Best Ace Hardware SBA Lenders (2027)
Ace Hardware is on the SBA Franchise Directory (SBA Franchise Identifier Code S0067), so SBA lenders can finance a new or existing Ace Hardware location with an SBA 7(a) loan. From FY2020 to FY2026, 103 SBA lenders made 302 loans totaling $316 million to Ace Hardware owners, an average of $1.0M per loan at an average initial rate of 6.72%. Below are the lenders that fund this brand most often, what SBA requires, and how to apply. GoSBA takes your deal to the lenders that fit, and it costs you nothing.
SBA 7(a) FOIA data, FY2020 to FY2026 (through September 30, 2026), loans recorded under the Ace Hardware franchise name. SBA Franchise Directory as of November 10, 2026.
By the GoSBA Loans team · Updated November 12, 2026 · Sources: SBA Franchise Directory (November 10, 2026) and SBA 7(a) FOIA loan data through September 30, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Ace Hardware is SBA approved: it is on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S0067, listed since October 1, 2017.
- 302 SBA 7(a) loans went to Ace Hardware owners from FY2020 to FY2026, about 43 a year, averaging $1.0M, larger than the $839K average across all franchise brands.
- Live Oak Banking Company, Wells Fargo Bank and National Cooperative Bank are the most active Ace Hardware lenders; the top 5 lenders made 45% of the brand’s SBA loans.
- You need at least 10% of the total project cost as equity on a new unit, and the average initial rate on Ace Hardware loans was 6.72%, below the 8.18% average for all franchise loans.
Is Ace Hardware SBA Approved?
Yes. Ace Hardware is on the SBA Franchise Directory and eligible for SBA financing. SBA has reviewed the Ace Hardware franchise agreement and issued SBA Franchise Identifier Code S0067. SBA lenders can finance a new or existing Ace Hardware location with an SBA 7(a) or 504 loan without a separate franchise eligibility review, as long as the borrower and the deal qualify.
Under SOP 50 10 8.1, SBA’s current rulebook, a brand has to be on the SBA Franchise Directory before a lender can close an SBA 7(a) or 504 loan for it. The listing settles the franchise eligibility question only. You and the deal still have to qualify: a credit score most lenders want at 680 or higher, relevant experience, at least 10% of the total project cost from you, and projections that cover the loan payments.
Check any other brand in the SBA Franchise Directory search.
Yes. Ace Hardware is on the SBA Franchise Directory and eligible for SBA financing.
SBA has reviewed the Ace Hardware franchise agreement and issued SBA Franchise Identifier Code S0067. SBA lenders can finance a new or existing Ace Hardware location with an SBA 7(a) or 504 loan without a separate franchise eligibility review, as long as the borrower and the deal qualify.
- Brand name on the directory
- Ace Hardware
- SBA Franchise Identifier Code
- S0067
- Meets the FTC definition of a franchise
- Yes
- Franchisor certification received
- Yes
- On the directory since
- October 1, 2017
SBA lenders that fund Ace Hardware
103 lenders made 302 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $316M to Ace Hardware owners from FY2020 to FY2026, an average of $1.0M at an average initial rate of 6.72%.
| # | Lender | Loans | Dollars | Avg Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 76 | $106M | 7.29% | Apply Now |
| 2 | Wells Fargo Bank | 30 | $27.4M | 5.84% | Apply Now |
| 3 | National Cooperative Bank | 14 | $17.3M | 5.89% | Apply Now |
| 4 | The Huntington National Bank | 9 | $4.2M | 6.29% | Apply Now |
| 5 | Nicolet National Bank | 8 | $3.4M | 4.72% | Apply Now |
| 6 | Byline Bank | 6 | $11.6M | 7.79% | Apply Now |
| 7 | Columbia Bank | 6 | $5.4M | 7.08% | Apply Now |
| 8 | BayFirst National Bank | 5 | $1.7M | 11.60% | Apply Now |
Why SBA Lenders Fund Ace Hardware
Between October 2019 and September 2026, SBA lenders approved 302 7(a) loans to Ace Hardware franchisees, $316 million in all. That is roughly 43 loans a year, which puts Ace Hardware at #6 of the 1,827 brands on the SBA Franchise Directory with any SBA lending in the period. Volume like that matters to you as a borrower: lenders that have closed dozens of Ace Hardware loans know the brand’s Item 7 build-out costs, its Item 19 unit economics and its ramp-up curve, so they underwrite faster and with fewer surprises.
The average Ace Hardware SBA loan was $1.0M, larger than the $839K average across all franchise brands. Larger loans usually mean real estate, multi-unit deals or expensive build-outs are common for this brand, and they favor lenders comfortable with 25-year real estate terms and bigger credits.
Live Oak Banking Company, Wells Fargo Bank and National Cooperative Bank lead the brand by loan count, and the five most active lenders account for 45% of all Ace Hardware SBA loans. Lending is spread across many banks, so your state, project size and personal profile decide the best fit more than the brand does. GoSBA works with 50+ SBA lenders and takes each Ace Hardware deal to the ones that fit, at no cost to you.
Top Ace Hardware SBA Lenders (2027)
Ranked by the number of SBA 7(a) loans to Ace Hardware owners from FY2020 to FY2026. Live Oak Banking Company, Wells Fargo Bank and National Cooperative Bank lead the list. The right lender for you depends on whether this is your first unit or your fifth, the total project cost, real estate, and your state, which is why we take each deal to the lenders that fit.
| # | Lender | Ace Hardware Loans | Dollars | Average Loan | Average Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 76 | $106M | $1.4M | 7.29% | Apply Now |
| 2 | Wells Fargo Bank | 30 | $27.4M | $914K | 5.84% | Apply Now |
| 3 | National Cooperative Bank | 14 | $17.3M | $1.2M | 5.89% | Apply Now |
| 4 | The Huntington National Bank | 9 | $4.2M | $461K | 6.29% | Apply Now |
| 5 | Nicolet National Bank | 8 | $3.4M | $427K | 4.72% | Apply Now |
| 6 | Byline Bank | 6 | $11.6M | $1.9M | 7.79% | Apply Now |
| 7 | Columbia Bank | 6 | $5.4M | $907K | 7.08% | Apply Now |
| 8 | BayFirst National Bank | 5 | $1.7M | $332K | 11.60% | Apply Now |
| 9 | BMO Bank | 4 | $6.0M | $1.5M | 6.92% | Apply Now |
| 10 | Bank of America | 4 | $5.9M | $1.5M | 6.24% | Apply Now |
| 11 | Northwest Bank | 4 | $5.4M | $1.4M | 6.19% | Apply Now |
| 12 | Old National Bank | 4 | $3.6M | $911K | 3.88% | Apply Now |
| 13 | The American National Bank of Texas | 4 | $3.3M | $835K | 6.19% | Apply Now |
| 14 | U.S. Bank | 4 | $2.2M | $548K | 7.50% | Apply Now |
| 15 | BankVista | 3 | $4.5M | $1.5M | 8.23% | Apply Now |
Average rate is the simple average of the initial interest rate at approval. Most SBA loans are variable and priced off the prime rate, so loans approved in 2021 carry much lower rates than loans approved in 2024, and a lender that lent mostly in low-rate years looks cheaper here than it is today. See all 103 lenders for Ace Hardware in the Lender Finder
Ace Hardware SBA Loan Requirements And Terms
SBA 7(a) is the main loan program for opening a franchise. The brand’s listing on the SBA Franchise Directory removes the eligibility question, and the rest follows the same rules as every startup SBA loan.
10% From You
SBA requires at least 10% of the total project cost as your equity injection on a new business, and the lender cannot waive it. Savings, gifts and retirement funds all count; borrowed money counts only if you repay it from outside income.
What The Loan Can Pay For
The franchise fee, build-out and leasehold improvements, equipment, signage, opening inventory, training travel and working capital for the first months can all be in the project. Real estate you buy for the location can be included too.
Up To $5 Million
An SBA 7(a) loan goes up to $5 million per borrower. Multi-unit operators can finance several locations as long as the combined SBA exposure stays under the cap.
10 Years, 25 For Real Estate
Loans for the franchise fee, build-out, equipment and working capital repay over up to 10 years with no balloon. If you buy the building, that part can run up to 25 years.
Rates Follow Prime
Most Ace Hardware loans are variable, at the prime rate plus a spread SBA caps by loan size. The average initial rate on Ace Hardware loans since FY2020 was 6.72%, across years when prime ranged from 3.25% to 8.5%.
Projections, Not History
A new unit has no tax returns, so the lender underwrites your projections against the franchisor’s Item 19 earnings data, your experience and your personal finances. Owners of 20% or more personally guarantee the loan.
How Much Does It Cost To Finance An Ace Hardware?
The loan follows the project budget in the franchisor’s FDD Item 7. The example below uses the brand’s actual average SBA loan to show how a typical deal is split between you and the lender.
Example: An Ace Hardware At The Brand’s Average Loan
| Total project (franchise fee, build-out, equipment, working capital) | $1,161,000 |
| Your equity injection (10%) | $116,000 |
| SBA 7(a) loan (90%) | About $1,045,000 |
| Repayment term | 10 years, 25 for real estate |
Built from the $1.0M average SBA loan to Ace Hardware owners, FY2020 to FY2026. Illustration only; your franchisor’s FDD Item 7 gives the real range of opening costs, and some lenders ask for more than 10%.
Rates on SBA 7(a) loans are usually variable at prime plus a spread SBA caps by loan size; the historical average on Ace Hardware loans is 6.72%. Guarantee fees are set by SBA and can be financed, and there is no prepayment penalty on loans with terms under 15 years.
Buying An Existing Ace Hardware Instead?
Resales are underwritten on the unit’s actual tax returns, with a 10% Down Payment of which up to half can be a seller note on full standby. How SBA loans for franchise resales work.
How To Apply For An Ace Hardware SBA Loan
One team from the first call to opening day. You never pay us; the lender does, after closing.
Tell Us About The Franchise
Send the brand, the location and roughly what the total project will cost. It takes about 2 minutes and costs nothing.
We Match You To Lenders
We take your deal to the SBA lenders that already fund this brand, from our network of 50+, and you choose the best offer.
Underwriting
We package the franchise agreement, your projections and your financials, and handle lender questions until approval.
Close And Open
We run the closing checklist with the lender, the franchisor and your landlord until the loan funds.
Documents You Will Need
Lenders ask for the same core package on every franchise loan. Ace Hardware’s FDD does a lot of the work: Item 7 sets the project budget and Item 19 supports your projections. We help you gather anything missing and send it to lenders in one clean package.
- Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and the signed or draft franchise agreement
- Franchisor approval letter or confirmation you are in the approval process
- Business plan with 2 to 3 years of monthly projections
- Opening cost breakdown (FDD Item 7) and build-out bids
- Signed lease or letter of intent for the location
- Your last 3 years of personal tax returns
- Personal financial statement and resume
- Proof of your 10% equity injection
- Business tax returns for the last 3 years, if you already own units
What Borrowers Say
Many a loan broker couldn’t get our deal over the line but Ishan said he could and he delivered 110%.
Early in my search they quickly provided a strong SBA pre-qualification letter that helped me stand out with sellers.
Ace Hardware SBA Loan FAQ
Is Ace Hardware SBA approved?
Yes. Ace Hardware is on the SBA Franchise Directory under SBA Franchise Identifier Code S0067, listed since October 1, 2017. That means SBA lenders can finance an Ace Hardware with a 7(a) or 504 loan without a separate franchise eligibility review.
How much do I need down for an Ace Hardware SBA loan?
At least 10% of the total project cost, and the lender cannot waive it on a new business. At the brand’s average SBA loan of $1.0M, the typical total project is about $1.2M, so you would bring about $116K. Savings, gifts and retirement funds all count.
Which banks give SBA loans for Ace Hardware?
Live Oak Banking Company, Wells Fargo Bank and National Cooperative Bank made the most SBA loans to Ace Hardware owners from FY2020 to FY2026, and 103 lenders funded the brand in total. The best lender depends on your project size, state, real estate and whether this is your first unit. We take your deal to the lenders that fit from our network of 50+.
What interest rate will I pay on an Ace Hardware SBA loan?
Most SBA 7(a) loans are variable at the prime rate plus a spread that SBA caps by loan size, currently up to 3% over prime on loans above $350,000. The average initial rate on Ace Hardware loans since FY2020 was 6.72%, across years when prime ranged from 3.25% to 8.5%. Your rate depends on the lender, the loan size and your credit, and we negotiate it for you.
Can I get an SBA loan to buy an existing Ace Hardware?
Yes. A resale is underwritten on the unit’s tax returns and needs a 10% Down Payment, of which up to half can be a seller note on full standby. The franchisor still has to approve you as the new franchisee.
What does GoSBA cost?
Nothing. We are paid by the lender after your loan closes, not by you. GoSBA funded $320M across 126 loans in 2025, working with 50+ lenders.
Other Franchises SBA Lenders Fund
Keep reading: SBA Franchise Directory Search · Best 100 SBA Franchise Lenders · SBA Loans To Buy An Existing Franchise · SBA Lender Finder · Top 100 SBA Lenders
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