For a U.S. buyer, the SBA 7(a) program is a key financing route to investigate: it can fund complete or partial business ownership changes and may cover eligible working capital and specified assets. You apply through a participating lender—not directly to the SBA—and the guarantee supports the lender; it does not ensure approval. Start by breaking the full project into eligible uses, checking the franchise brand in the SBA Franchise Directory, and asking lenders to assess the actual purchase structure.
Start with the full project cost, not just the purchase price
A franchise acquisition can include more than the amount paid to the seller. Prepare a use-of-funds estimate that separates the purchase from the cash and assets needed to take over and operate the restaurant. The SBA lists changes of ownership, working capital, and certain equipment, furniture, fixtures, and supplies among 7(a) loan uses. Whether a particular transfer cost or other expense qualifies should be confirmed with the lender.
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- Acquisition: the price and whether the transaction is a complete or partial change of ownership.
- Operating cash: working capital required after closing, supported by realistic cash-flow assumptions.
- Business assets: equipment, furniture, fixtures, and supplies, itemized separately.
- Real estate: identify any land or building component separately because it may affect whether a fixed-asset financing structure is relevant.
This breakdown helps a lender evaluate which financing uses may fit the program and whether the restaurant can support the resulting debt.
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| Route | Potential role | What to establish for your deal |
|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) through a participating lender | Complete or partial business ownership changes; potentially working capital and listed equipment, furniture, fixtures, and supplies. | Eligibility, approved uses, repayment capacity, rate and term, fees, borrower contribution, collateral and guarantees, and how any seller financing affects the structure. These terms are deal-specific. |
| SBA 504 through a lender and Certified Development Company (CDC) | Financing for qualifying fixed assets such as land, buildings, or equipment. | Whether the assets and project qualify, the eligible project structure, contributions, maturities and fees, and whether the transaction can be structured around those assets. The general program description does not establish that a particular franchise acquisition qualifies. |
| Seller or other private financing | A possible negotiated part of the purchase financing. | Whether the seller will offer financing, its payment and subordination terms, lender treatment, documentation, and effect on total debt service. Availability and terms are not guaranteed. |
| Buyer equity | Buyer funds contributed to close and support the transaction. | The required contribution under current rules and lender policy, acceptable source of funds, and cash retained for operations. There is no universal down-payment percentage established for every deal. |
Why 7(a) is the broad acquisition route to ask about
The SBA’s 7(a) overview identifies complete or partial changes of ownership as an allowable use and lists a maximum loan amount of $5 million. That is a program ceiling, not a promise that a buyer will qualify for that amount. The business must meet SBA eligibility rules, including being U.S.-based, for-profit, and small under SBA standards; it must also be creditworthy, able to repay, and unable to obtain the desired credit on reasonable terms from non-government sources. The lender evaluates the application under SBA rules and its own underwriting.
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The SBA says, “You will always work directly with your lender and not with SBA.” See the SBA 7(a) loans overview and 7(a) terms, conditions, and eligibility information.
When 504 may enter the conversation
The SBA lender overview describes a general 504 structure with private-sector financing of up to 50% of project cost, a CDC loan backed by an SBA-guaranteed debenture of up to 40%, and borrower equity of at least 10%. These are program-level figures, not a determination for a specific transaction. Because 504 focuses on fixed assets, ask a lender whether a separately identifiable qualifying real-estate or equipment component could fit. Do not assume it will finance goodwill, franchise rights, or the entire business purchase. Review the SBA lender overview of 7(a) and 504 programs.
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Check the exact franchise brand in the SBA Directory
Search for the specific franchise brand in the SBA Franchise Directory, then ask the participating lender to verify the application path for your transaction. Directory placement is an eligibility-evaluation step, not a brand endorsement or a promise that a loan will be approved or the business will succeed. The SBA says the directory is updated weekly; its page listed an effective date of September 29, 2026, and a last update of October 2, 2026. Check again when applying because status can change.
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The SBA states: “Placement of a franchise brand in the Directory is not an endorsement or approval of the brand and does not ensure the success of the business.”
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Prepare the buyer and business diligence file
Before committing to a purchase or asking a lender to underwrite it, reconcile the seller’s claims with the restaurant’s records and the franchise and lease obligations. The SBA recommends objective investigation and notes that buyers may want help from an attorney and accountant. Its examples of relevant documents include a letter of intent, confidentiality agreement, contracts and leases, financial statements, tax returns, sales agreement, and purchase-price adjustment. See the SBA’s guidance on buying an existing business or franchise.
- Compare historical financial statements with tax returns and investigate material differences.
- Review the lease, assignment requirements, remaining term, and obligations that continue after closing.
- Identify franchise fees and required expenditures, and verify which are due before or after the transfer.
- Support working-capital assumptions with operating needs rather than relying only on the seller’s estimate.
- Check whether the purchase price and any adjustment mechanism are consistent with the sales agreement and supporting records.
- Assess repayment capacity using the restaurant’s financial evidence and the proposed financing—not just projected sales.
Approach lenders and compare complete offers
- Build the use-of-funds estimate. Separate acquisition costs, operating cash, specified assets, and any real-estate component.
- Review the purchase documents. Have qualified franchise and financial advisers examine the disclosure and purchase materials, seller records, lease, and proposed sales agreement.
- Verify the brand’s Directory status. Confirm the exact brand and ask the lender what the listing means for this application.
- Contact participating 7(a) lenders. You can use SBA Lender Match or another suitable lender channel. Explain the transaction type, intended uses, your relevant experience and available funds, and the financial evidence you have. The lender will specify the application documents required.
- Ask about 504 only for qualifying assets. If the project includes land, a building, or equipment, ask whether that component can be structured as an eligible fixed-asset project.
- Compare the whole financing structure. Ask each lender for the cash required at closing, fixed or variable rate, term and amortization, fees, collateral, personal guarantees, prepayment terms, debt-service expectations, and conditions involving franchise approval, lease assignment, or seller financing.
What cannot be assumed before a lender reviews the deal
There is no established universal cash-down percentage for every restaurant franchise purchase. The applicable buyer contribution, whether a seller note can be included and on what terms, collateral, personal guarantees, interest rate, cash-flow thresholds, approval likelihood, and closing timeline depend on current rules, lender policy, the buyer, and the transaction documents. The SBA’s current listed origination guidance is SOP 50 10 version 8.1 with technical updates effective October 1, 2026; a lender must apply the applicable rules to the actual application. Do not treat a program maximum or general 504 structure as a quote or approval.
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