Best Code Ninjas SBA Lenders (2027)
Code Ninjas is on the SBA Franchise Directory (SBA Franchise Identifier Code S2157), so SBA lenders can finance a new or existing Code Ninjas location with an SBA 7(a) loan. From FY2020 to FY2026, 30 SBA lenders made 61 loans totaling $14.6 million to Code Ninjas owners, an average of $240K per loan at an average initial rate of 7.66%. 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 Code Ninjas 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
- Code Ninjas is SBA approved: it is on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S2157, listed since October 1, 2017.
- 61 SBA 7(a) loans went to Code Ninjas owners from FY2020 to FY2026, about 9 a year, averaging $240K, smaller than the $839K average across all franchise brands.
- The Huntington National Bank, The Bancorp Bank and Old National Bank are the most active Code Ninjas lenders; the top 5 lenders made 51% 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 Code Ninjas loans was 7.66%, below the 8.18% average for all franchise loans.
Is Code Ninjas SBA Approved?
Yes. Code Ninjas is on the SBA Franchise Directory and eligible for SBA financing. SBA has reviewed the Code Ninjas franchise agreement and issued SBA Franchise Identifier Code S2157. SBA lenders can finance a new or existing Code Ninjas 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.
SBA attaches conditions to this brand’s listing:
- If the real estate where the business sits is collateral for the SBA loan, the franchisor’s lease rider or addendum is not signed, so the lender keeps a clean lien on the property.
Check any other brand in the SBA Franchise Directory search.
Yes. Code Ninjas is on the SBA Franchise Directory and eligible for SBA financing.
SBA has reviewed the Code Ninjas franchise agreement and issued SBA Franchise Identifier Code S2157. SBA lenders can finance a new or existing Code Ninjas 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
- Code Ninjas
- SBA Franchise Identifier Code
- S2157
- Meets the FTC definition of a franchise
- Yes
- Franchisor certification received
- Yes
- On the directory since
- October 1, 2017
- If the real estate where the business sits is collateral for the SBA loan, the franchisor’s lease rider or addendum is not signed, so the lender keeps a clean lien on the property.
SBA’s wording
When the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Lease Rider may not be executed.
SBA lenders that fund Code Ninjas
30 lenders made 61 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $14.6M to Code Ninjas owners from FY2020 to FY2026, an average of $240K at an average initial rate of 7.66%.
| # | Lender | Loans | Dollars | Avg Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National Bank | 15 | $2.9M | 8.70% | Apply Now |
| 2 | The Bancorp Bank | 6 | $1.4M | 6.04% | Apply Now |
| 3 | Old National Bank | 4 | $566K | 6.00% | Apply Now |
| 4 | Stearns Bank | 3 | $721K | 7.83% | Apply Now |
| 5 | U.S. Bank | 3 | $682K | 9.41% | Apply Now |
| 6 | Wells Fargo Bank | 3 | $621K | 5.58% | Apply Now |
| 7 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | 2 | $653K | 6.38% | Apply Now |
| 8 | United Community Bank | 2 | $565K | 6.00% | Apply Now |
Why SBA Lenders Fund Code Ninjas
Between October 2019 and September 2026, SBA lenders approved 61 7(a) loans to Code Ninjas franchisees, $14.6 million in all. That is roughly 9 loans a year, which puts Code Ninjas at #151 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 Code Ninjas 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 Code Ninjas SBA loan was $240K, smaller than the $839K average across all franchise brands. Smaller loans point to leased locations, lighter build-outs and single-unit first-time owners, which is where SBA Express lines and community banks compete hardest.
The Huntington National Bank, The Bancorp Bank and Old National Bank lead the brand by loan count, and the five most active lenders account for 51% of all Code Ninjas SBA loans. That concentration means a few lenders have an actual Code Ninjas program, with brand-specific credit boxes and franchisor relationships. Starting with them saves weeks. GoSBA works with 50+ SBA lenders and takes each Code Ninjas deal to the ones that fit, at no cost to you.
Top Code Ninjas SBA Lenders (2027)
Ranked by the number of SBA 7(a) loans to Code Ninjas owners from FY2020 to FY2026. The Huntington National Bank, The Bancorp Bank and Old National 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 | Code Ninjas Loans | Dollars | Average Loan | Average Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National Bank | 15 | $2.9M | $191K | 8.70% | Apply Now |
| 2 | The Bancorp Bank | 6 | $1.4M | $234K | 6.04% | Apply Now |
| 3 | Old National Bank | 4 | $566K | $142K | 6.00% | Apply Now |
| 4 | Stearns Bank | 3 | $721K | $240K | 7.83% | Apply Now |
| 5 | U.S. Bank | 3 | $682K | $227K | 9.41% | Apply Now |
| 6 | Wells Fargo Bank | 3 | $621K | $207K | 5.58% | Apply Now |
| 7 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | 2 | $653K | $327K | 6.38% | Apply Now |
| 8 | United Community Bank | 2 | $565K | $283K | 6.00% | Apply Now |
| 9 | Provident Bank | 2 | $500K | $250K | 6.75% | Apply Now |
| 10 | US Metro Bank | 1 | $599K | $599K | 4.75% | Apply Now |
| 11 | United Midwest Savings Bank | 1 | $558K | $558K | 10.25% | Apply Now |
| 12 | Byline Bank | 1 | $440K | $440K | 9.50% | Apply Now |
| 13 | Patriot Bank | 1 | $421K | $421K | 7.50% | Apply Now |
| 14 | Port 51 Lending LLC | 1 | $392K | $392K | 10.25% | Apply Now |
| 15 | Readycap Lending | 1 | $350K | $350K | 9.50% | 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 30 lenders for Code Ninjas in the Lender Finder
Code Ninjas 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 Code Ninjas loans are variable, at the prime rate plus a spread SBA caps by loan size. The average initial rate on Code Ninjas loans since FY2020 was 7.66%, 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 A Code Ninjas?
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: A Code Ninjas At The Brand’s Average Loan
| Total project (franchise fee, build-out, equipment, working capital) | $267,000 |
| Your equity injection (10%) | $27,000 |
| SBA 7(a) loan (90%) | About $240,000 |
| Repayment term | 10 years, 25 for real estate |
Built from the $240K average SBA loan to Code Ninjas 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 Code Ninjas loans is 7.66%. 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 Code Ninjas 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 A Code Ninjas 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. Code Ninjas’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
Without Ishan’s guidance, persistence, and expertise, I do not believe I would have closed my deal.
Ishan and the folks at GoSBA were instrumental in making our small business acquisition dreams a reality!
Code Ninjas SBA Loan FAQ
Is Code Ninjas SBA approved?
Yes. Code Ninjas is on the SBA Franchise Directory under SBA Franchise Identifier Code S2157, listed since October 1, 2017. That means SBA lenders can finance a Code Ninjas with a 7(a) or 504 loan without a separate franchise eligibility review.
How much do I need down for a Code Ninjas 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 $240K, the typical total project is about $267K, so you would bring about $27K. Savings, gifts and retirement funds all count.
Which banks give SBA loans for Code Ninjas?
The Huntington National Bank, The Bancorp Bank and Old National Bank made the most SBA loans to Code Ninjas owners from FY2020 to FY2026, and 30 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 a Code Ninjas 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 Code Ninjas loans since FY2020 was 7.66%, 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 Code Ninjas?
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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