SBA loan basics
Short answer
The "guaranty fee" is an upfront fee charged by the SBA to the lender for providing the loan guaranty. It is typically passed on to the borrower, and its amount depends on the loan size and the guaranteed portion.
The SBA charges this fee to offset the costs of the 7(a) program. The fee structure for FY2026 includes a percentage of the guaranteed portion, which decreases for smaller loans and increases for larger loans. Lenders typically collect this fee from the borrower at loan closing and remit it to the SBA.
For a $1 million SBA 7(a) loan with a 75% guaranty, the guaranteed portion is $750,000. If the fee rate is 3% on the guaranteed portion, the borrower would pay an upfront guaranty fee of $22,500 at closing.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
7(a) Fees Effective During Fiscal Year 2026
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
SBA 7(a) Loan Guaranty Fee Calculator
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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