Plain-English loan guides
Short reads that explain how SBA and commercial lending actually works — no jargon, no sales pitch, and no rate or payment quotes. Every guide ends with the free tools that put it into practice.
Educational only. Verify everything against current SBA rules and your lender's own policies.
SBA 7(a) vs 504 in plain English
The two big SBA loan programs, explained side by side — what each one is for, how the money is structured, and how to tell which conversation to start with a lender.
Read the guide →DraftWhat lenders look at before saying yes
The handful of questions behind every business loan decision — cash flow, credit, collateral, equity, and character — and what you can do about each one before you apply.
Read the guide →DraftDeclined by a bank — what to fix and try next
A decline is information, not a verdict. How to find out why, which problems are fixable, and which lenders and programs to consider talking to next.
Read the guide →DraftHow much down payment an SBA loan really needs
The 10% rule for startups and acquisitions, how 504 contributions climb for new businesses and special-purpose buildings, what counts as your injection, and how lenders verify it.
Read the guide →DraftBuying a business with an SBA loan
How SBA acquisition financing actually works — the 10% injection, seller notes on standby, valuations, due diligence on the seller's numbers, and the transition story lenders need to believe.
Read the guide →DraftSBA microloans for very small requests
When the need is $50,000 or less, the microloan program and community lenders are built for you — smaller checks, friendlier screens, and coaching that comes with the money.
Read the guide →DraftThe documents lenders ask for and why
The loan file, explained by purpose instead of by checklist — what each cluster of documents proves, which ones take longest, and how to gather them without drowning.
Read the guide →DraftBusiness plans lenders actually read
What loan underwriters really do with your business plan, the sections that carry weight, the length nobody needs, and how to write for a skeptical reader in plain English.
Read the guide →Draft"Free help: SBDC, SCORE, WBC, VBOC explained"
Four national networks will help you prepare a loan file, review your plan, and talk through your options at no cost. Who each one serves and how to actually use them.
Read the guide →DraftHow this site protects your privacy
Loan preparation involves sensitive information. Learn how browser-first calculations, optional verified accounts, private workspaces, and strict data limits protect program users.
Read the guide →