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FederalRolling / continuousLoan / creditNationwide

SBA 7(a) & Express Loans for Food Businesses

U.S. Small Business Administration

General small business lending that covers farm-adjacent enterprises SBA will finance — bakeries, commercial kitchens, farm stores, CSAs structured as businesses. Note SBA excludes most primary crop production, so pair it with FSA.

Typical award
Up to $5 million (Express up to $500,000)
Deadline
Rolling through SBA-approved lenders
Type of support
Loans & credit · Business & value-added products
Who can apply
Individual producer, Beginning / underserved, Other
Fits these operations
Value-added & food business, Mixed / diversified, Urban farm, Vegetables & produce
The eligibility and application details below are general guidance for this kind of program, not text copied from the funder. The facts above — who runs it, how much, and when it closes — are hand-checked. Always confirm specifics on the official page.

Am I eligible?

  • Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
  • Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply
  • Beginning, veteran, and historically underserved producers are prioritized
  • Active SAM.gov registration and UEI number required before award
  • Must be in compliance with USDA/federal program rules (AGI limits, conservation compliance)
  • Credit history, repayment ability, and collateral are reviewed
  • Business plan and cash-flow projections generally required

How to apply

  1. 1Talk to a U.S. Small Business Administration loan officer about the size and purpose of the loan
  2. 2Assemble financials: balance sheet, income history, and projections
  3. 3Submit the application with your business plan and collateral information
  4. 4Respond to underwriting questions, then close and draw funds

What you'll need

  • Farm or business name, address, and tax ID / EIN
  • Three years of tax returns (or projections if you're just starting)
  • Current balance sheet and cash-flow projection
  • Business plan and description of what the loan will buy
  • Collateral list and any existing debt schedule

Timeline & contact

Typically 30–90 days from application to closing, faster for microloans
Get help: U.S. Small Business Administration — your local USDA Service Center or state office can walk you through it

Ready to apply?

Applications go through U.S. Small Business Administration, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

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