Established in 1984, SETEDF is a non-profit Certified Development
Company that promotes economic development within the community through
the Small Business Administration SBA 504 Loan Program.
We are regulated by the federal government and work with participating
lenders (typically banks & credit unions) to provide capital in the form
of long term loans to small businesses.
SBA 504 Basics
What is the 504 Loan Program?
The SBA 504 Loan program is a powerful economic development loan program
that offers small businesses another avenue for business financing,
while promoting business growth and job creation.
The 504 Loan Program is designed to provide financing for the purchase
of fixed assets such as real estate, and building acquisitions, as well
as equipment and machinery, at below market rates. Interest rates are
fixed for the term of the loan which can be 10, 20 or 25-year terms
depending upon the project.
Project Size
$250,000 to $15,000,000
Borrower's Down Payment
10% - Most Projects
15% - Start-up (less than 2 years in operations) or
special-purpose properties
- Amusement parks
- Bowling alleys
- Car wash businesses
- Cemeteries
-
Cold storage facilities where more than 50% of total
square footage is equipped for refrigeration
- Dormitories
- Farms, including livestock and dairy facilities
- Funeral homes with crematoriums
- Gas Stations
- Golf Courses
-
Hospitals, surgery centers, urgent care centers, and
other healthy or medical facilities
- Hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities
- Marinas
- Mines
-
Nursing Homes, including assisted living facilities
- Oil Wells
- Quarries, including gravel pits
- Railroads
- Sanitary landfills
-
Service centers ( e.g., oil and lube, brake or
transmission centers) with pits and in-ground lifts
- Sports arenas
- Swimming pools
- Tennis clubs
- Theaters
- Wineries
20% - Start-up and
special-purpose properties
Understanding the SBA 504 Loan Structure
SBA 504 loans can be a bit confusing. However, once you understand the
loan structure you will easily see how the SBA 504 loan program is the
ideal financing option for small businesses.
The typical financing structure for a SBA 504 loan is a
50-40-10 partnership. The third-party lender
(bank or credit union) will finance 50% of the project; SETEDF/SBA
finances 40% and; the borrower provides at least 10% equity injection.
This structure makes it possible for small business owners to
own commercial real estate with less money down.
The long-term and fixed interest rate also allows the borrower to
preserve cash flow for operations.
SBA 504 Loan Structure :
1st Mortgage / Third Party Lender |
$1,000,000 |
2nd Mortgage / SETEDF-SBA Portion |
$800,000 |
Equity |
$200,000 |
Total Project Cost |
$2,000,000 |
Conventional Loan at Market Rates
-
Miniumum 10-year optional term for a 20-year
debenture
- Rates and fees set by Lender
- Assumable loan
Below Market, Fixed Rate Bond with an SBA Guarantee Loan
- 10, 20 or 25-year term
- No balloons, calls or covenants
-
Fixed Interest rate at below market rate, fixed for
the entire loan term
- Assumable loan
Equity Injection / Down Payment
- Cash
- Can use equity in land if already purchased
-
Can use prepaid soft costs, like architectural or
engineering fees
* 15% equity requirement on
special use properties
or start up businesses; 20% for
special use properties
and start-up businesses.
51% for purchases of an existing building (renovations
and expansions are eligible)
60% for ground-up construction projects (additional 20%
within 3 years and another additional 20% within 10
years)
$5 million maximum, or …
$5.5 million for manufacturers, or …
$5.5 million if business is reducing their energy
consumption by 10% (Green Initiative)
No maximum limit placed on lending partner’s loan
portion
Fully-amortized over the life of the loan (no
balloon)
Real estate project options = 10, 20 or 25-year terms
Machinery & equipment (if financed separate from real
estate) = 10 years normally but eligible for 20 and 25
years depending on the life of the equipment.
Leasehold improvements = 10 years
Real Estate (owner occupied)
- Existing Buildings
- Addition / Major Renovation
- Land / Building Construction
Machinery and Equipment
- Minimum 10 Year Life
- If used Equipment - Appraisal is necessary
Soft Costs and Professional Fees
-
Appraisal, Environmental, Architectural Fees,
Engineering Cost & Survey Fees
-
Title Insurance, Recording Taxes and legal fees
related to zoning, permits, or platting
-
Closing Costs, Bank Points & Interim Interest and
fees
Improvements such as grading, paving, landscaping, curb
and gutter, etc. (although no more than 5% of total
project costs can be for community improvements.)
Refinancing
-
504 Refinance with Expansion and without expansion
is available
- Working Capital
- Inventory
- Goodwill Assets from Business Acquisition
- Tenant Improvements
- Franchise Fees
- Rolling Stock (i.e. vehicles)
-
Legal entity - corporation, partnership, sole
proprietor, limited liability company
-
Owners must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent
residents
- Business must be located in the United States
-
Tangible net worth not to exceed $20 million and
average net income not to exceed $6.5 million
(2-year average)
- Non-profit businesses
-
Businesses primarily engageed in lending (i.e.
Banks, finance companies)
-
Passive businesses (i.e. apartments, shopping
centers)
- Life insurance companies
-
Businesses located in a foreign country (businesses
in the U.S. owned by aliens may qualify)
- Pyramid sale distribution plans
-
Businesses deriving more than one-third of gross
annual revenue from legal gambling activities
- Businesses engaged in any illegal activity
-
Private clubs and businesses which limit memberships
-
Government-owned entities (except for businesses
owned or controlled by a Native American Tribe)
-
Loan packagers earning more than one third of their
gross annual revenue from packaging SBA loans
-
Businesses in which the Lender or CDC, or any of its
associates owns an equity interest
-
Businesses engaged directly or indirectly in a
prurient sexual nature
- Businesses with prior government defaults
-
Businesses primarily engaged in political or
lobbying activities
-
Speculative businesses (such as oil wildcatting)
One of the primary purposes of the SBA 504 loan program
is job creation. The SBA 504 loan must create or retain
one job opportunity per
the designated amount as specified by the SBA.
Currently, the requirement is one
job opportunity per
$90,000.00 in project dollars that is being funded. For
manufacturers, this amount increases to $140,000.
A Job Opportunity is
defined as jobs created or jobs retained because of
the 504 Loan.
Job opportunity
requirements can be waived if a
public policy goal
is satisfied.
Public Policy Goals
Women, minority, or veteran owned (ownership of
51% or more)
Rural development
Revitalizing economic development areas
Expanding exports
Projects that reduce energy consumption by at
least 10% or generated renewable energy or fuels
(Green Initiative)