SBA loans by state
SBA loans in Georgia: 1,599 approvals in FY 2026, median $340,000
Express was used for only 13% of loans. The median loan, $340,000, was the 2nd largest of the 50 states and DC.
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Georgia: 7(a) loans approved last year
1,599
| Your rate vs. last year’s loans of this size, all states | about the median for this size |
| Georgia: median rate at approval, $250,001 to $350,000 | 9.72% |
| Georgia: median 7(a) loan last year | $340,000 |
| Payment over 10 years, SBA fee added to the loan | $4,546/mo |
Last year’s loans: the 7(a) loans SBA approved from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (fiscal year 2026), in SBA’s public loan file of September 30, 2026. Rates at approval were set when prime was 6.75% or 7.00%; today: prime rate 7.00% on November 2, 2026. Your rate is compared on its margin over prime, so the change in prime since last year does not count against you.
Georgia, FY 2026: 1,599 SBA 7(a) approvals for $1.2 billion (10th of the 50 states and DC, SBA file of September 30, 2026). Express was used for only 13% of loans. The median loan, $340,000, was the 2nd largest of the 50 states and DC. The state stood out for loans to cosmetics, beauty supplies, and perfume retailers. Variable rates dominated: only 5% of loans were fixed. Credit lines were only 10% of approvals. Franchises took 22% of loans. 23% of loans went to businesses not yet open. 19% of loans ran 15 years or longer. Only 11% of loans went to businesses under two years old. 35% of loans had their guaranteed part sold to investors. Today’s cap on a $340,000 variable loan: 11.50%.
Fee notices read and loan file counted by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
| Lender | FY 2026 loans | Median loan | Median variable rate | Lender’s home state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newtek Bank | 226 | $150,000 | 9.75% | Florida |
| Northeast Bank | 125 | $154,700 | 9.75% | Maine |
| Live Oak Banking | 86 | $350,000 | 9.24% | North Carolina |
| Readycap Lending | 68 | $50,000 | 13.25% | New Jersey |
| Huntington National Bank | 62 | $231,750 | 9.25% | Ohio |
Express is rarely used
SBA Express made up only 13% of Georgia’s approvals, 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC. Preferred Lenders took 81% and loans processed by SBA itself 5%, so most borrowers here get the full 85% or 75% guaranty.
Among the largest SBA loans in the country
Georgia’s median loan of $340,000 is 2nd highest among the 50 states and DC. 42% of its loans were above $350,000, where the variable cap falls to prime plus 3 points and the guaranty fee climbs to 3.5% of the guaranteed part once the loan passes $700,000.
More common here than nationally: cosmetics, beauty supplies, and perfume retailers
17 Georgia loans went to cosmetics, beauty supplies, and perfume retailers, 4.3 times the national share for that trade. The most frequent trades overall were full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants and snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars. Shops and service outlets are often bought as going concerns or franchise units, with loans small enough that the variable cap may reach prime plus 6 points.
Fixed rates almost absent
Only 5% of Georgia’s loans were fixed-rate, 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC. Almost every borrower here carries a prime-based rate whose payment moves when prime does.
| Loan size | Loans | Median variable rate, FY 2026 | SBA maximum today |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | 183 | 13.25% | 13.50% |
| $50,001 to $250,000 | 468 | 9.75% | 13.00% |
| $250,001 to $350,000 | 273 | 9.72% | 11.50% |
| over $350,000 | 675 | 8.75% | 10.00% |
Credit lines are scarce
Only 10% of Georgia’s SBA approvals were revolving lines, 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC. Term loans with a fixed repayment schedule make up the rest.
Franchise lending stands out
22% of Georgia’s loans went to franchise units, the highest among the 50 states and DC. The UPS Store, The Peach Cobbler Factory and American Deli appeared most often.
A start-up state
With 23% of loans going to businesses not yet open, Georgia ranks 6th highest among the 50 states and DC for start-up lending. Every one of those borrowers had to put in at least 10% of the project cost, under SOP 50 10 8.1.
Real estate loans weigh heavily
19% of Georgia’s loans ran 15 years or more, 5th highest among the 50 states and DC. Those long loans are the only ones exposed to SBA’s 5-3-1 prepayment fee.
Counties with the most approvals: Fulton (316), Gwinnett (201) and Cobb (146). Trades: full-service restaurants (89), limited-service restaurants (75), snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (52), fitness and recreational sports centers (45) and hotels and motels (40).
All states compared.