SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
There is no maximum purchase price for a business; however, the maximum SBA 7(a) loan amount is $5,000,000.
The SBA sets a maximum loan amount for the 7(a) program at $5,000,000. This means that if you are acquiring a business for, say, $8,000,000, the SBA portion of the financing cannot exceed $5,000,000. The remainder would need to be covered by buyer equity, seller notes, or other non-SBA financing.
If you are buying a business for $7,000,000, the maximum SBA 7(a) loan you can obtain is $5,000,000. The remaining $2,000,000 would need to be funded by your equity injection and potentially a seller note or other conventional financing.
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 2026-06-14. 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.
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