Explore a financing introduction for your business.
Every good deal needs a bae. Pick what the money is for, and we introduce you to a lender that does this kind of financing.
Step 1 of 2
Your request card: Your profile card
0 of 4 filled
- Business type Not chosen yet
- State Not chosen yet
- Your role Not chosen yet
- Looking for
- A lender that does this kind of financing
We never ask for Social Security, bank or tax information, and we do not check your credit.
Next: name, email and company. Nothing is shared until you tick the sharing box.
- Run by An EXITstrategies service.
- How we are paid We may be paid by a lender if an introduction leads to a loan. We do not charge you a fee for the introduction.
- Who sees your details We introduce you to one lender at a time and tell you its name before we send anything.
The bae:
a lender
- Does
- this kind of financing
- Looks at
- the profile card you send
- Decides
- on its own terms
What lenders usually look at
Most of what follows is the SBA's public rulebook for its 7(a) program, one option lenders may offer. We are not the SBA and not a lender.
Typical, set by each lender
General education, not advice and not a decision about your request. Lenders ask you for documents directly, after an introduction. We never collect them on this page.
The basics, for any purpose
Not only SBA 7(a). Lenders may also offer their own conventional term loans, lines of credit or equipment financing. Each lender sets its own requirements.
From the SBA 7(a) rulebook
Up to $5,000,000
A standard 7(a) loan goes up to $5,000,000. It can fund working capital, equipment, refinancing business debt and changes of ownership. [2]
Who 7(a) is for
Operating, for-profit businesses in the US that meet the SBA's size standards and cannot get credit on reasonable terms elsewhere. [2]
The guarantee protects the lender
The SBA guarantees up to 85% of loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75% of larger loans. It protects the lender, not the borrower. [1]
Paperwork lenders usually ask for
Forms 1919 (borrower information) and 413 (personal financial statement), and IRS Form 4506-C, which lets the lender request tax transcripts. [1]
A personal guarantee
Anyone who will own 20% or more of the business must guarantee the loan personally. [1]
From the SBA 7(a) rulebook
An equity injection of at least 10%
For an initial acquisition with a 7(a) loan, the buyer brings an equity injection of at least 10% of total project cost. It cannot be reduced or waived. [1]
Debt service coverage (DSCR) of at least 1.25
On initial acquisitions with a 7(a) loan, lenders look for debt service coverage of at least 1.25. [1]
A quality of earnings report at $3,000,000 and up
When the price of the business is $3,000,000 or more, the lender asks for a quality of earnings report. [1]
The seller's numbers get checked
Lenders verify the seller's financials against IRS tax transcripts and get a business valuation from a qualified source. [1]
Not only SBA 7(a). Lenders may also offer their own conventional term loans, lines of credit or equipment financing. Each lender sets its own requirements.
Not only SBA 7(a). Lenders may also offer their own conventional term loans, lines of credit or equipment financing. Each lender sets its own requirements.
From the SBA 7(a) rulebook
What 7(a) can fund
SBA 7(a) can fund working capital, equipment and partial changes of ownership, up to $5,000,000 for a standard loan. [2]
Who 7(a) is for
Operating, for-profit businesses in the US that meet the SBA's size standards and cannot get credit on reasonable terms elsewhere. [2]
Paperwork lenders usually ask for
Forms 1919 (borrower information) and 413 (personal financial statement), and IRS Form 4506-C, which lets the lender request tax transcripts. [1]
A personal guarantee
Anyone who will own 20% or more of the business must guarantee the loan personally. [1]
The guarantee protects the lender
The SBA guarantees up to 85% of loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75% of larger loans. It protects the lender, not the borrower. [1]
Not only SBA 7(a). Lenders may also offer their own conventional term loans, lines of credit or equipment financing. Each lender sets its own requirements.
From the SBA 7(a) rulebook
What 7(a) can fund
SBA 7(a) can fund working capital, up to $5,000,000 for a standard loan. [2]
Who 7(a) is for
Operating, for-profit businesses in the US that meet the SBA's size standards and cannot get credit on reasonable terms elsewhere. [2]
Paperwork lenders usually ask for
Forms 1919 (borrower information) and 413 (personal financial statement), and IRS Form 4506-C, which lets the lender request tax transcripts. [1]
A personal guarantee
Anyone who will own 20% or more of the business must guarantee the loan personally. [1]
The guarantee protects the lender
The SBA guarantees up to 85% of loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75% of larger loans. It protects the lender, not the borrower. [1]
Not only SBA 7(a). Lenders may also offer their own conventional term loans, lines of credit or equipment financing. Each lender sets its own requirements.
From the SBA 7(a) rulebook
What 7(a) can fund
SBA 7(a) can refinance business debt, up to $5,000,000 for a standard loan. Each lender decides whether a particular debt fits. [2]
Who 7(a) is for
Operating, for-profit businesses in the US that meet the SBA's size standards and cannot get credit on reasonable terms elsewhere. [2]
Paperwork lenders usually ask for
Forms 1919 (borrower information) and 413 (personal financial statement), and IRS Form 4506-C, which lets the lender request tax transcripts. [1]
A personal guarantee
Anyone who will own 20% or more of the business must guarantee the loan personally. [1]
The guarantee protects the lender
The SBA guarantees up to 85% of loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75% of larger loans. It protects the lender, not the borrower. [1]
Sources, checked October 23, 2026
- SBA SOP 50 10 8.1 (opens in a new tab), effective October 1, 2026. Appendix 15 covers acquisitions; Appendix 16 covers the guarantee.
- SBA 7(a) loans page (opens in a new tab), updated March 26, 2026.
- Clearly Acquired, first-time buyer checklist (opens in a new tab).
How a proper introduction works
No swiping, no group chats.
-
Profile done
You fill in the profile card
Purpose, business type, state and role, then your contact details. No documents, no credit check.
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Checked
A person checks it is complete
Someone on our team checks that your request is complete, then picks a lender that does this kind of financing. We do not judge eligibility. Lenders make every credit decision.
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Introduced
We make the introduction
We introduce you to one lender at a time and tell you its name before we send anything.
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Lender decides
You talk with the lender
The lender reviews your request on its own terms. Lenders make their own decisions.
Plain talk, before you share a thing
No bae jokes in this part. It is plain and exact.
Is this the SBA?
No. sbabae is a private company that introduces businesses to independent lenders. We are not the U.S. Small Business Administration, we are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency, and we are not a lender.
sbabae is an EXITstrategies service.
How do you get paid?
We may be paid by a lender if an introduction leads to a loan. We do not charge you a fee for the introduction.
On an SBA loan, a referral agent can be paid by the borrower or by the lender, never both, and any fee is disclosed on SBA Form 159. Source: SBA SOP 50 10 8.1 (opens in a new tab).
Who sees my details?
We introduce you to one lender at a time and tell you its name before we send anything.
Nothing leaves this page until you finish step two and tick the sharing box.
Will lenders keep calling me?
We introduce you to one lender at a time and tell you its name before we send anything.
Who reads my request?
A person on our team. They check that your request is complete and pick a lender that does this kind of financing. They do not judge eligibility, and lenders make every credit decision.
What will you never ask for?
- Your Social Security number
- Bank account numbers or bank logins
- Tax returns or tax information
- Permission to check your credit
Do I need you at all?
Maybe not, and that is fine. The SBA does not require you to use a referral service. You can also find participating SBA lenders for free at SBA Lender Match (opens in a new tab).
Can I talk to a person?
Yes, any hour. Call (302) 546-5440.
Step 2 of 2
How should we reach you?
Add your details to the profile card above, and a person takes it from there.
- Run by An EXITstrategies service.
- How we are paid We may be paid by a lender if an introduction leads to a loan. We do not charge you a fee for the introduction.
- Who sees your details We introduce you to one lender at a time and tell you its name before we send anything.
Your profile card
Nothing chosen yet.
- Purpose
- Not chosen yet
- Business type
- Not chosen yet
- State
- Not chosen yet
- Your role
- Not chosen yet
Profile complete. Bae search: pending.
A person checks your request is complete, then introduces it to a lender that does this kind of financing. We do not judge eligibility. Lenders make every credit decision.
We reply to your email within one business day. Prefer to talk, any hour? Call (302) 546-5440.
100% US-based. A real person, any hour.
We use AI behind the scenes for internal work and matching your request to lenders, but people run every client relationship. Our principals take shifts so one of us is always reachable, day or night, and anything you send is routed right away.
Talk to a person: (302) 546-5440
Guides by state
SBA district offices, state resources and lender questions for buyers and owners. See all state financing guides.