#sba
SBA loan programs, applications, and small business resources
SBA SOP 50 10 8.1 raises acquisition DSCR to 1.25x on historical cash flow, mandates QoE at $3M+, and caps minority equity—effective October 1, 2026.
The SBA's SBIC rule effective February 2, 2026 opens a $53B program to manufacturers and suppliers — debt from $250K to $10M at 9–16%, equity from $100K to $5M.
Agencies obligate 30–40% of annual contract dollars in Q4, peaking in September — how a small firm gets SAM-ready and quotes fast enough to win a share.
A US contractor license bond protects the public and costs 1–3% a year; a bid bond protects one project owner and will never satisfy a state licensing board.
SBA Express lends up to $500,000 with a 36-hour SBA response and a 50% guarantee — faster than standard 7(a), but lenders set a higher credit bar.
The SBA's May 2026 expansion gives International Trade Loans a 90% guarantee and deems all manufacturing plus food supply chain NAICS codes import-injured.
SBA's proposed rule cuts 995 size standards to 338, raises some thresholds tenfold and makes ~114,000 more firms 'small'; comments close September 21, 2026.
Business casualty and theft losses skip the $100 and 10%-of-AGI floors, but are capped at adjusted basis, not replacement cost. How to measure the loss, handle insurance timing, and use the Section 165(i) prior-year election.
HUBZone certification unlocks set-aside contracts, sole-source awards up to $5.5M, and a 10% price preference — if 35% of your staff live in a zone. Here are the four rules and the records examiners ask for.
SBA loans typically enter default after three to four missed payments; past 60 days past due with long-term problems, servicing rules push lenders toward liquidation over deferment. The sequence runs lender collateral seizure and personal-guarantee enforcement, SBA guarantee purchase with a 60-day demand letter, a lump-sum offer in compromise on Forms 1150 and 770 after collateral is liquidated, and finally Treasury Offset Program collection via tax refund offset and administrative wage garnishment.
Embedded lending marketplaces like Lili's Lendio integration put loan applications inside your banking dashboard, but the lender—not the platform—sets your terms. A practical framework for freelancers to compare net proceeds, total repayment, factor rates, and payment burden, stress-test a slow month, and record the debt properly before accepting an offer.
SBA's VetCert program took over veteran business certification from the VA on January 1, 2023. This guide explains the VOSB vs SDVOSB distinction, the 51% direct ownership and control tests, the documents to prepare before applying through MySBA Certifications, SBA's 30-day average review target, the three-year certification term with a 120-day recertification window, and the bookkeeping records that make an eligibility review easier to pass.
