Pioneer Buy-Side Brief: SBA Loan Trends
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We got a scare last week when it looked like SBA loans might be paused temporarily. But a few hours later, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) said that wasn't the case. SBA loans are the lifeblood of the small business economy and are vital to investors and business owners alike. As my friend Eric Pacifici put in the other day: There are an estimated $7 trillion of American small businesses needing to be sold during the great wealth transfer between now and 2030. This SBA program and more programs like it will be vital to transition Main Street to the next generation. More important than ever! Today I wanted to cover a few of the other trends I've been seeing in SBA lending over the last few weeks. Calls for higher loan limits As Eric pointed out the other day, many lenders and investors think the SBA loan limits are too low ($5 million for most loan types). The limit hasn't increased since 2010, when the SBA bumped it from $2 million to $5 million. 15 years later, $5 million just doesn't go as far today as it did back then. Adjusted for inflation, $5 million in 2010 is equivalent to $7.3 million today. Inflation plus the growing trend of buying small businesses is enough of a reason to increase the limit to $10 million in my opinion.
Increased demand for loans despite high rates Here's a news report I saw yesterday: U.S. banks say demand for business loans strengthened in the fourth quarter, with the net share of banks reporting an increase turning positive for the first time in two years, a Federal Reserve survey on Monday showed. Interest rate cuts last year probably helped drive some additional demand for business loans. Of course, the figures reported are for all business loans, not just SBA loans, so it's difficult to say how much of that increased demand is for SBA loans specifically. The SBA 7(a) program is off to a roaring start this year. So far in 2025, lenders have approved $11.9 billion in 7(a) loans, with an average loan size of $431k. Compare that to $31.2 billion for all of 2024 - so we're on a blistering pace so far. Here's the workbook where you can find these numbers if you're curious. New leadership coming to SBA Last week, former Senator Kelly Loeffler had her confirmation hearing in front of Congress to become the next head of the SBA. She said she plans to cut red tape for business owners, root out fraud, and prioritize getting capital to manufacturing businesses in the US. - And if you’re interested in discussing how Pioneer Capital Advisory can help you on your journey, you can schedule a time to connect with me directly using this link: Schedule a Call. Take care, Matthias 🌐 Visit us at pioneercapitaladvisory.com Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Business buyers are encouraged to consult with their legal counsel and accountant to ensure the proper structuring of their transactions and to fully understand the tax implications of seller financing. Thanks for reading! Feel free to reply directly to this email with any questions or thoughts. |
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