Business loans by industry
Every industry borrows differently. Pick yours to compare the loan types that fit it — amounts, rates, terms and how fast each one funds.
- 30+ bank, SBA and non-bank lenders
- No hard credit pull to start
- An advisor within one business day
Food, drink & hospitality
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Restaurants Seasonal cash flow, equipment & expansion financing Most use: SBA 7(a) Buying a $800,000 restaurant: $80,000 equity -
Bar & Liquor Store Inventory, licensing, renovation & cash flow loans Most use: Line of credit Credit line sized from inventory turns: about $152,000 -
Hotels & Hospitality Renovation, seasonal funding & property loans Most use: Line of credit Four slow months: $240,000 shortfall to carry
Retail & franchise
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Retail Stores Inventory, remodels & multi-location growth funding Most use: Line of credit Holiday stock: $6,333 interest on a line vs $32,324 on a term loan -
Gas Station & Convenience Store Inventory, upgrades & property acquisition loans Most use: Equipment financing New dispensers: about 4.2 cents a gallon -
Franchise SBA & franchise-specific acquisition loans Most use: SBA 7(a) New unit: $60,000 equity on a $600,000 FDD Item 7
Health & personal services
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Healthcare Practice Practice growth, equipment & acquisition loans Most use: Line of credit Payers slow from 45 to 60 days: $75,000 tied up -
Dental Practice Equipment, expansion & practice acquisition loans Most use: SBA 7(a) Buying a practice: 1.57x coverage after the dentist’s salary -
Salons & Spas Equipment, build-out & expansion funding Most use: SBA 7(a) Second location: about $486 per chair a month -
Gym & Fitness Center Equipment, membership growth & expansion funding Most use: Equipment financing Cardio refresh: about $3.46 per member a month -
Pet Services & Grooming Grooming, boarding & veterinary practice financing Most use: Equipment financing Grooming van: about 25 appointments a month -
Laundromat Equipment replacement, build-out & new locations Most use: SBA 7(a) Buying a laundromat: $60,000 equity on $600,000
Automotive
Construction & trades
Transportation, logistics & industrial
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Trucking Fleet financing, fuel costs & cash flow solutions Most use: Factoring or line of credit Factoring about 40% a year vs a 10% line - Logistics & Delivery Fleet expansion, technology upgrades, and working capital for logistics and last-mile delivery Most use: Fleet financing 2-year contract, 5-year van loan: $259,600 left
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Warehouse & Distribution Facility, fleet, inventory & working capital loans Most use: Equipment financing Racking and forklifts: about $3.36 per pallet position -
Manufacturing Equipment, payroll & working capital loans Most use: Equipment financing CNC machine: $6,414 a month vs $12,000 outsourcing
Find the right loan for your industry
How each industry gets paid decides which loan fits. The worked example on each guide shows the numbers.
How your cash cycle shapes the loan
Lenders look at when money arrives as much as how much. Five patterns cover these industries:
| How revenue arrives | Industries | The cash pressure | Loans that fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily card and cash sales | Restaurants, Retail Stores, Bar & Liquor Store, Gas Station & Convenience Store, Laundromat | Inventory bought ahead of sales; seasonal dips | Line of credit for stock and slow months; equipment financing for kitchens, coolers and machines |
| Monthly memberships | Gym & Fitness Center, Car Wash | Equipment that wears out on a cycle; churn | Equipment loans no longer than the equipment’s life, sized to member count |
| Insurance and payer reimbursements | Healthcare Practice, Dental Practice | Weeks between treatment and payment | Line of credit sized to days in receivables; SBA 7(a) to buy a practice |
| Invoices on 30–90 day terms | Construction, HVAC & Plumbing, Trucking, Logistics & Delivery, Warehouse & Distribution, Manufacturing | Costs paid before customers pay; retainage | Line of credit or factoring for receivables; equipment and fleet financing |
| Paid at service, seasonal | Hotels & Hospitality, Salons & Spas, Auto Repair Shop, Pet Services & Grooming | Slow seasons; buildout and equipment | Line of credit for the off-season; equipment financing; SBA 7(a) for a new location |
Rates by loan type: bank lines of credit 8.75–11%, bank term loans 7.5–11%, SBA 7(a) 8.5–11.5%, bank equipment financing 6.5–12% — ranges as of September 2026.
SBA lending by industry, FY2025
In fiscal 2025 (Oct 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2025) SBA approved 78,078 7(a) loans and 6,762 504 loans. This is how they split across these industries, from SBA’s own loan-level data.
| Industry | 7(a) loans | Share of 7(a) | Median 7(a) loan | 504 loans | Median 504 SBA share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 9,177 | 11.8% | $150K | 560 | $695K |
| Restaurants | 7,419 | 9.5% | $275K | 601 | $725K |
| Retail Stores | 7,045 | 9.0% | $150K | 584 | $693K |
| Manufacturing | 4,456 | 5.7% | $240K | 538 | $1.1M |
| Healthcare Practice | 3,812 | 4.9% | $150K | 451 | $459K |
| Salons & Spas | 2,859 | 3.7% | $101K | 105 | $376K |
| Trucking | 2,397 | 3.1% | $85K | 88 | $1.0M |
| Auto Repair Shop | 2,115 | 2.7% | $165K | 267 | $566K |
| Gym & Fitness Center | 1,607 | 2.1% | $250K | 109 | $1.2M |
| HVAC & Plumbing | 1,406 | 1.8% | $200K | 121 | $597K |
| Bar & Liquor Store | 1,140 | 1.5% | $370K | 80 | $584K |
| Gas Station & Convenience Store | 1,004 | 1.3% | $748K | 125 | $1.2M |
| Hotels & Hospitality | 831 | 1.1% | $2.4M | 414 | $2.3M |
| Dental Practice | 811 | 1.0% | $450K | 90 | $646K |
| Pet Services & Grooming | 680 | 0.9% | $250K | 51 | $524K |
| Logistics & Delivery | 497 | 0.6% | $199K | 10 | $1.1M |
| Car Wash | 243 | 0.3% | $428K | 99 | $1.3M |
| Laundromat | 200 | 0.3% | $497K | 28 | $555K |
| Warehouse & Distribution | 72 | 0.1% | $300K | 22 | $1.2M |
| Franchise (any industry) | 7,174 | 9.2% | $380K | 541 | $1.8M |
| All industries | 78,078 | 100% | $167K | 6,762 | $747K |
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, 7(a) & 504 FOIA loan data, data as of June 30, 2026. Loans approved in fiscal 2025; industry from the NAICS code the lender reported. 7(a) amounts are the full loan. 504 amounts are SBA’s share only — usually about 40% of the project, alongside a bank first loan and your down payment. Franchise loans also appear in their industry row. Counts show what SBA approved, not approval odds. Full SBA lending report — by state, size and lender →
How it works
- Pick your industry and the purpose Equipment, inventory, payroll between payments, buying a business or a second location — the purpose decides which loan types fit.
- Share a few documents Usually 3–6 months of business bank statements and your latest tax return to start; SBA loans add more later. No hard credit pull to start.
- Talk to an advisor An advisor contacts you within one business day and compares bank, SBA and non-bank options from 30+ lenders.
- Compare offers in writing Rate, fees, term, total cost and prepayment side by side, with our compensation shown before you sign.
- Fund Equipment financing can fund in days; SBA 7(a) loans take about 30–60 days from a complete application.
When a loan closes, BestLoanUSA may receive part of the broker fee paid on that loan. You never pay us to apply or to get advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best type of business loan for my industry?
Match the loan to what the money is for, not to the industry name. Equipment and vehicles fit equipment financing secured by the asset; inventory and payroll gaps fit a line of credit; slow-paying invoices can be bridged with a line or factoring; buying a business or a second location usually fits SBA 7(a). Each industry guide above has a worked example — for instance, a contractor’s cash gap or buying a restaurant.
How much can my business borrow?
Lenders size a loan so your cash flow covers the payments with room to spare — often about 1.25 times — and check collateral and credit. We arrange business loans from $25K; SBA 7(a) loans go up to $5 million. A quick test: annual payments × 1.25 should be less than your yearly cash flow before debt.
Can a new business get a loan?
Yes, though with fewer options. SBA sets no minimum time in business; a startup must put in at least 10% of the project as equity, and lenders look closely at experience and projections. Equipment financing, secured by the equipment, is often the most accessible first loan. Many banks prefer about two years of history.
What credit score do I need for a business loan?
It depends on the loan. SBA sets no minimum score; lenders set their own, typically 680+ for bank and SBA loans; equipment financing and secured loans are more flexible because the asset backs them. Strong cash flow and collateral can offset a lower score, and checking your options with us does not affect your credit.
Is BestLoanUSA a lender?
No. BestLoanUSA is a business financing advisory: we compare offers from 30+ lenders for your business, and the lender makes the credit decision and funds the loan. Applying and advice are free; when a loan closes, we may receive part of the broker fee paid on it, disclosed in writing before you sign.