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SBA
SBA loan programs, applications, and small business resources
Why the SBA's Easiest Loan Program Just Got a $750,000 Capital Requirement
The SBA's 2025–2026 Community Advantage overhaul caps CA loans at $350,000, requires lenders to hold $750,000 in unencumbered capital as of May 15, 2026, and freezes new CA SBLC licenses — here's what the shrinking lender pool means for startups and underserved borrowers seeking SBA-backed financing.
U.S. Commercial Service Fees Just Tripled for Small Exporters: What the July 22, 2026 Schedule Changes and How to Respond
Effective July 22, 2026, the U.S. Commercial Service eliminated small-business discount tiers, raising the Gold Key Service from $950 to $3,250 for small exporters (+242%) while fee increases across the schedule range from 67% to 520%. Here's what changed, why, and how SBA STEP grants can offset the new costs.
GAO's AI Report on the SBA: What Federal Contractors and SBIR Applicants Should Do Now
GAO report GAO-26-107828 found the SBA froze nearly all AI work in March 2025 and took six years to publish its legally required AI use-case inventory. Here's what AI-assisted market research, proposal screening, and fraud detection mean for federal contractors and SBIR/STTR awardees — and the records to keep now.
The National Flood Insurance Program Expires September 30, 2026: A Small Business Guide
The NFIP's authority to issue and renew flood insurance expires September 30, 2026 unless Congress reauthorizes it. During a lapse, existing policies stay in force and claims are still paid, but no new or renewal policies can be written — a risk for small businesses closing on property, refinancing, or renewing coverage in flood zones. Here's what happens in a lapse and how to prepare.
The 7(a) Program Risk Oversight Act: What SBA Lender Transparency Means for Borrowers
The 7(a) Program Risk Oversight Act would require the SBA to publish loan performance data by loan size, seasoning, borrower age, and lender type — and post it publicly within seven days of reporting to Congress. Here's what lender-level risk data means for the 70,000+ businesses borrowing $31 billion a year through the program, and how to keep your records audit-ready.
The SBA's 2026 SBIC Reforms: A Small-Business Guide to Raising Private Capital
The SBA's SBIC program channeled $53 billion into small businesses last year, and a final rule effective February 2, 2026 cuts red tape for funds backing manufacturing, food production, energy, and critical technology. Here's how the reforms work, how debenture and equity SBICs differ, and how to find a fund.
DOJ's PPP Fraud Dragnet: Why AI Data Mining Is Reviving False Claims Act Cases in 2026
DOJ's Civil Division is using AI data-mining relators to flag 2020 PPP loans for False Claims Act violations under the SBA affiliation rule, with the six-year statute of limitations starting to expire in April and May 2026 and real fraud exposure running a full ten years.
GAO Report: SBA Still Hasn't Fixed 14 of Its 17 Flagged Problems — What It Means If You're Relying on an SBA Loan or Portal
GAO's June 2026 follow-up (GAO-26-108956) finds SBA has implemented only 3 of 17 priority recommendations, leaving 14 open — including fraud-control gaps that produced ~2 million unusable COVID-EIDL fraud referrals and a Unified Certification Platform lacking basic risk and cybersecurity plans. Here's what that means for loan and certification applicants, and why airtight records are your best defense.
The SBA Just Sunset the SBSS Score — How 7(a) Small Loan Underwriting Works Now
As of March 1, 2026, the SBA eliminated the mandatory FICO SBSS score prescreen for 7(a) Small Loans of $350,000 or less, replacing the single national cutoff (most recently 165) with lender-specific credit models and a new 1.1x minimum debt service coverage ratio — here's what changed, why approval criteria now vary by bank, and how to prepare your financials before applying.
Business Line of Credit vs. Term Loan: How to Match the Financing to the Need
A term loan charges interest on the full lump sum from day one; a line of credit only charges for what you draw. This guide compares 2026 rates (bank term loans 6.8%–11%, SBA 7(a) 9.75%–13.25%, bank lines 8%–14%), qualification bars, and a three-question framework for choosing the right product.
The SBA's $50 Million Manufacturing Grant Isn't for You to Apply To — Here's How Small Manufacturers Actually Benefit
The SBA's $50 million Manufacturing in America E2G grant funds ~10 intermediary organizations — not manufacturers directly. Here's how small manufacturers access the free training, technical assistance, and government-contracting help it pays for, plus how it pairs with the Made in America 7(a) loan enhancement.
The SBA's 90% Grocery Guarantee: A Financing Guide for Small Grocers and Food Businesses
The SBA's 90% Grocery Guarantee, launched May 2026, raises the federal guarantee on food-supply-chain loans from 75% to 90% — up to $5 million over 25 years — and approved $30 million in its first month. Here's who qualifies, how it differs from a standard 7(a) loan, and what lenders need to see in your books before you apply.