How acquisitions actually get financed
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Quick Answer
In FY2025, 7,533 SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans worth $8.82 billion were made, at a median of $700,000 — 9.6% of loan count and 23.7% of dollars.1
What it is
Aggregated from SBA's own loan-level FOIA release covering FY2020 to present, as of 30 June 2026 — primary data rather than a summary report. FY2025 set records across the whole 7(a) program on both count and dollars, and acquisition lending runs about two and a half times larger by dollar share than by loan share, because acquisition loans are much bigger than the average 7(a).1
Operational context
What good looks like
Why It Matters
It is the only citable public series describing how small-business acquisitions actually get financed, which makes it the right frame for anyone trying to work out how contested their search is or how a lender is thinking about their file.1
Common mistakes
Term Family
Frequently Asked Questions
What is How acquisitions actually get financed in venture capital?
Aggregated from SBA's own loan-level FOIA release covering FY2020 to present, as of 30 June 2026 — primary data rather than a summary report. FY2025 set records across the whole 7(a) program on both count and dollars, and acquisition lending runs about two and a half times larger by dollar share...
Why is How acquisitions actually get financed important for startups?
Understanding How acquisitions actually get financed is critical for founders navigating the fundraising process. It directly impacts deal terms, valuation, and the relationship between founders and investors.
Sources & References
- 1.A1-05 — SBA FOIA 7(a) loan-level data FY2020-present, as of 2026-06-30SBA FOIA 7(a) loan-level data FY2020-present, as of 2026-06-30Gov / statistical primary(In FY2025, 7,533 SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans worth $8.82 billion were made, at a median of $700,000 — 9.6% of loan count and 23.7% of dollars.)primary · A1 · benchmark-integrity · benchmark
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