Best SBA Lenders For Full-Service Restaurants (2027)
Full-Service Restaurants closed 2,797 SBA 7(a) loans worth $1.57B in FY2026 through 416 lenders. 23% of the dollars financed business acquisitions.
Key Takeaways
- Newtek Bank was the top SBA lender for Full-Service Restaurants, with $116M across 453 loans.
- 418 buyers used an SBA loan to buy a business in this industry, averaging $851K per loan.
- California led all states with $242M in SBA loans for this industry.
- The median loan was $261K; 36% went to startups and newer businesses.
Top SBA Lenders For Full-Service Restaurants
Ranked by SBA 7(a) dollar volume approved nationwide in FY2026.
| # | Lender | SBA Loans | Total Volume | Avg Loan | Avg Rate | Acquisition Loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newtek BankMiami, FL | 453 | $116M | $256K | 10.41% | 15 |
| 2 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 180 | $71.2M | $395K | 9.16% | 62 |
| 3 | Bank of HopeLos Angeles, CA | 79 | $65.1M | $824K | 8.53% | 3 |
| 4 | Harvest Small Business FinanceLaguna Hills, CA | 43 | $52.1M | $1.2M | 9.31% | 0 |
| 5 | Port 51 Lending LLCNew York, NY | 25 | $42.8M | $1.7M | 9.28% | 8 |
| 6 | Northeast BankLewiston, ME | 182 | $37.4M | $206K | 9.99% | 0 |
| 7 | Celtic Bank CorporationSalt Lake City, UT | 49 | $32.9M | $671K | 9.55% | 11 |
| 8 | PathwardSioux Falls, SD | 16 | $30.4M | $1.9M | 9.44% | 5 |
| 9 | US Metro BankGarden Grove, CA | 21 | $23.3M | $1.1M | 8.44% | 6 |
| 10 | Byline BankChicago, IL | 19 | $22.7M | $1.2M | 9.37% | 7 |
| 11 | Hanmi BankLos Angeles, CA | 38 | $22.3M | $587K | 8.48% | 20 |
| 12 | Readycap LendingBerkeley Heights, NJ | 40 | $21.4M | $534K | 10.69% | 4 |
| 13 | Beacon Bank and TrustBrookline, MA | 14 | $21.3M | $1.5M | 9.25% | 7 |
| 14 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust CompanyBuffalo, NY | 134 | $19.7M | $147K | 10.72% | 4 |
| 15 | Metro City BankDoraville, GA | 17 | $19.7M | $1.2M | 8.34% | 6 |
Best SBA Lenders For Buying A Business
Business acquisition loans are SBA loans used to buy an existing company. They are larger than average and need more experience from the lender.
Most Active Acquisition Lenders
- The Huntington National Bank62 acquisition loans
- Hanmi Bank20 acquisition loans
- Newtek Bank15 acquisition loans
- Celtic Bank Corporation11 acquisition loans
- Port 51 Lending LLC8 acquisition loans
- Byline Bank7 acquisition loans
Among this area's top 15 lenders by volume.
Buying A Business?
We take your deal to the SBA lenders that close the most acquisitions, so they compete for it. It is free to you.
What Lenders Look For In Full-Service Restaurants
- Sales trends confirmed by point of sale reports and tax returns
- Food and labor costs as a share of sales
- Lease terms and occupancy cost
- Operator experience; lenders favor buyers who have run a restaurant
What To Check Before You Buy
- Compare point of sale data to bank deposits and tax returns
- Make sure the lease runs long enough or can be extended
- Check health inspections and liquor license transfer
- For a franchise, get franchisor approval and review remodel requirements
The average SBA loan for full-service restaurants was $562K, close to the national average of $578K. Loans ran 11.6 years on average.
Acquisitions made up 23% of the dollars, compared with 27% nationally. Most SBA lending here goes to existing owners and startups, so pick a lender with acquisition experience in this industry.
This page combines Full-Service Restaurants (NAICS 722511) and Full-Service Restaurants (NAICS 722110).
Top States For Full-Service Restaurants
Loan Sizes
How SBA dollars split by loan size.
SBA Lending For Full-Service Restaurants Since 2020
FY2026 dollar volume was down 11.9% from FY2025, and the loan count was down 21.7%. Part of that drop is the calendar: SBA approved no 7(a) loans in October 2025 during the federal government shutdown (October 1 to November 12, 2025), so FY2026 covers about 11 months of lending.
How Much You Need Down
For a business acquisition, SBA sets the minimum Down Payment. Lenders can ask for more.
- 10% minimum. SBA requires a Down Payment of at least 10% of the project for an initial business acquisition (SOP 50 10 8.1, Appendix 15).
- A seller note can cover up to half. When the seller finances part of the price on full standby, with no payments for the life of the SBA loan, it can count for up to half of the required Down Payment. That can bring your cash to 5%.
- Investors can help. Minority investors can fund part of the Down Payment. Anyone who owns 20% or more personally guarantees the loan.
- Ten year term for most acquisitions. Business acquisition loans without real estate run up to 10 years. Real estate in the deal can stretch the term.
Example
The average business acquisition loan was $851K. At 10% down, that is a project of about $946K:
Illustration only. Your lender sets the final structure.
Questions About SBA Loans For Full-Service Restaurants
Who is the best SBA lender for full-service restaurants?
Newtek Bank made the most SBA 7(a) dollars for full-service restaurants in FY2026 ($116M across 453 loans). The best fit for you depends on loan size, location and whether you are buying or starting a business.
How big are SBA loans for full-service restaurants?
The average was $562K and the median $261K across 2,797 loans in FY2026. Acquisition loans averaged $851K.
What rate do SBA lenders charge full-service restaurants?
The average initial rate was 9.44% (8.78% weighted by loan size), and 88% of loans were variable. Your rate depends on loan size, term and the lender.
Can I buy a business in this industry with an SBA loan?
Yes. 418 buyers did in FY2026. SBA 7(a) loans can finance up to $5 million with at least 10% down, and a seller note on full standby can cover up to half of the Down Payment.
Does GoSBA Loans charge borrowers?
No. GoSBA Loans is 100% free to borrowers. We package your deal and take it to the SBA lenders that fit it.
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About this data. Rankings use SBA 7(a) loan approvals from the SBA FOIA data set, fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026), as published by SBA through September 30, 2026. Lenders are ranked by approved dollar volume. Rates are the initial rate at approval, a simple average across loans; most SBA 7(a) loans are variable and move with the Prime Rate. Business acquisition loans are those SBA marks as a change of ownership. GoSBA Loans is an SBA loan broker, not a lender, and is not affiliated with SBA.
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