How big a deal can you afford?
Enter your available capital. Get maximum deal sizes across all three programs, plus a recommended range.
Accessible via HELOC or refi. SBA accepts equity in personal real estate toward injection.
SBA allows up to 5% of purchase price as a seller note on full standby, effectively reducing cash requirement by half
Based on minimum down payment requirements per program
Conservative to maximum SBA range. All-cash injection, no seller note required.
- · Monthly payments estimated at 8.00% over 10 years
- · SBA 7(a) maximum loan: $5,000,000 ($5.5M deal at 10% down)
- · FLEX typically requires 15–25% down; 20% used here
- · Capital Access equity requirement varies; 30% used here
- · DSCR not factored. Deal must clear 1.25x at time of application.
No credit pull · Written prequal on the file you submit
What counts as your capital?
- 01Cash in bank
- Checking, savings, money market. Must be sourced and seasoned for at least 60 days. SBA requires a paper trail. The primary and most reliable capital source.
- 02Home equity
- Equity in your primary residence accessible via HELOC or cash-out refi. SBA treats this as usable injection capital. Do not count equity you can't actually access.
- 03Seller note (up to 5%)
- SBA allows the seller to carry up to 5% of the purchase price as a note on full standby with no payments for the life of the SBA loan. Effectively doubles your purchasing power on the 10% injection requirement.
- 04ROBS (retirement funds)
- Rollover for Business Startups lets you use qualified retirement funds (401k, IRA) for an acquisition without triggering a taxable distribution. Counts as equity injection and requires a specialist to structure correctly.
Know your range.
Start your search.
The estimator tells you what’s possible. A written prequalification tells you what you’re approved for and gives you a credential that sellers and brokers take seriously.
Before you make an offer
How to pressure-test the price you can actually carry.
The Complete Guide to Business Valuation for Acquisitions
The complete business valuation guide for acquisitions — SDE vs EBITDA, category multiples, what drives multiples up or down, and how to build your independent valuation analysis.
The Complete SBA 7(a) Business Acquisition Loan Guide (2026)
The complete guide to SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in 2026 — how the program works, who qualifies, equity injection mechanics, lender selection, and why deals get declined.
The Complete Guide to Business Acquisition Deal Structuring
The complete guide to business acquisition deal structuring — asset vs. stock purchase, seller notes, earnouts, working capital pegs, representations, and indemnification.