WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration has doubled the amount qualified borrowers may obtain through its 7(a) and 504 loan programs to a combined $10 million, expanding access to capital for companies financing real estate, equipment, working capital and growth.
The policy took effect July 4 and raises the agency’s cumulative financing ceiling from $5 million, the first increase in more than a decade.
Qualified borrowers who obtain a 7(a) loan first may now receive as much as $5 million through that program and another $5 million through the 504 program.
The change separates existing 7(a) balances from the 504 loan limit, allowing capital-intensive businesses to combine working-capital financing with longer-term funding for property and equipment.
SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler characterized the higher ceiling as a response to growing financing needs among expanding small businesses.
“By doubling the cumulative 7(a) and 504 loan limit to $10 million, the Trump SBA is unlocking the largest financing opportunity in agency history and giving job creators the flexibility they need to grow,” Loeffler stated.
Small manufacturers may also seek as much as $5 million through the 7(a) program while continuing to use multiple 504 loans, provided each 504 loan finances a separate qualifying project.
The SBA positioned the policy as part of a broader push to direct more federally backed capital toward manufacturing, agriculture, housing, energy and transportation.
The agency reported that new business applications averaged 509,000 per month in 2026 and that the economy added more than 500,000 jobs during the past four months. Those figures were presented by the SBA as evidence of increased demand for business financing.
The SBA has also waived certain loan fees for manufacturers, established a lending program focused on domestic manufacturing and introduced 90% loan guarantees for qualifying manufacturers and businesses within the food supply chain.
Its 7(a) program provides government-backed financing for working capital, equipment, real estate and expansion through participating private lenders.
The 504 program provides long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets through Certified Development Companies, nonprofit organizations regulated by the SBA.
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