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4 Best Government Small-Business Loans of October 2021

Government-backed business loans offer favorable terms but have tough qualifications.

Ryan LaneApril 16, 2021

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Government small-business loans are available through banks and other approved lenders, not the government itself. Rather, the U.S. Small Business Administration backs these third-party loans, incentivizing lenders to offer you competitive interest rates and flexible terms.

Because of those benefits, federal business loans have strict qualifications. But if you can qualify, they’re a great option to fund or grow a company. Here are the best government small-business loans and information on alternatives if you aren’t eligible for funding.

How Much Do You Need?

Our pick for

Government small-business loans

SBA 7(a) loans are the most common government small-business loan, offering up to $5 million for equipment, working capital, refinancing debt or other business purposes.

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SBA 7(a) loan

See Your Loan Options

Est. APR

5.50 - 8.00%

Min. Credit Score

650

7(a) program participants include specialized lenders like Live Oak Bank and big-name traditional banks like Wells Fargo.

Pros

Available as a term loan or line of credit.
Interest rates are capped.
Long repayment terms available.

Cons

Personal guarantee is required.
Collateral is typically required.
Longer processing times than online lenders.

Read full review

Qualifications:

Be a for-profit U.S. business.
Must first use alternative financial resources, including personal assets.
Financial qualifications determined by individual lender.

Our pick for

Fast government loans

Applying for most government business loans is a lengthy process. But if you need fast funding, SBA Express loans currently provide up to $1 million with SBA responses within 36 hours.

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SBA Express loan

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Est. APR

7.75 - 9.75%

Min. Credit Score

650

On Oct. 1, 2021, the maximum SBA Express loan amount will permanently drop to $500,000.

Pros

Available as a term loan or line of credit.
Interest rates are capped.
Faster processing time compared to other government loans.

Cons

Personal guarantee is required.
Lower borrowing maximum than other government loans.
Shorter repayment term for line of credit than 7(a) loans.

Read full review

Qualifications:

Be a for-profit U.S. business.
Must first use alternative financial resources, including personal assets.
Financial qualifications determined by individual lender.

Our pick for

Government loans to start a business

Most lenders will require at least two years in business to get a government-backed loan. However, microloans of up to $50,000 may be available to newer businesses.

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SBA Microloan

See Your Loan Options

Est. APR

8.00 - 13.00%

Min. Credit Score

620

The average microloan is roughly $13,000 according to the Small Business Administration.

Pros

Less strict eligibility requirements than other government loans.
Available from nonprofit lenders.

Cons

Personal guarantee is required.
Collateral is typically required.
Small borrowing maximum.

Read full review

Qualifications:

Be a U.S. business.
Financial qualifications determined by individual lender.

Our pick for

Government small-business loans for bad credit

Microloans are offered through nonprofit, community-based organizations, which may be more willing to work with you if you have low or poor credit.

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SBA Microloan

See Your Loan Options

Est. APR

8.00 - 13.00%

Min. Credit Score

620

The average microloan is roughly $13,000 according to the Small Business Administration.

Pros

Less strict eligibility requirements than other government loans.
Available from nonprofit lenders.

Cons

Personal guarantee is required.
Collateral is typically required.
Small borrowing maximum.

Read full review

Qualifications:

Be a U.S. business.
Financial qualifications determined by individual lender.

Our pick for

Government loans to finance real estate

SBA CDC/504 loans offer low-cost, long-term financing that you can use to purchase, renovate or construct buildings and facilities.

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SBA CDC/504 loans

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Est. APR

2.60 - 3.20%

Min. Credit Score

680

You cannot put an SBA CDC/504 loan toward working capital, existing debt or a rental real estate investment.

Pros

Low down payment required.
Repayment terms of up to 20 years.
Competitive interest rates.

Cons

Personal guarantee is required.
Collateral is required.
Longer processing times than online lenders.

Read full review

Qualifications:

Be a for-profit U.S. business.
Net worth of less than $15 million.
Average net income of less than $5 million for the two years prior to your application.
Financial qualifications determined by individual lender.

How Much Do You Need?

Summary of 4 Best Government Small-Business Loans of October 2021

Lender	Best For	Est. APR	Min. Credit Score	Next Steps
SBA 7(a) loan See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet	Best for Government small-business loans	5.50 - 8.00%	650	See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet
SBA Express loan See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet	Best for Fast government loans	7.75 - 9.75%	650	See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet
SBA Microloan See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet	Best for Government loans to start a business	8.00 - 13.00%	620	See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet
SBA Microloan See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet	Best for Government small-business loans for bad credit	8.00 - 13.00%	620	See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet
SBA CDC/504 loans See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet	Best for Government loans to finance real estate	2.60 - 3.20%	680	See Your Loan Options with Fundera by Nerdwallet

Small-business loan government programs

The federal government encourages business lending by providing funds and partially guaranteeing defaulted SBA loans. Government small-business loan programs include:

Paycheck Protection Program loans. PPP loans are a form of assistance for small businesses affected by the pandemic. These forgivable loans offer funding of up to $10 million, and you can apply with a participating lender until May 31, 2021.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans. These loans are an additional form of COVID-19 relief for small businesses. Unlike other government small-business loans, you apply directly with the SBA for one. The maximum funding amount is $500,000.
SBA 7(a) loans. The 7(a) program is the primary type of SBA loan, with nearly $22.6 billion in loans issued in fiscal year 2020, according to the Congressional Research Service. You can receive up to $5 million in funding for day-to-day expenses like payroll, as well as longer-term business costs like equipment financing. Funds are available as term loans or an SBA line of credit.
SBA Express loans. A variation of the 7(a) program, Express loans come with a smaller funding maximum (currently $1 million) but offer quicker processing. If you need a fast business loan, you may be able to get approved for an SBA Express loan within a few days, whereas a 7(a) loan application may take weeks or months to process.
SBA CDC/504 loans. These long-term business loans also offer funding of up to $5 million; however, CDC/504 loans have strict usage rules compared with other government small-business loans. Their primary use is financing construction or real estate projects. Unlike 7(a) loans, you can’t use an SBA CDC/504 loan for working capital or refinancing debt.
SBA Microloans. The SBA offers microloans of up to $50,000 through nonprofit community organizations. Microlenders often focus on assisting traditionally underserved populations, including minority business owners and women business owners, and may have looser eligibility requirements than other government-backed business loans.

The federal government also provides small-business grants and other nonlending initiatives that promote business growth. For example, its SBA 8(a) program certifies disadvantaged business owners so they can bid on set-aside government contracts.

Alternatives to government small-business loans

Government small-business loans are a strong choice for eligible borrowers. But a different type of business loan may be a better fit depending on your business’s qualifications and needs:

If you’re a highly qualified borrower. If you have excellent credit, many years in business and strong revenue, you may want to look at bank small-business loans before government options. Banks typically offer the lowest rates on business loans, whereas SBA loan rates have set ranges based on rules established by the federal government.
If you’re in a rush. Getting a government small-business loan requires approvals from a lender and the SBA, which can be time-consuming. Consider an online lender if you can’t afford to wait. Some offer funding as quickly as the same day or the next day. However, that convenience will likely mean a higher interest rate.
If you’re just getting started. Businesses that haven’t been around for at least two years and lack strong financials won’t be able to get most government loans, though lenders set their own qualifications. Until your company is more mature, you’ll need to turn to startup business loan options such as credit cards or personal loans.

Compare small-business loans

NerdWallet has a list of the best small-business loans and recommends comparing small-business loan options to find the best deal for your company. All of our recommendations are based on the lender’s market scope and track record and on the needs of business owners, as well as rates and other factors, so you can make the right financing decision.

Last updated on April 16, 2021

To recap our selections...