SBA 7(a) Loan Program Highlights For Gas Stations And Convenience Stores
Designed for financing owner-occupied small businesses. All loans will be made with a percentage of the loan guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Over the years, SBA, or Small Business Administration, has been the main source of financing for many new dealers and operators. Although the guidelines do change over the years, many people do use the SBA. It is important to note, people do not go to the actual SBA to obtain financing. They actually go to a bank or a non-bank lender to obtain financing and the government, or the SBA, guarantees the loan. The main advantages of an SBA loan is a higher advance or Loan-To-Value (LTV) and the loans are fully amortized for longer periods of time than conventional loans.
Types Of Financing:
 | Acquisition |
| Construction |
| Expansion |
| Refinance |
| Start-Up |
Loan Amounts:
$200,000 – $5,000,000
Terms:
10, 25 Years (Depending on if business only or real estate transaction)
Interest Rate:
Prime + .5% – 2.75% (Varies by credit risk)
Loan To Value:
50 – 90%
Prepayment Penalties:
1st Year 5%, 2nd Year 3%, 3rd Year 1%
Fees:
 | None To Minimal Lender Fees |
| Due Diligence Deposit |
| Customary Closing Costs |
| Construction Fee, if applicable, to offset monitoring costs |
| SBA Charges A Fee Of Approximately 3.5% (depending on loan amount and percentage of guarantee, usually 80%) |
Eligibility:
 | Owner Occupied Small Business |
| US Citizen Or Permanent Resident Alien Status |
| Good Credit / Character |
| Management Experience In Industry Or Related Industry |
| Reasonable Financial Statement Or Credible Projections |
| Business Must Meet SBA Size Standards |
Collateral:
First land on land, building, equipment and inventory. Additional outside collateral may be necessary if lease-hold improvements are substantial.
Underwriting Timeline:
Loan decision usually within three weeks of receipt of all requested documentation.
The SBA remains the predominant means of financing dealers and operators in the country. The reasons are clear. Because SBA provides longer amortization periods and usually transactions can be approved with smaller debt service coverage, each finance dollar provides approximately 20-25% more in loan amount, making it easier for borrowers to qualify than for conventional financing. It is a misconception that SBA financing takes longer than conventional financing or that you have to be turned down for a conventional loan to be considered for SBA financing. Generally the speed of the approval is in direct proportion to the organization of the loan package that has been submitted. Recently, the SBA has placed more emphasis on the prior experience of the borrower. If you do not have experience in operating gas stations, convenience stores or truck stops, it will be necessary to either bring in a partner with direct management experience, retain the seller (if a purchase) in a management capacity for a period of time / or perhaps attending training courses provided by oil companies. Also important to note is that the borrower’s equity infusion needs to be documented. If you are borrowing money from a third party or are using a home equity loan as part of your equity infusion, the SBA would also consider this as a loan and the transaction would be underwritten to service two separate debts.
You can conveniently apply for a gas station loan with our online application.
You can also download our pdf application here.
