SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
At closing, you'll typically pay an upfront SBA guaranty fee, plus lender packaging fees, legal fees, and third-party costs like appraisals and environmental reports.
The upfront guaranty fee is charged by the SBA to the lender, who passes it on to the borrower. Its percentage varies based on the loan amount and portion guaranteed. Lenders may also charge reasonable packaging fees, and borrowers are responsible for attorney fees, appraisal costs, business valuation fees, and other due diligence expenses.
For a $1,000,000 SBA 7(a) loan, the upfront guaranty fee could be approximately 3.5% of the guaranteed portion (e.g., $31,500 for a 75% guaranteed loan). Additionally, you might pay $10,000-$20,000 in legal, appraisal, and packaging fees.
Lenders must ensure that all fees charged are reasonable and comply with SBA regulations. They disclose all fees transparently to the borrower and verify that the borrower understands the total cost of the loan.
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