SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
No, you do not pay fees directly to the SBA. However, your lender will charge you an upfront guaranty fee that is remitted to the SBA on your behalf.
While the SBA does not collect fees directly from borrowers, it charges an upfront guaranty fee to the lender for providing the guaranty. The lender is permitted to pass this fee on to the borrower as part of the loan closing costs. This fee is a percentage of the guaranteed portion of the loan and varies by loan amount.
For a $1,000,000 SBA 7(a) loan with an 85% guaranty, the guaranteed portion is $850,000. If the upfront guaranty fee rate is 3%, your lender would collect $25,500 from you at closing and remit it to the SBA.
Insider move
Lenders accurately calculate and collect the upfront guaranty fee from the borrower at closing, then remit it to the SBA within the required timeframe. Incorrect calculation or remittance can impact the loan's standing with the SBA.
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 2026-06-14. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-14 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-14. 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.
More on rate & fees
Terms in this answer
Pre-qualify your SBA 7(a) deal
Tell us the business, the price, and where you are — we'll point you to the lenders most likely to fund a deal like yours and flag anything that trips up approval.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day