The Small Business Administration (SBA) partners with banks to provide financing to small businesses. Examining these funding programs can help small businesses achieve the financial stability they need to succeed. As with every other financing option, SBA loans are also come with risk. Before Applying for an SBA loan, it is essential to consider the qualifying process and pros and cons associated with these loans.
SBA loans are intended to be the last resort for small businesses who cannot get funding from another source. For instance, if a small business owner applies for a traditional loan, but doesn’t have sufficient collateral or a high credit score, they will be a perfect candidate for an SBA loan.
How to Qualify For an SBA Loan?
The eligibility criteria for SBA loans is just like any other standard loans. Lenders will want to see an excellent credit rating and financial records, a down payment, and preferably some type of collateral. You also have to be a registered qualifying small business operating business in the US. The requirements will rely on the lending firm and the type of loan that you’re applying for. However, there are some vast requirements that dictate eligibility.
Documents That You Will Need to Submit
- Comprehensive business plan
- Financial projections
- Owner’s background information
- Document describing loan usage
- Business licenses
- US citizenship proof
- Tax returns
- Collateral appraisal documents
- Insurance or legal documents
SBA LOAN BENEFITS
Fast Capital Access
The most noticeable reason small businesses apply for loans is due to the fact that they need additional financing. In case your small business has had problems in accessing the capital you need for your business, an SBA loan may be a feasible option for you.
Reasonable Terms
Although every small business will not qualify for an SBA loan, those who do are regularly surprised by way of how reasonable the terms are. SBA loans have limited interest rates, lower down payments, negotiable term lengths, and available restructuring possibilities.
Secure Cash Flows
Most small businesses have irregular cash flows at some stage throughout the year. In case your business is looking to improve cash flow, assign capital to invest in new equipment, or help guarantee consistent payments for your workers, an SBA loan can be the option you are looking for.
SBA LOAN DISADVANTAGES
Difficult To Apply
The application process for SBA loan requires an intensive amount of paperwork. In addition, it takes a particularly long time for the SBA to process the loan, or possibly your loan request could be rejected. If you’re still interested, you can check out the loan submission checklist mentioned on the SBA’s website.
High Interest Rates
Even though the SBA has a limit on how high their loan interest rates can be, they can be overpriced while compared to other financing options. As of late last year, this limit is 25% per year. But, when compared to the interest rates, you may at ease via a traditional lender, the SBA’s interest rates are somewhat high.
Personal Risk
For a business to get an SBA loan, the small business owners with more than 20% possession will get some personal risk. Consequently, if your small business is unable to make timely loan payments, you may turn out to be losing the personal assets you provided as collateral. Because of this, you should only apply for an SBA loan in case you believe you will be able to return your loan responsibly.
Conclusion
It would be unreasonable to say that Small Business Administration loans are always good or bad for small businesses. Instead, it is way important to know that every business is one of a kind, and it is important to consider the pros and cons before applying.
