Tools / SBA 7(a) loan calculator
SBA 7(a) loan calculator
Monthly payment, total interest, and the SBA guaranty fee for a 7(a) acquisition loan, priced off current Prime (6.75% as of August 13, 2026). Free to use.
Loan inputs
Typical acquisition pricing runs Prime + 1.75% to + 2.50%.
$500,000 at 9.00% over 10 years
What the loan costs
The upfront guaranty fee
Amortization schedule
Remaining balance at the end of each year.
| Year | Payment | Interest | Principal | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $76,005 | $43,689 | $32,317 | $467,683 |
| 2 | $76,005 | $40,657 | $35,349 | $432,335 |
| 3 | $76,005 | $37,341 | $38,664 | $393,670 |
| 4 | $76,005 | $33,714 | $42,291 | $351,379 |
| 5 | $76,005 | $29,747 | $46,259 | $305,120 |
| 6 | $76,005 | $25,407 | $50,598 | $254,522 |
| 7 | $76,005 | $20,661 | $55,344 | $199,177 |
| 8 | $76,005 | $15,469 | $60,536 | $138,641 |
| 9 | $76,005 | $9,791 | $66,215 | $72,426 |
| 10 | $76,005 | $3,579 | $72,426 | $0 |
Prime 6.75% and the FY26 fee schedule as of August 13, 2026, from our rate file (updated monthly from FRED). Estimates only, not a loan offer; your lender sets the final rate, term, and fees.
How 7(a) rates work
Most 7(a) acquisition loans are priced as a margin over the Wall Street Journal Prime rate, which is 6.75% as of August 13, 2026 (our rate file updates monthly from FRED). Typical acquisition pricing runs Prime + 1.75% to Prime + 2.50%. For variable-rate loans over $350,000, the posted cap works out to 9.75% at current Prime.
What lenders actually charge: across 7(a) change-of-ownership loans approved FY2025 to FY2026 Q3, the median initial rate was 9.25% (federal loan file, as of June 30, 2026). Bigger deals tend to price lower; see the full rate-by-deal-size table on our rates page.
Typical terms: acquisitions vs real estate
A business-only acquisition normally amortizes over 10 years: the median 7(a) acquisition loan in the federal file runs 120 months. When commercial real estate is the largest use of proceeds, the term can extend up to 25 years, which lowers the payment and helps coverage. Shorter terms like 7 years show up on equipment-heavy deals, and blended projects often land in between.
The guaranty fee, FY26
SBA charges an upfront guaranty fee on the guaranteed portion of the loan, not on the full amount. SBA guarantees 85% of a loan at or under $150,000 gross and 75% above that. The rate itself is set by the gross loan amount. Under the FY26 schedule in our data files (as of August 13, 2026), for maturities over 12 months:
- Gross at or under $150,000: 2% of the guaranteed portion.
- $150,001 to $700,000: 3%.
- $700,001 to $5,000,000: 3.50% of the guaranteed portion up to $1,000,000 guaranteed, plus 3.75% on the guaranteed portion above that.
- Maturity of 12 months or less: 0.25%. No term on this page is that short.
There is no general small-loan waiver. The only 0% upfront fee is for manufacturers in NAICS 31-33 at or under $950,000 gross, excluding MARC loans; the calculator does not ask for a NAICS code, so the figure it shows is what a non-manufacturer pays. The separate 0.55% annual service fee is a lender cost that may not be passed on to you, so it never appears in these numbers. The upfront fee can be financed into the loan; the checkbox in the calculator models exactly that.
Fixed or variable?
Variable pricing dominates: 88.7% of recent acquisition loans carried variable rates (federal loan file, as of June 30, 2026). A variable loan re-amortizes as Prime moves, so treat the payment here as a snapshot at today's Prime, not a promise for year seven.
Frequently asked questions
What interest rate should I plug in?
Without a quote in hand, start at Prime plus 1.75% to 2.50%. The median initial rate on recent 7(a) change-of-ownership loans was 9.25% (federal loan file, as of June 30, 2026), and larger loans tend to price below that.
Is the monthly payment fixed for the whole term?
Usually not. 88.7% of recent acquisition loans were variable rate, so the payment moves when Prime moves. This calculator holds the rate constant over the term, which is the standard way to compare scenarios.
How is the guaranty fee figured?
In two steps. First the guaranteed portion: 75% of the gross loan above $150,000, and 85% at or under it. Then the tier rate, chosen by the gross loan amount: 2% at or under $150,000, 3% through $700,000, then 3.50% up to $1,000,000 guaranteed and 3.75% above that. The calculator shows both steps beside the payment. There is no general small-loan waiver: the only 0% is for manufacturers in NAICS 31-33 at or under $950,000 gross, which we do not apply because we do not ask for your NAICS code.
Can I roll the guaranty fee into the loan?
Yes, the upfront fee is commonly financed as part of the loan rather than paid in cash at closing. Check the box in the calculator to add it to the amortized balance and see the payment impact.
What term does a typical acquisition get?
The median 7(a) acquisition loan runs 120 months (federal loan file, as of June 30, 2026). Real-estate-heavy projects can stretch to 25 years; equipment-heavy deals sometimes come in shorter.