SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
Beyond the upfront SBA guaranty fee, the primary ongoing fee for an SBA 7(a) loan is an annual service fee, which is collected by the lender and remitted to the SBA.
In addition to the one-time upfront guaranty fee paid by the borrower at closing, the SBA charges an annual service fee (also known as the servicing fee or ongoing guaranty fee). This fee is typically 0.55% of the outstanding guaranteed portion of the loan and is collected by the lender, usually monthly or quarterly, as part of your loan payments. This fee compensates the SBA for its ongoing guaranty and program administration.
For a $750,000 SBA 7(a) loan with a 75% guaranty, the guaranteed portion is $562,500. The annual service fee would be 0.55% of this, or $3,093.75 per year, collected monthly by your lender as part of your loan payment.
7(a) Loan Program — Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility
U.S. Small Business Administration · Official SBA source
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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