SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
A lease with an option to purchase real estate can be structured with an SBA 7(a) loan, but the loan would finance the purchase of the business, and the real estate purchase would occur later under separate financing or a subsequent SBA loan.
An SBA 7(a) loan generally finances immediate acquisitions. If the real estate is not being purchased at closing but under a future option, the 7(a) loan would only cover the business acquisition and potentially leasehold improvements or working capital. A new loan application would be needed for the later real estate purchase.
A buyer acquires a business for $700,000 using an SBA 7(a) loan. The business leases its premises, but the buyer has a 2-year option to purchase the property. The initial 7(a) loan would finance only the business and its immediate needs, not the future real estate purchase option.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
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
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.
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