Glossary · The loan itself
In short
An application fee is a charge by some lenders for processing your loan application. It covers initial administrative costs, but not all lenders charge one for SBA 7(a) loans.
While some lenders might charge a small fee, SBA rules generally prohibit lenders from charging application fees for 7(a) loans. Any upfront costs should be clearly disclosed as part of the lender closing costs or packaging fee. Question any significant application fees you encounter.
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Defined by DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
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