Personal Finance

SBA Loan Application Guide: Timeline, Tips, and What to Expect

The majority of small business owners consider various funding and credit options occasionally. Small Business Administration loans, commonly known as SBA loans, may already be familiar to you if you operate a small business or have given them some thought. 

SBA loans are a great option for some businesses for a variety of factors. We have compiled the advantages, disadvantages, application details, and other considerations you could have while deciding whether an SBA loan is the best option for you in order to assist you in making that decision. 

What is an SBA Loan?

Lenders and SBA agencies work together to create the lending programs for small businesses. These programs are used by borrowers to find lenders for their small companies. Because the SBA guarantees a percentage of the loan amount, it reduces the lender’s risk, which is why lenders value SBA lending programs. Lenders are able to provide more flexible payment periods and cheaper interest rates than the majority of small companies would be able to achieve without that assurance. 

Although SBA loans and SBA Express loans are a good choice for many SMBs, there are a few downsides you should be aware of before applying. Before you make a choice, consider the following. 

The Process of SBA Loans

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the loan application procedure before submitting an SBA loan application so you know what to anticipate going ahead. 

Priorities first: The money isn’t actually lent to you by the SBA. They act as a guarantee for a bank or other lender providing company financing. This provides more certainty and motivates banks to finance companies that they would not have otherwise approved for a loan. 

You must initiate communication with an SBA-approved lender, either directly or through a broker, in order to start the loan application process. The ideal lender will be able to guide you through a variety of loan options and suggest the financial instrument that is most appropriate for your particular circumstance. For the purpose of determining your eligibility, you’ll need to provide a ton of supporting documentation and financial data, including your credit score, personal and business financial statements, several years’ worth of tax returns, resumes, business plans, permission for credit and background checks, your completed loan application paperwork, and more. 

The lender will evaluate your qualifications over the coming weeks based on five factors: your ability to repay the loan, your business experience, the equity you’ve invested in your company, the amount of debt you have and your likelihood of repaying it, and whether you need to put up collateral to secure financing. 

If the lender accepts your application, great. Lender approval triggers the start of the loan closing procedure. A pledge to pay, security papers, insurance forms, many SBA documents, and more should all be expected to be signed once again. It can take three weeks to complete this procedure. 

The final word? Traditional SBA loan applications can involve a protracted, multi-step procedure that takes months to complete. Each phase of the decision-making process requires time and involves a number of parties. You are generally better off seeking for finance elsewhere unless you can afford to wait many months to do so for your small business.

For more expert guidance, contact Lend Thrive at LendThrive.com.