SBA Express Loans: The Ultimate Guide

Last updated May 27, 2025

What Is an SBA Express Loan?

SBA Express loans are small business loans that are partially guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and come with faster approval timelines than other SBA loans.
As with other SBA loans, the Small Business Administration doesn’t do any direct lending for SBA Express loans but instead works with a network of approved lenders that underwrite and issue the loans.
Express loans come in the form of business term loans or business lines of credit. You can use SBA Express loan funds to buy real estate, refinance debt, and access working capital, just to name a few of the most popular uses.
In exchange for approval speed, maximum loan amounts are much lower and the SBA guarantees less than with its other loan products. And while you’ll receive a faster approval decision with an Express loan, actually receiving the funds may still take weeks to months.
Interest rates vary by lender, as they do with all SBA loans, but are capped at the SBA-approved maximum rate. Depending on whether your rate is fixed or variable (most SBA loans are variable), rates currently range between 10.5% and 15.5%.
Collateral may be required to secure your SBA Express loan. For loans over $50,000, it’s up to the lender’s collateral policy. Your application cannot be denied, however, simply because you lack enough collateral.

Who Are SBA Express Loans For?

SBA Express loans are best suited for business owners with strong credit, a well-established business, and a need for $500,000 or less in capital. If you don’t fit that description or need a truly quick business loan, there are online lending options that may better fit your needs.

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Types of SBA Express Loans

There are two types of SBA Express loans—the standard SBA Express loan and the SBA Export Express loan. Both of these operate within the SBA 7(a) loan program, but details of the two loan types differ a bit:
Loan Use Cases
Maximum SBA Guarantee
Line of Credit Terms
SBA Express Loan
Working capital, real estate, equipment, debt refinancing, and more
50%
Up to 10 years
SBA Export Express Loan
For small export businesses to invest in growth
90% for loans of $350,000 or less, 75% for loans more than $350,000
Up to 7 years

Express Loan Requirements

The speedy turnaround and favorable terms of SBA Express loans make them highly attractive for small business owners. But these loans are not easy to get.
In addition to following some of the more straightforward SBA loan requirements (such as being a for-profit business based in the U.S.), business owners also have to meet specific requirements from SBA Express lenders.
To be eligible for an SBA Express loan, you must:
  • Have invested equity in the business
  • Have sought other funding sources before seeking an SBA Express loan
  • Demonstrate a need for financing 
  • Have a credit score of at least 650
  • Show a DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) of 1.1 or higher
  • Prove strong revenue
  • Be prepared to offer collateral for loans over $50,000, if required
  • Have no delinquent government loans 
Before you dive into the application process with a lender, be sure to check their minimum requirements for SBA Express loans. Keep in mind that your lender may have additional requirements beyond the above.

SBA Express Loan Application Process

Once you find a lender to work with, you’ll start by filling out SBA Form 1919. This form asks for information such as:
  • Ownership details
  • SBA loan application history
  • How you intend to use the loan
  • Number of staff your business employs
  • Job creation information
In addition to Form 1919, your lender will likely ask for additional documentation, including the following:
  • Business and personal financial statements
  • Business and personal tax returns
  • A business lease, certificates, and licenses
A Fundera loan specialist can help you put your SBA loan application together.

Pros and Cons of SBA Express Loans

Pros

✔️ Faster approval timelines: Lenders that issue SBA Express loans have the ability to approve, process, underwrite and fund loans without involving the SBA in the process. This saves a great deal of time and makes for faster approvals (and often faster funding, though that’s not guaranteed).
✔️ Funding options: The added flexibility that comes with the two funding products available through the SBA Express loan program—term loans and lines of credit—is a huge plus. An SBA Express term loan is a better fit for one-off expenses, while the SBA Express line of credit is a great choice for sustained working capital needs.
✔️ Reasonable interest rates: While each lender can set its own interest rate, the rates cannot exceed the SBA maximum, which means they’ll be kept in line with the often very competitive rates that SBA loans offer compared with online and alternative lenders.

Cons

✖️ Smaller loan amounts: While SBA Express loans only offer loans and credit lines of up to $500,000, standard SBA 7(a) loans can be as large as $5 million. So, if you’re in the market for larger amounts of funding, then the SBA Express loan program won’t be for you.
✖️ Funding can still lag: The express in SBA Express loans most often applies to approval timing. Lenders may still take several weeks to actually process and fund your loan.
✖️ Difficult to qualify: At the end of the day, SBA Express loans are still pretty tough to qualify for. Even though the approval and funding timeline is likely to move swifter than with other SBA loans, there will still be some lofty minimum requirements to meet before you’re able to apply.

Fundera Can Help

If you’re a business owner with a good credit score and a well-established business, then an SBA Express loan may be an excellent option for you. However, if you’re unable to qualify, there are dozens of other lenders—many of them faster than SBA Express loans—that may be able to fund your business.

How much do you need?

No cost to you

Your credit score won't be impacted

Compare multiple lenders with one application