SBA Loans To Buy A Hotel
In FY2026, SBA lenders made 231 loans totaling $747 million to buy existing hotels and motels, an average of $3.2M per acquisition. Buy a hotel with as little as 10% down. We take your deal to the SBA lenders that fit, from our network of 50+, and it costs you nothing.
Based on SBA 7(a) data through September 30, 2026. Acquisition loans are SBA 7(a) loans to businesses recorded as a change of ownership.
The Hotel Acquisition Market
These are real estate heavy businesses. Most of the price is land and buildings, so the deal looks more like a commercial mortgage with an operating business attached. That changes the loan term, the collateral picture and the due diligence you need.
Hotels carry the largest average acquisition loans of any industry on this list, and larger properties use pari passu financing above the $5 million SBA limit. Flagged properties also need brand approval and often a renovation plan.
Acquisitions made up 32.1% of all SBA 7(a) dollars lent to hotels and motels in FY2026, compared with 27.4% across all industries. Buying an existing business is one of the main reasons owners in this industry use SBA loans, so lenders here see a steady flow of acquisition files. The average acquisition loan was $3.2M, about 161% above the $1.2M average for business acquisitions nationally. Across every purpose, lenders made 814 SBA 7(a) loans for $2.33 billion in the industry, with an average loan of $2.9M and a median of $2.8M.
32% of those loans went to startups or businesses under two years old and 71% to franchises. The most financed franchise brands were Days Inn / Days Inn by Wyndham, Quality Inn, Quality Inn & Suites, and Best Western - Best Western Plus - Best Western Premier- Executive Residency by Best Western- @Home by Best Western - GLo - Aiden - Membership Agreement. By dollars, Texas, Ohio and California led the industry. Loan count was up 7% from FY2025, even though FY2026 had no October 2025 approvals during the federal shutdown. Hotels and motels rank #4 of the 77 industries in our buy a business by industry guide by number of acquisition loans.
Based on SBA 7(a) data through September 30, 2026.
SBA Loans In This Industry By Size
All SBA 7(a) loans to hotels and motels, FY2026.
What It Costs To Buy A Hotel
There is no single price for a hotel. The loan follows the cash flow. The most common SBA loan size in this industry was $2M to $5M, while the most dollars went to loans of $2M to $5M. Acquisition loans ran larger than the industry average of $2.9M because they finance goodwill as well as equipment, inventory and working capital.
At the industry’s average acquisition loan of $3.2M, and a loan covering 90% of the project, the typical total project is about $3.6M, which includes the purchase price, working capital and closing costs. 534 loans in the industry, 88% of the dollars, were between $2 million and $5 million.
What you can borrow is set by earnings, not the asking price. SBA requires the business’s cash flow to cover all debt payments at least 1.25 times for an acquisition, measured on historical results. An independent business valuation must support the price on purchases above $350,000; if the price is higher than the valuation, the gap is filled with more buyer cash or a seller note on full standby.
Larger deals carry extra steps. When the Business Purchase Price, not counting real estate, is $3 million or more, SBA requires a Quality of Earnings report. The SBA 7(a) loan tops out at $5 million, and bigger purchases pair it with a conventional loan in a pari passu structure.
How Much You Need Down To Buy A Hotel
SBA requires a Down Payment of at least 10% of the total project cost on the purchase of a business, and the lender cannot reduce or waive it. You do not have to bring all of it in cash.
Up To Half From The Seller
A seller note can count for up to half of the Down Payment if it is on full standby, with no principal or interest payments for the life of the SBA loan. That means as little as 5% from you.
Your Savings, Gifts Or Retirement Funds
Cash that is not borrowed counts, including gifts and money from retirement accounts. Many of our buyers use a retirement funds structure.
Investors
Minority investors can fund part of the Down Payment. Anyone who owns 20% or more of the buyer personally guarantees the loan.
Example: A Hotel At The Industry Average
| Total project (price, working capital, closing costs) | $3,591,000 |
| Down Payment (10%) | $359,000 |
| From the seller (note on full standby, max half) | Up to $180,000 |
| From you (cash, gifts, retirement funds, investors) | From $180,000 |
| SBA loan | About $3,232,000 |
Built from the $3.2M average acquisition loan for hotels and motels in FY2026. Based on SBA 7(a) data through September 30, 2026. Illustration only; your lender sets the final structure, and some lenders ask for more than 10%.
Get A Pre-Qualification Letter Before You Make An Offer
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What Lenders Look For In Hotels And Motels
Hotels carry the largest average acquisition loans of any industry on this list, and larger properties use pari passu financing above the $5 million SBA limit. Flagged properties also need brand approval and often a renovation plan. Beyond the industry specifics, every SBA acquisition is judged on the same core questions.
Occupancy And Rate History
Several years of occupancy, average rate and revenue per available unit show whether the property earns its price. Lenders want to see the trend, not one strong year.
Appraised Real Estate Value
The property secures most of the loan. An appraisal by a lender approved appraiser sets how much the real estate supports.
Brand Or Franchise Approval
Flagged hotels need the brand to approve the new owner, and any required renovation (a property improvement plan) gets priced into the project.
Local Supply And Demand
New competition nearby, local employers, tourism and highway traffic all affect how a lender views future occupancy.
Management Plan
Lenders want to know who runs the property day to day, especially if you will not live on site.
Cash Flow That Covers The Loan
SBA sets the minimum at 1.25 times the debt payments for an acquisition, using the last fiscal year or the average of the last two. Projections can be reviewed but cannot be relied on to meet it.
Lenders also look at you: management experience that fits the business, personal credit, and current taxes and debts. Owners of 20% or more of the buyer personally guarantee the loan.
What To Check Before You Buy A Hotel
Due diligence protects your Down Payment and speeds up underwriting, because lenders ask for most of this anyway. Start these items as soon as your letter of intent is signed.
How Hotel Acquisitions Are Structured
Every SBA acquisition follows SOP 50 10 8.1, the SBA rulebook in effect for applications from October 1, 2026. Within those rules, the structure is built around the business’s cash flow, the seller’s goals and how much cash you want to keep.
10% Down, Part From The Seller
Most hotel deals combine buyer cash with a seller note. A seller note on full standby counts for up to half of the 10% Down Payment; a note that is paid during the loan must fit the cash flow alongside the SBA payment.
10-Year Term, 25 For Real Estate
The business portion repays over up to 10 years with no balloon. Real estate bought with the business can run up to 25 years, in a blended loan or a separate one.
Real Estate Term
When the purchase includes the property, the real estate portion can run up to 25 years. If at least 85% of the project is a special purpose property that is integral to the business, SBA allows a single loan of up to 25 years; otherwise the business portion stays at up to 10 years in a blended or separate loan.
Working Capital Line
Many buyers add an SBA Express or other line of credit at closing, so the business has cash for payroll, inventory and receivables from the first day.
Quality Of Earnings At $3M
When the Business Purchase Price, not counting real estate, is $3 million or more, the lender needs an independent Quality of Earnings report in addition to the business valuation.
Above $5M: Pari Passu
The SBA 7(a) loan is capped at $5 million. Larger acquisitions pair it with a conventional loan that shares the collateral equally, with the same 10% Down Payment on the total project.
The seller cannot stay on as an owner or employee, but can consult for up to 24 months to hand over customers, staff and know-how.
Recent Deals We Closed In This Industry And Related Ones
Real loans GoSBA placed. Borrower and lender names are kept private. GoSBA funded $320M across 126 loans in 2025, working with 50+ lenders.
Lake Sightseeing And Event Cruise Business
10% down + 10% seller note with 2-year full standby
Top SBA Lenders For Hotel Acquisitions
Among the 15 largest SBA lenders to hotels and motels by dollars in FY2026, these made the most acquisition loans. The best lender for you depends on deal size, your experience and the structure, which is why we take each deal to the lenders that fit.
| Lender | Headquarters | Acquisition Loans | All Loans In Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBank | Las Vegas, NV | 56 | 126 |
| US Metro Bank | Garden Grove, CA | 33 | 88 |
| Shoreham Bank | Warwick, RI | 16 | 31 |
| Open Bank | Los Angeles, CA | 13 | 23 |
| First Western SBLC, LLC d/b/a Peachtree Group | Dallas, TX | 11 | 15 |
| Centerstone SBA Lending | Los Angeles, CA | 10 | 16 |
| Bank of Hope | Los Angeles, CA | 9 | 60 |
| Harvest Small Business Finance | Laguna Hills, CA | 8 | 19 |
Based on SBA 7(a) data through September 30, 2026. See the full ranking of SBA lenders for hotels and motels
How It Works With GoSBA
One team from pre-qualification to closing. You never pay us; the lender does, after closing.
Get Pre-Qualified
Request a pre-qualification letter so sellers and brokers take your offer seriously. It takes a few minutes.
Send Us The Deal
Once you have a business in mind, share the listing or letter of intent and the seller’s financials.
Lenders Compete
We package the deal and take it to the SBA lenders that fit, from our network of 50+. You choose the best offer.
Close With Us
We handle lender questions, third party reports and the closing checklist until the loan funds.
Documents You Will Need
Lenders ask for the same core package on every acquisition, plus a few items specific to hotels and motels. We help you gather anything missing and send it to lenders in one clean package.
- Signed letter of intent or purchase agreement
- The business’s last 3 years of tax returns
- Year-to-date profit and loss statement and balance sheet
- Three years of monthly occupancy and rate reports
- Brand franchise agreement and any renovation plan, if flagged
- Property tax bills and insurance declarations
- Your last 3 years of personal tax returns
- Personal financial statement and resume
- Proof of your Down Payment funds
What Buyers Say
Just when the deal looked like it could not get completed, Ishan found a lender.
Ishan is phenomenal. He guided me through the SBA process, connected me to multiple lenders, and ultimately drove to a deal at much better terms than I expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need down to buy a hotel?
At least 10% of the total project cost, and SBA does not allow the lender to waive it on a business purchase. Up to half can be a seller note on full standby. At the industry’s average acquisition loan of $3.2M, that is a Down Payment of about $359K, with as little as $180K from you.
How big an SBA loan can I get to buy a hotel?
An SBA 7(a) loan goes up to $5 million, and larger deals add a conventional loan in a pari passu structure. In FY2026 lenders made 231 acquisition loans to hotels and motels, averaging $3.2M. Your amount is set by the business’s cash flow and an independent valuation.
Can the loan term be longer than 10 years when I buy the property too?
Yes. The real estate portion can be repaid over up to 25 years. Under SOP 50 10 8.1, an owner-occupied special purpose property that is at least 85% of the project and integral to the business can be financed in one loan of up to 25 years.
Can the seller stay on after I buy a hotel?
Not as an owner or employee. The seller can work as a consultant for up to 24 months in total to transition customers, staff and know-how, and often carries part of the price as a seller note.
Which lenders finance hotel acquisitions?
In FY2026, GBank, US Metro Bank and Shoreham Bank were among the most active acquisition lenders in this industry. The right lender depends on the size of the deal, your experience and the structure. We take your deal to the lenders that fit from our network of 50+.
What does GoSBA cost?
Nothing. We are paid by the lender after your loan closes, not by you.
Buy A Business In A Related Industry
Keep reading: SBA Business Acquisition Loans · SBA Pari Passu Loans · Buying A Business Guide · Best SBA Lenders For Hotels And Motels · Closed Deals · Pre-Qualification Letter · All Industries
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