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Loan Stories

Deals we've closed.

Every deal is different. Here are some of the stories behind the closings — real clients, real numbers, real outcomes.

Business ExpansionHarrisonburg, VA

The SBA loan process can feel like escape rooms with no clues

Beth had spent nearly nine years running her escape room. Then she set out to build The Explorium, a full entertainment destination from the ground up. All she needed was a lender willing to see past the word "startup."

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Business AcquisitionGarland, TX

"I don't play double games." But a little competition never hurt

Strong numbers, a solid location with new apartments going up nearby, and a buyer who was serious about making this work. Subhas and Elsie didn't just want a daycare — they wanted a calling.

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Business AcquisitionRoebuck, SC

This loan didn't end up Inn the Dog House

For seventeen years, Janie had been the heart and soul behind Inn The Dog House. When the owner decided to sell, she knew it was her moment — but navigating an SBA loan as a first-time buyer was anything but simple.

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Business AcquisitionEureka, MI

Eureka! Where Vintage Americana Collides with Pure Michigan Grit

Cassie called about acquiring the Home Town General Store in Eureka, Michigan — a restored general store with vintage memorabilia, homemade pizza, and everything from lottery tickets to night crawlers. At first glance, the numbers didn't add up.

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Business AcquisitionConnecticut

Miracle (I mean Madison) Auto Body

I've been in this business long enough to know when a deal is circling the drain. And honestly, I thought this one was done for. Keith's 16-month journey to close on Madison Auto Body tested everyone's patience — but the outcome made it worth every call.

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Business AcquisitionWestmont, IL

Beauty and the... SBA Loan

From construction dreams to a ready-to-go reality. Sometimes the best deals are the ones where you skip the buildout entirely — and buy what someone else already built.

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Business AcquisitionAlto, GA

Circle back like a pig on a spit

Sometimes the best deals are the ones that don't happen the first time around. Nathan's path to Mickey Piggs BBQ came back around — and when it did, we were ready.

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Business AcquisitionUnited States

Oh the SBA changed the SOP? Cool.

When the SBA updates its standard operating procedures, deals in motion have to adapt. Kirstin's law firm acquisition required creativity, patience, and a solution nobody expected — including her.

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Business AcquisitionU.S. Virgin Islands

There's NO WAY.. I'm letting this one go.

An acquisition in the Virgin Islands with a timeline that would have scared off any reasonable person. Lauren needed someone willing to go to bat — and she found one.

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Business AcquisitionUnited States

Impossible? Prove It.

Everyone said this deal couldn't be done. The business was unusual, the structure was complicated, and multiple lenders had already passed. We found a way.

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Business AcquisitionUnited States

I'll make it happen..

Some clients come to us knowing exactly what they want. Derrick was one of them — entrepreneurial to the core, he just needed the right financing structure to make his vision real.

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Business AcquisitionPiermont, NY

Cue the Confetti

After seven years of searching, the Paximadakis family finally found the right opportunity: Confetti Ristorante & Vinoteca on the Hudson River. Nine months and every obstacle imaginable later — they made it.

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Business AcquisitionSouthern California

SoCal Tear(s)drop(ped)

A camper trailer manufacturing startup — Incognito — with a passionate founder, a niche product, and a financing structure that required building the deal from scratch.

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Business AcquisitionHouston, TX

Buy an existing daycare — We make it simple.

Buying a licensed daycare comes with licensing transfers, inspections, and working capital requirements for the transition period — the kind of complexity that scares off most lenders. We helped a Houston buyer navigate all of it.

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Business AcquisitionUnited States

Persistence Pays.

Not every deal closes the first time you find it. Tyler and Leah's wedding venue journey took nine months, a pandemic-crushed business, and a seller who kept changing her mind — but they held strong.

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Business AcquisitionNevada

Hello, My Friend.

Ramon's six-month journey from first call to closing is a story about trust, preparation, and what happens when the right borrower meets the right lender at the right time.

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Business AcquisitionMaine

Turn down... For What?

Adam and Jen purchased a piece of land in Maine in late 2019 with plans to build a new car wash. The problem: they needed to finance the entire construction project, the equipment, and working capital — all at once.

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Business AcquisitionUnited States

Get busy living, or get busy dying.

A plumbing business ownership transition — the existing owner ready to retire, the buyer ready to take over. The deal was there. Getting it financed was the challenge.

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Industry Insights

SBA knowledge, straight from the source.

Practical guidance on SBA lending (lender selection, collateral, deal structure, and more) from practitioners who've closed 1,000+ deals.

SBA BasicsJune 15, 2026

SBA 7(a) vs 504: Which Loan Is Right for Your Deal?

Both programs carry the SBA name, but they are built for different deals. Picking the wrong one costs you time, money, and sometimes the transaction itself.

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AcquisitionJune 8, 2026

What Lenders Actually Look for in an SBA Acquisition Loan

Most buyers assume credit score and down payment are the whole story. They are not. Here is what actually drives an SBA acquisition approval.

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AcquisitionJune 2, 2026

Your SBA Approval Is a 4-Legged Table

I look at every SBA deal as a four-legged table: credit, liquidity, experience, and business cash flow. Here is what holds it up, what makes it wobble, and what tips it over (with real deals).

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AcquisitionJune 2, 2026

How to Buy a Business with No Money Down

Buy a business with none of your own cash? You can't, not anymore. The real floor is 5% from you plus a seller note on full standby (we see it a lot). Here is what actually closes in 2026.

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SBA PolicyMay 19, 2026

SBA Decouples the 7(a) and 504 Loan Limits — What This Means for Combination Deals

The old $5M shared ceiling meant a $3M 7(a) acquisition left only $2M of room for a 504 real estate deal. The new rule gives each program its own bucket. Here's who this actually helps.

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TechnologySeptember 9, 2025

What is the Best CRM for SBA Lenders? Complete Guide

SBA lending has workflows that general CRMs weren't built for. Here's what to look for — and how to evaluate your options without getting lost in a features comparison.

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TechnologySeptember 10, 2025

SBA Loan Origination Software: Why Your Shop Needs This

Loan officers drowning in paperwork and borrower status calls aren't doing their jobs — they're doing administration. Here's how the right origination software changes both sides of the transaction.

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SBA StrategyOctober 3, 2025

The Role of Loan Application Support: How Coaching and Software Speed Up SBA Financing

Navigating an SBA loan application alone is possible — just slow and error-prone. Here's what loan application support actually does, and why the combination of coaching and software changes the timeline.

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SBA StrategyJuly 25, 2025

How SBA 7(a) Loan Experts Actually Make the Difference

Going solo through an SBA 7(a) application costs more than you think — in time, errors, and missed opportunities. Here's what a real expert actually does for you.

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DocumentationMarch 22, 2023

Business Plans for SBA Loans

Lenders want more than good numbers — they want a clear story about where the business is going and how you'll get there. Here's what a strong SBA business plan actually looks like.

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DocumentationSeptember 9, 2025

What Documents Do I Need for an SBA Loan? Complete Guide

The SBA documentation checklist is long, specific, and unforgiving. Missing one item can stall your deal for weeks. Here's the complete list — and the mistakes that trip people up most.

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SBA StrategySeptember 29, 2022

sbaloansHQ — What Can the HQ Do for You?

Banks have preferences, quirks, and deal-killers they won't tell you about upfront. We know them. Here's how sbaloansHQ cuts through the noise to get your deal to the right lender, fast.

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AcquisitionSeptember 29, 2022

How to Buy a Business with As Little Money as Possible

Acquiring an established business often requires less capital than you think — and it's a more defensible path than a startup. Here's how SBA financing makes it possible.

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SBA BasicsSeptember 29, 2022

SBA 7(a) Loans — The Ultimate Business Funding Tool

The SBA 7(a) loan isn't just for startups — it's the most versatile business financing tool available, covering acquisitions, real estate, equipment, and more. Here's the complete breakdown.

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Lender StrategyMay 22, 2025

SBA Lender Match: Why the Official System Isn't Enough

The official SBA Lender Match tool sounds like exactly what you need. In practice, it sends your information to dozens of lenders and hopes someone responds. There's a better way.

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AcquisitionJune 17, 2025

SBA Makes Single-Location and Carve-Out Acquisitions Actually Possible

Buying a single location from a multi-location chain used to be a financing nightmare. New SBA guidance changes that — opening up a category of deals that were nearly impossible before.

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AcquisitionMay 26, 2025

Why the SBA's New Partial Buyout Rules Actually Work

The SBA's new two-year personal guarantee requirement for partial buyouts is drawing attention. Here's why it's actually a good thing — for buyers, lenders, and the deals themselves.

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Lender StrategyAugust 5, 2025

Lender Matching Made Simple

The right lender for your SBA deal isn't always the biggest name or the fastest yes. Here's how to find the one that actually fits your industry, loan size, and timeline.

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AcquisitionAugust 26, 2025

How to Finance the Purchase of an Existing Business: The Real-World Guide

Buying a business is one thing. Financing the acquisition is another. Here's a real-world breakdown of how deals actually get structured — and what kills them.

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Real EstateMay 23, 2025

Stop Burning Money on Rent: How to Buy Your Building with Zero Down

If you're paying rent on a building your business could own, you're financing someone else's investment. Here's how to use an SBA 7(a) loan to buy your building with as little as zero down.

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SBA BasicsJune 18, 2025

Does SBA Need a Lien on My HOUSE? The Truth About Personal Collateral

Many borrowers are surprised to learn their home can become collateral for a business loan. Here's exactly when that happens, when it doesn't, and what you can do about it.

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Lender StrategyJuly 25, 2025

Who's Actually the Best SBA Lender? (Hint: It's Not Who You've Been Told)

Everyone wants to know who the best SBA lender is. The answer? It depends — and the banks topping the volume charts are often the wrong call for your specific deal.

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