For SBA lenders
Short answer
The annual service fee for 7(a) loans is generally not waived, but certain microloans, export loans, or specific disaster relief loans may have reduced or waived fees.
For standard 7(a) loans, the annual service fee (also known as the ongoing guaranty fee) is a mandatory recurring fee that lenders collect from borrowers and remit to the SBA. This fee helps offset the cost of the program. Fee waivers are rare and typically apply only to very specific types of SBA programs or loans, such as some microloan programs or during specific disaster declarations, as announced by the SBA.
A borrower receives a $250,000 standard 7(a) loan. The lender would inform them that the annual service fee will be collected annually, typically paid monthly or quarterly, in addition to the interest. This fee is a fixed percentage of the guaranteed portion of the outstanding balance, and there is no standard waiver for typical 7(a) loans.
Insider move
Lenders must accurately charge, collect, and remit the annual service fee to the SBA. Failure to do so can result in the lender being responsible for the uncollected fees. Misrepresenting the fee structure to a borrower could also lead to compliance issues.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
7(a) Fees Effective During Fiscal Year 2026
Last checked 2026-06-13. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-13. DealRoom analysis of public SBA 7(a) lending records (FY2020–present). Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against the official sources above before relying on it for a live deal. Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision.
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