August 19, 2026
If you've never applied for a business loan before, the terminology alone can feel like a wall: 7(a), 504, collateral, personal guarantee. None of it is complicated once someone walks you through it in plain language, so that's what we'll do here.
SBA 7(a), SBA 504, and SBA Express
Whether your business is for-profit and operates in the U.S.
Your personal and business credit history
Cash flow, meaning can the business actually cover the monthly payment
How much of your own money you're putting into the deal
Collateral, for loans above roughly $350,000
Get a clear picture of your credit, personal and business
Pull together two to three years of financial statements and tax returns
Know exactly what you're using the money for and how much you actually need
Decide whether you want to work directly with a bank or use a loan broker to compare lenders
How long does approval take?
On average around 10 weeks from start to funding, though working with a Preferred Lender can shorten that meaningfully.
Do I need a big down payment?
Usually not. SBA loans often only require around 10% down, compared to the 20-30% many conventional loans ask for.
Houston has real lender competition, which works in your favor if you go in prepared. When you're ready, visit our blog for more or reach out for a free prequalification snapshot.
U.S. Small Business Administration
SCORE — free SBA business mentoring
A distilled, 0–100 snapshot of how fundable you are based on credit, cash flow, equity, and documentation. Plus the top fixes to raise your score fast.
A curated shortlist of lenders that fit your profile and use of funds, with why each is a fit and exactly what they’ll want to see.
A tailored, step-by-step list of required docs and forms (formats, who provides them, and common pitfalls to avoid).
A realistic week-by-week path from pre-qual to closing, with milestones, dependencies, and an estimated target funding date.
Hands-on prep and documentation for SBA disaster programs (EIDL and others), including submissions, follow-ups, and guidance through appeals or requests for more info.
We prepare your application, match you with the
right lenders, and guide you until funding.
