From October 2023 through September 2026, Georgia businesses received 4,965 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $3.53B, net of cancellations. That ranks 11th of 52 by number of loans and 5th by dollars. The median loan was $316K at a median starting rate of 10.25%. In FY2026 alone, lenders approved 1,599 Georgia loans for $1.21B before cancellations.
What stands out in Georgia
Few SBA Express loans
14.7% of Georgia's 7(a) loans were made through SBA Express, against 35.8% nationally. Express loans are capped at $500,000 and the lender makes the credit decision itself, so they move faster but are smaller. More Georgia loans go through standard 7(a) processing, which takes longer but allows amounts up to $5 million.
A franchise-heavy market
Franchise businesses took 18.5% of Georgia's 7(a) loans, against 11.0% nationally. The most frequent brands were The UPS Store (28), Tropical Smoothie Cafe (16), The Little Gym (14).
Bigger loans than average
The median 7(a) loan in Georgia was $316K, above the national median of $175K. 35.4% of Georgia loans were $150,000 or less (49.0% nationally) and 19.8% were $1 million or more (13.6% nationally). Business purchases (12.4% of Georgia loans) and franchises (18.5%) are two of the usual drivers of bigger tickets.
More startup lending
Loans to open a new business made up 23.1% of Georgia's 7(a) loans, against 16.1% nationally; counting businesses two years old or younger, the share is 37.6%.
A spread-out lender market
No single lender dominates Georgia: the most active, The Huntington National Bank, made 7.8% of the state's 7(a) loans, and the top three together made 21.2%. A fragmented market usually means more lenders competing for the same borrower, which is worth using when you compare offers.
Restaurants and hotels stands out
Restaurants and hotels accounted for 16.8% of Georgia's 7(a) loans (836 loans), 1.4 times its 12.4% national share. The median restaurants and hotels loan in Georgia was $500K at a median rate of 9.75%.
What a typical Georgia SBA loan looks like
| FY2024-FY2026, not cancelled | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $316K | $175K |
| Average loan | $712K | $508K |
| Median starting rate | 10.25% | 10.25% |
| Variable-rate loans | 94.3% | 86.4% |
| Median term | 120 months | 120 months |
| Loans of $150K or less | 35.4% | 49.0% |
| Loans of $500K or less | 67.1% | 76.9% |
| Loans of $1M or more | 19.8% | 13.6% |
| Startups (loan opens the business) | 23.1% | 16.1% |
| Startups and businesses 2 years old or less | 37.6% | 32.0% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 12.4% | 10.9% |
| Franchise businesses | 18.5% | 11.0% |
| SBA Express loans | 14.7% | 35.8% |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 56,035 | 1,733,816 |
Most frequent franchise brands among Georgia 7(a) loans: The UPS Store (28), Tropical Smoothie Cafe (16), The Little Gym (14), Quality Inn (12), American Deli (11).
Georgia SBA 7(a) loans by fiscal year
SBA fiscal years run October to September, so FY2026 covers October 2025 through September 2026. "Approved" counts every loan SBA guaranteed, the basis of SBA's own published totals; "not cancelled" drops loans that were later cancelled before or after funding. FY2026 loans are recent, so some of them may still be cancelled.
| FY2024 | FY2025 | FY2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 2,032 | 2,374 | 1,599 |
| Dollars approved | $1.30B | $1.53B | $1.21B |
| Loans not cancelled | 1,763 | 1,863 | 1,339 |
| Median loan | $250K | $349K | $350K |
| Median rate | 11.25% | 10.25% | 9.25% |
| Loans of $150K or less | 42.2% | 34.5% | 27.7% |
| SBA Express share | 17.4% | 13.4% | 12.8% |
FY2026 approvals in Georgia changed by −32.6% from FY2025; nationally the change was −28.1%. See why SBA lending fell in FY2026.
Top SBA 7(a) lenders in Georgia
| Lender | Loans | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Huntington National Bank | 385 | 7.8% |
| 2. Newtek Bank, National Association | 378 | 7.6% |
| 3. Readycap Lending, LLC | 287 | 5.8% |
| 4. Northeast Bank | 232 | 4.7% |
| 5. Live Oak Banking Company | 202 | 4.1% |
| 6. Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 195 | 3.9% |
| 7. BayFirst National Bank | 135 | 2.7% |
| 8. Celtic Bank Corporation | 133 | 2.7% |
| 9. SouthState Bank, National Association | 132 | 2.7% |
| 10. United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 130 | 2.6% |
Industries that borrow most in Georgia
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 836 | 16.8% | $500K | 9.75% |
| Retail | 623 | 12.5% | $500K | 10.00% |
| Health care | 569 | 11.5% | $350K | 10.25% |
| Other services (repair, personal care) | 517 | 10.4% | $266K | 10.50% |
| Professional services | 511 | 10.3% | $200K | 10.75% |
| Construction | 453 | 9.1% | $240K | 10.50% |
| Administrative and support services | 338 | 6.8% | $225K | 10.50% |
| Transportation and trucking | 199 | 4.0% | $150K | 11.25% |
Where in Georgia the loans go
| County | Loans |
|---|---|
| Fulton | 879 |
| Gwinnett | 697 |
| Cobb | 487 |
| Dekalb | 384 |
| Forsyth | 197 |
| Cherokee | 178 |
| Henry | 137 |
| Chatham | 128 |
| City | Loans |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | 647 |
| Alpharetta | 232 |
| Marietta | 213 |
| Cumming | 141 |
| Duluth | 120 |
| Lawrenceville | 115 |
| Roswell | 108 |
| Savannah | 91 |
Counts only, and only places with at least 10 loans. No individual businesses are listed.
SBA 504 loans in Georgia
The SBA 504 program finances owner-occupied real estate and long-life equipment. A certified development company (CDC) lends up to 40% of the project with an SBA-backed debenture, a bank typically lends about 50%, and the business puts in the rest. The amounts below are the CDC portion.
| Georgia | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| 504 loans, FY2024-FY2026 (not cancelled) | 536 | 18,076 |
| 504 dollars | $805M | $20.82B |
| Median 504 loan | $1.1M | $742K |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 6,025 | 190,338 |
| Most active CDCs | 504 loans |
|---|---|
| Florida Business Development Corporation | 165 |
| Capital Partners Certified Development Company | 136 |
| Small Business Access Partners, Inc. | 90 |
| Florida First Capital Finance Corporation, Inc. | 44 |
| Georgia Certified Development Corporation | 42 |
How older loans performed
Of the 2,592 SBA 7(a) loans approved for Georgia businesses in FY2020 and FY2021 (not cancelled), 77 had been charged off by September 30, 2026: 3.0% by count and 0.6% of dollars approved. The national figures are 3.7% and 1.0%. Loans from these years have had five to seven years to season, so they say more about losses than recent loans do.
SBA district office for Georgia
Georgia loans are overseen by the SBA Georgia District Office. District offices do not make loans; they support lenders and borrowers and point businesses to local resource partners. Contact details are on SBA's local assistance page.
Comparing SBA and other funding in Georgia
An SBA loan is often the cheapest long-term money a small business can get, but approval takes weeks and the 2025 and 2026 rule changes narrowed who qualifies. FSE (Funding Solutions Experts) is an independent commercial finance brokerage. We are not an SBA lender and are not affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration; one application lets us compare SBA and non-SBA options from our funding partners side by side.
- No fee to your business: we are paid a commission by the funding partner.
- No credit check to apply.
- To be considered, a business generally needs at least 1 year in business and $10,000 or more in monthly revenue.
Read what an SBA loan is and how the programs work or our SBA and term loans guide, and see our guide to business funding in Georgia.
Frequently asked questions
How many SBA loans were made in Georgia?
Lenders approved 2,032 SBA 7(a) loans for Georgia businesses in FY2024, 2,374 in FY2025 and 1,599 in FY2026, before cancellations. Net of cancelled loans, the three years total 4,965 loans worth $3.53B, plus 536 SBA 504 loans worth $805M.
Which banks make the most SBA loans in Georgia?
In FY2024 to FY2026 the most active 7(a) lenders in Georgia were The Huntington National Bank (385 loans, 7.8%), Newtek Bank, National Association (378 loans, 7.6%), Readycap Lending, LLC (287 loans, 5.8%).
What is the typical SBA loan size and rate in Georgia?
The median 7(a) loan in Georgia was $316K and the average was $712K. The median starting interest rate was 10.25%, 94.3% of loans had a variable rate, and the median term was 120 months.
Source and method
Figures come from the U.S. Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files (as of September 30, 2026), aggregated by FSE. Loans are assigned to Georgia by project state. Profile figures cover FY2024-FY2026 loans that were not cancelled. We publish aggregates only: no borrower names or addresses, and no figure based on fewer than 10 loans. Full details are in the methodology, and every state's figures can be downloaded as CSV.
Compare nearby states by volume: Michigan, Washington, Colorado, Massachusetts, or see all states.