Small businesses hold a crucial position in fostering the economic growth of a nation. Collectively, their economic endeavors contribute significantly to a substantial share of the country's GDP. Despite their modest scale, these enterprises wield considerable influence over communities, industries, and the nation as a whole. According to the Small Business Association, small businesses constitute 99.9% of all businesses in the United States. For small businesses, securing a business loan is indispensable since it caters to their day-to-day operational requirements, given their limited capacity to finance their entire operations without external financial assistance. Business loans play a pivotal role, whether a small business seeks to overcome financial challenges, or an established enterprise aims to expand its operational footprint. Such funds can be utilized for purposes such as hiring personnel, procuring equipment, or financing inventory, M&A activity among others.
This type of funding is typically made available through banks, credit unions, or online lending platforms, each offering different interest rates, repayment terms, durations, and qualifications. Despite the array of financing options at their disposal, small businesses often face challenges when attempting to secure a business loan. Typically, lenders assess factors like the company's creditworthiness, revenue, and business strategy during the loan application review process.
Recent data shows that small businesses are encountering substantial financial hardships. As per the Small Business Credit Survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank, a striking 59% of small businesses have reported their financial condition as fair or poor. This number has seen a significant increase in recent years, with 85% of small businesses grappling with financial challenges in 2021 alone. Furthermore, a mere 42% of small businesses have had their financial requirements fulfilled, highlighting a notable deficiency in financial services available to these enterprises. Many of them rely on either large or small banks as their primary financial service providers. However, stringent eligibility criteria set by these lending institutions often leave many small businesses without access to the financing they need. This issue is particularly acute in times of economic uncertainty when banking institutions tend to be cautious about lending to small businesses due to the perceived higher risk associated with them.
In an effort to facilitate small businesses' access to financing, the United States government initiated the Small Business Administration (SBA) program in 1953. The SBA offers a range of loan programs tailored to the needs of small businesses, which encompass microloans, disaster loans, and 7(a) loans.
The various types of SBA loans include:
- Standard 7(a)
- 7(a) Small
- SBA Express
- Export Express
- Export Working Capital
- International Trade
- CAPLines
These SBA loans are specifically crafted to assist small businesses that may not meet the criteria for conventional bank loans. The SBA functions as an insurance program, providing insurance to the lending institutions such as banks and credit unions. In the event of a borrower's default, the SBA typically covers approximately 75% of the loan amount disbursed (by way of federal guarantee). Simultaneously, the SBA streamlines certain eligibility requirements for borrowers, making it more accessible for them to qualify for these loans. This dual role of mitigating risk for lenders and enhancing accessibility for borrowers helps support small businesses in securing vital financing.
Nevertheless, the prevailing economic climate has presented challenges for small businesses. Emerging from the pandemic and navigating an uncertain business environment, small enterprises now contend with elevated interest rates and stricter credit conditions. Consequently, banks have adopted a more cautious approach when considering loan applications from small businesses. As interest rates remain at elevated levels, small businesses may find it necessary to seek alternative avenues to meet their financing requirements or sustain their operations until interest rates begin to decline.
One potential solution for small businesses is to explore online lenders as an alternative source of financing. In the non-bank market, there's an influx of investors seeking returns beyond what traditional stocks and bonds offer, thereby providing much-needed liquidity for small businesses.
In the past, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans served as an excellent choice for small businesses. SBA loan interest rates consistently decreased annually, primarily due to the low prime rate. However, the current borrowing costs for U.S. small businesses have reached their highest levels. This is a consequence of a series of interest rate hikes aimed at mitigating elevated inflation levels. While inflation has receded from its peak in the past year to 3.7% in September 2023, it still surpasses the U.S. Federal Reserve's inflation target of 2.0%.
Despite concerns of a potential recession, the U.S. economy is anticipated to experience a soft landing. The Federal Reserve has revised its economic growth projections for the United States in 2023, upgrading them to 2.1% from the earlier estimate of 0.4%. If the economy continues to perform as expected and inflation stabilizes around the Federal Reserve's target, there is potential for the initiation of a cycle of interest rate cuts. This would contribute to an improved overall business environment for small businesses. Until this occurs, US small businesses will depend more on non-bank lenders. The transition back to bank lending is anticipated only once the interest rate cycle starts to cool down, and risk-averse US banks prepare to increase their lending exposure to small businesses.
DPA’s offering in SBA Loans Process
The DPA team specializes in assisting clients with the processing of SBA 7(a) loans for their borrowers' applications. Our approach begins with a comprehensive analysis of the borrower’s specific requirements for SBA loan processing. We offer a full spectrum of services, including underwriting, legal documentation, and post-close services, each supported by dedicated and skilled resources. Our commitment to effective organization and management ensures we consistently meet our client's needs. What sets our team apart is our unique combination of expertise in the financial services domain and advanced computational skills, enabling precise and efficient loan processing.
Want to learn more about SBA Loans? Visit here reach out to us at info@decimalpointanalytics.com
