The cheapest capital there is, if you can wait for it.
SBA 7(a) and 504 loans from $50,000 to $5 million — the lowest rates and longest terms available to a small business. We help you prepare a file that gets approved.
A government guarantee that changes the lender's math
The Small Business Administration does not lend directly. It guarantees a portion of loans made by participating lenders, which removes enough risk that those lenders can offer rates and terms they otherwise could not.
The result is the best pricing available to small business by a wide margin — often less than a third of the cost of a short-term advance, stretched over ten to twenty-five years.
The cost is time and paperwork. Thirty to ninety days is normal. The documentation is extensive and the underwriting is genuinely strict. If your need is urgent, this is the wrong door — and we will tell you that rather than start a process that cannot finish in time.
| Amount | $50,000 – $5,000,000 |
| Term | Up to 10 years working capital, 25 years real estate |
| Payment frequency | Monthly |
| Speed to funding | 30 – 90 days |
| Collateral | Generally required; varies by size |
| Pricing model | Interest rate, often tied to Prime |
| Programs | 7(a) general purpose · 504 real estate and major equipment |
| Down payment | 10% typical on 504 |
Where this works — and where it doesn't
Every financing product is wrong for someone. Here is who this one is wrong for.
A good fit when
- You have 60 to 90 days and the need is planned rather than urgent
- You are buying real estate, a business, or making a major long-term investment
- Your books are clean and your tax returns are filed and current
- You are refinancing expensive short-term debt into something sustainable
- Two or more years in business with demonstrated profitability
Look elsewhere if
- You need funds this month — the timeline genuinely cannot be compressed
- Recent bankruptcy, unresolved tax liens, or delinquent federal debt
- Your financial records are incomplete or tax returns are unfiled
- You are unwilling to pledge collateral or sign a personal guarantee
- The amount is small — the process effort does not scale down well
What it takes to qualify
How this is priced
Rates tied to Prime, capped by SBA rules
7(a) loan rates are typically a spread over the Prime Rate, and the SBA caps the maximum spread a lender may charge. That cap is why SBA pricing stays competitive even for borrowers who would pay considerably more elsewhere.
SBA guaranty fees apply on most loans and vary with size and term — these are set by the SBA, not the lender, and are disclosed as part of your loan estimate. The 504 program uses a different structure: a bank portion, a CDC debenture at a fixed long-term rate, and typically 10% down from you.
What we do: Longevity Capital is not an SBA lender. We help you assemble and present the file, tell you honestly whether you are likely to qualify before you invest weeks in it, and connect you with participating lenders whose criteria match your profile. Where we refer you to a lending partner, we may receive compensation — that is disclosed to you in writing.
SBA Loan Assistance FAQ
Thirty to ninety days from complete application to funding, and the variance depends mostly on how organized your documentation is. Businesses with current tax returns, clean books and a clear use of funds land at the fast end. Anyone promising an SBA loan in a week is describing something else.
7(a) is the general-purpose program — working capital, refinancing, business acquisition, equipment, up to $5 million. 504 is specifically for major fixed assets like owner-occupied real estate and heavy equipment, structured across a bank loan, a CDC debenture and roughly 10% down from you.
Below roughly 650 it becomes difficult, and unresolved tax liens or delinquent federal debt are generally disqualifying until cleared. If that is where you are, we will say so directly and point you at a product that can actually fund — usually a term loan — plus what to fix to qualify later.
Sometimes, and it should be a deliberate decision rather than a default. A short-term advance bridging to an SBA approval can make sense when the SBA proceeds will retire it. It is a poor idea if the approval is uncertain — you would be left with the expensive product and no exit. Talk it through before committing.
We do not charge you a packaging fee. Where we refer you to a participating lender, we may receive compensation from that lender, which is disclosed in writing. You should also expect standard SBA guaranty fees and closing costs, which are set by the SBA and the lender, not by us.
Compare other options
One application puts all six in front of you.
Find out if an SBA loan is realistic for you
A 15-minute call will tell you whether to start the process — or take something faster instead.