The cheapest money a business can borrow.
Government-backed loans for established businesses — the lowest rates and longest terms in our network. They take longer and ask more of you, and for the right business they are worth every day of the wait.
- Amount
- $50K–$5M
- Term
- 10–25 yr
- Min credit
- 680+
- Funded in
- 2–6 weeks
Is this the right tool?
We earn more on some products than others — so the only way you can trust a recommendation is if we tell you when to walk away. Here is exactly who this is, and isn't, for.
- You have been in business 2+ years with steady, provable revenue
- Your personal credit is 680 or higher and you can document income
- You want the lowest possible rate and a long repayment runway
- You are funding expansion, a refinance, or a large one-time project
- You need cash this weekBetter fit: Term Loan →
- You have been open less than two yearsBetter fit: Term Loan →
- Your credit is below 680Better fit: Equipment Financing →
- You only need a buffer for slow months, not a lump sumBetter fit: Line of Credit →
What it actually costs.
One worked example, every line shown — including what we earn. No teaser rate, no fine print. Want to run your own numbers? The calculator does it live.
The referral fee is paid by the lender and shown here only so you can see it — it never changes your rate or payment. The SBA guaranty fee, when it applies, is set by the SBA, not by us.
Eligibility & documents.
The honest minimums and the exact paperwork — so you know whether to apply and what to gather before you do.
- 2+ years in business
- 680+ personal credit (all 20%+ owners)
- $10K+ average monthly revenue
- Profitable or break-even on recent returns
- No bankruptcies in the last 3 years
- Driver’s license & voided business check
- Last 2 years business tax returns
- Last 2 years personal tax returns
- Year-to-date P&L and balance sheet
- Last 6 months business bank statements
- Business debt schedule
- STEP 1Apply4 minutesSoft pull, no impact to your score
- STEP 2Underwriting1–3 weeksDocument review and SBA processing
- STEP 3Offer—Side-by-side terms, every fee disclosed
- STEP 4Funded2–6 weeksWired to your account
Compared with the alternatives.
The two products people weigh this against most often. Same numbers as our Rate Library, so the comparison is apples to apples.
SBA 7(a)This page Government-backed | Term Loan Fixed installments | Commercial Real Estate Property-secured | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate | 6.5–11.5% APR | 8.9–24.9% APR | 6.9–12.5% APR |
| Amount | $50K–$5M | $25K–$500K | $100K–$10M |
| Funded in | 2–6 weeks | 1–3 days | 3–8 weeks |
| Best for | Lowest rate, big projects | Predictable lump sum | Buying property |
| Apply now → | View Term → | View Commercial → |
Questions, answered.
What credit score do I actually need?
Most SBA 7(a) approvals in our network sit at 680 or higher across every owner with a 20%+ stake. Below that, a term loan or equipment financing is usually the faster route — and we’ll tell you so during the quick check.
How long does SBA funding really take?
Two to six weeks, end to end. The application is four minutes; the wait is underwriting and SBA processing. If you need money this week, this is the wrong product and we’ll point you to one that funds in days.
Will I have to sign a personal guarantee?
Yes. The SBA requires a personal guarantee from every owner holding 20% or more. Loans over $25,000 are typically also secured by business — and sometimes personal — collateral.
What does Emet earn on an SBA loan?
A referral fee of 1.0–2.5%, paid by the lender — not added to your rate or payment. You’ll see the exact figure on every offer before you accept anything.
Can I pay it off early?
Loans with terms under 15 years have no prepayment penalty. Loans of 15 years or longer carry a declining penalty in the first three years only.
See your real rate today.
Answer seven questions and we’ll shop 40+ lenders for you — side-by-side offers, every fee disclosed, our cut shown. No hard pull until you accept.