Small Business Administration (SBA)

SBA provides a number of financial assistance programs for
small businesses including 7(a), 504 and disaster assistance loans. Within this section there is a list of eligibility requirements, SBA loan programs, surety bonds and the role of SBA, equity capital topics, special purpose loans, SBA partner topics and 7(a) lender programs. Though the SBA does not provide grants to help start a business, included is information on organizations and sites that can assist in locating special purpose grants.

When assessing your capital needs, you should consider programs offered through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Congress established the SBA in 1953 to aid, counsel, and protect the interests of the Nation's small business community. The SBA accomplishes this in part by working with intermediaries, banks, and other lending institutions to provide loans and venture capital financing to small businesses unable to secure financing through normal lending channels. The SBA offers financing through the programs listed below.

7(a) Loan Guaranty Program:

This is the SBA's primary lending program and was designed to meet the majority of the small business lending community's financing needs. In addition to general financing, the 7(a) program also encompasses a number of specialized loan programs. The following are a few of the many specialized loan programs:

• Low Doc

  This program is designed to increase the availability of funds under $100,000 and streamline or expedite the loan review process.

• CAPLines

  An umbrella program to help small businesses meet their short-term and cyclical working–capital needs with five separate programs.

• International Trade

  If your business is preparing to engage in or is already engaged in international trade, or is adversely affected by competition from imports, the International Trade Loan Program is for you; and

• DELTA

  Defense Loan and Technical Assistance is a joint SBA and Department of Defense effort to provide financial and technical assistance to defense–dependent small firms adversely affected by cutbacks in defense.

• Microloan Program

  This program works through intermediaries to provide small loans from as little as $100 up to $25,000.

• Certified Development Company (504 Loan) Program

  This program, commonly referred to as the 504 program, makes long term loans available for purchasing land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and for building, modernizing or renovating existing facilities and sites.

• Small Business Investment Company Program

  Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), which the SBA licenses and regulates, are privately–owned and managed investment firms that provide venture capital and start–up financing to small businesses.

(http://www.sba.gov/services/financialassistance/index.html)