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SBA Franchise Loans

Franchise Lending for Your Next Location

As a nationwide franchise lender, we provide SBA 7(a), SBA 504, and USDA Business and Industry Loans to fit the unique financing needs of your franchised business. We work with both franchisors and franchisees so that we can cover all aspects of the lending process.

From initial approval to opening the doors on day one, we know what it takes to be a successful franchise. We’ll help you navigate the steps to get there, and we’ll make the loan process as simple as possible.

We offer loans of $250,000 and above, equipment loan terms up to 10 years, and real estate loan terms up to 25 years. in addition, our status as a preferred SBA lender means we don’t have to go to the SBA for additional approval, which saves you time and gets your loan open faster.


Contact the Franchise Lending team

Sean Duffy

SVP - SBA Business Development Officer II

Christopher Huey

SBA Business Development Officer I

Jeremy Hart

SBA Business Development Associate

Jocelyn Heckler

VP – Business Development Officer II

Connect with a SBA lending specialist to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions for SBA Lending

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is a federal agency that assists in financing new business and helps existing businesses grow and flourish.  An SBA loan is a small business loan provided by a financial institution and guaranteed by the SBA.  The SBA guarantee gives the financial institution more incentive to loan money to small businesses that might not normally qualify for a traditional commercial loan.
 
PLP (Preferred Lender Program) status is the most desirable accreditation a lender can receive.  United Community is a SBA Preferred Lender which means we can offer the full range of SBA loan products, and have the authority to make final credit decisions on behalf of the SBA.  In contrast, non-preferred lenders must submit a full application to the SBA for approval, which makes the process longer.
The advantages of obtaining a SBA loan from a SBA Preferred Lender include faster loan processing times and improved chances of approval.  Preferred Lenders have a proven track record of getting small business owners the funds they need in a timely manner.
Through the SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs, small businesses can obtain a loan for a variety of needs including:
  1. Ground-up construction;
  2. Purchase of real estate and/or leasehold improvements;
  3. Purchase inventory, equipment, furniture and fixtures;
  4. Refinance debt
  5. Start-up a business
  6. Acquire another business
  7. Finance a franchise
The entire SBA loan process generally takes 60 to 90 days due to the high volume of paperwork and documentation that you need to provide.
General documents required, but not limited to, for SBA loans are:
  1. 3-years Personal and Business Tax Returns in pdf format
  2. Formulated Business Plan
  3. Personal Financial Statement
  4. Driver’s License
  5. Bank Statements
  6. Business License and Entity Documentation
  7. Current Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss and Debt Schedules
An equity injection is an investment of funds borrowers contribute into their business before being granted a government guaranteed loan. It essentially functions as a down payment and is typically 10% for a SBA loan. Types of equity injection include:
  1. Cash and personal assets
  2. Investments or gifts
  3. Business assets
  4. Seller or third-party debt on full standby
  5. Combining two types of Seller debt for equity
To qualify for a SBA loan, some basic requirements are:
  • Operate for profit
  • Be a U.S. Citizen or permanent legal resident
  • Show profitable projections for start-up or expansion of a business
  • Demonstrate reasonable equity to invest
For additional information, go to: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/7a-loans#id-am-i-eligible-
 
Contact one of our specialized SBA Lenders at https://www.ucbi.com/business-banking/industry-specialized/sba-lending or call 1-888-987-5884.
 

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