Calculator
How much SBA loan can I get?
Short answer
Lenders size SBA loans so your cash flow covers all debt payments with room to spare, measured by the debt service coverage ratio. Enter your annual cash flow, existing debt payments, rate and term to estimate the largest SBA loan your business can support at a typical 1.25x coverage ratio.
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Estimates only. Your actual rate, term, payment and fees are set by the lender and depend on your credit, collateral, the SBA program and current rates.
What is debt service coverage?
- Definition
- Debt service coverage ratio (DSCR): Annual cash flow available for debt payments divided by total annual debt payments. A ratio of 1.25x means the business earns $1.25 for every $1.00 of loan payments.
Lenders size an SBA loan so the business can make every debt payment, old and new, with cash to spare. The SBA sets minimum ratios: 1.25x when you buy a business, 1.15x for a start-up's projections, and 1.10x for 7(a) Small Loans. Many lenders ask for more.
How do lenders decide how much I can borrow?
Cash flow sets the ceiling. Within it, lenders also weigh:
- Equity. Start-ups and business purchases need at least 10% of the project cost from you.
- Collateral. Business assets, and often personal real estate when the loan isn't fully secured.
- Credit and experience. Your credit history and your track record running a business like this one.
- Program limits. SBA 7(a) loans go up to $5 million.
How can I qualify for a larger SBA loan?
- Use a longer term where it fits. Real estate can be repaid over up to 25 years, which lowers the payment.
- Pay off or refinance other debt so more cash flow is available for the new loan.
- Document your add-backs. Clean financial statements make it easier for a lender to count all of your cash flow.
- Put in more equity, which reduces the loan you need for the same project.
To turn a loan amount into a monthly payment, use the SBA loan calculator.
Frequently asked questions about SBA borrowing limits
What counts as cash flow for an SBA loan?
Lenders usually start with net income and add back interest, depreciation, amortization and one-time or owner-specific expenses, roughly EBITDA. They may also deduct a reasonable salary for you if you'll run the business. Use a conservative figure here for a realistic estimate.
What debt service coverage ratio do SBA lenders require?
The SBA sets minimums of 1.25x for buying a business, 1.15x for start-up projections and 1.10x for 7(a) Small Loans. Many lenders want more cushion than the minimum, so a higher ratio gives a safer estimate.
Does the estimate include my down payment?
It shows the loan your cash flow supports and the project size that loan covers with a 10% equity injection, the SBA minimum for start-ups and business purchases. See how down payments work when buying a business.
Is this a pre-approval?
No. It is an estimate based on the numbers you enter. Only a lender can approve a loan, after reviewing your tax returns, financial statements, credit and collateral.
Sources
- SOP 50 10: Lender and Development Company Loan Programs (version 8.1), U.S. Small Business Administration. Accessed 2026-10-07
- H.15 Selected Interest Rates: Bank prime loan, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Accessed 2026-10-07
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