due diligence into ownership structures and business relationships.","required_facts":["Maximum loan amount","Aggregate limit","Affiliated businesses","Single borrower","Outstanding principal"],"source_families":["SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","Coordination of 7(a) and 504 for Maximum Loan Limits"],"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":"Coordination of 7(a) and 504 for Maximum Loan Limits","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-05/Policy%20Notice%205000-879058%20Coordination%20of%207%28a%29%20and%20504%20for%20Maximum%20Loan%20Limits%20_Final_5-18-26.pdf"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Is there an overall limit to the total amount of SBA 7(a) loans a business can have?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-there-an-overall-limit-to-the-total-amount-of-sba-7-a-loans-a-business-can-have"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"Affiliated group","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/affiliated-group"},{"term":"Affiliated businesses","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/affiliated-businesses"},{"term":"Maximum SBA 7(a) Loan Amount","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/maximum-sba-7-a-loan-amount"},{"term":"Maximum Aggregate Loan Amount","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/maximum-aggregate-loan-amount"},{"term":"Cancellation of the SBA guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/cancellation-of-the-sba-guaranty"},{"term":"Repair or denial of the SBA guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/repair-or-denial-of-the-sba-guaranty"}],"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/what-is-the-maximum-amount-of-money-a-single-borrower-or-group-of-affiliated-businesses-ca","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."]}