SBA Express Loans: The Ultimate Guide
Last updated May 27, 2025
What Is an SBA Express Loan?
SBA Express loans are small business loans
As with other SBA loans
Express loans come in the form of business term loans business lines of credit
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 online lending
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Your credit score won't be impacted
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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
| 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
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 - 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
- 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
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