# How long does SBA take to review a 7(a) application?

**Short answer:** SBA lists a turnaround time of 5-10 business days for Standard 7(a) loans (sba.gov/sba-lenders, read November 8, 2026). SBA lists a turnaround time of 2-10 business days for 7(a) Small loans (sba.gov/sba-lenders, read November 8, 2026). Those rows cover SBA's own step, not your whole timeline.

Canonical page: https://www.sbaexpress.loans/answers/how-long-does-sba-take-to-review-a-7a-application/
Last checked: 2026-11-09

SBA lists a turnaround time of 5-10 business days for Standard 7(a) loans (sba.gov/sba-lenders, read November 8, 2026). SBA lists a turnaround time of 2-10 business days for 7(a) Small loans (sba.gov/sba-lenders, read November 8, 2026). SBA labels both as SBA turnaround time, so they describe SBA's own step.

## What those figures leave out

SBA's lender page gives no figure for the full path from application to funding. Time spent at the lender sits outside that row. So do document gathering, appraisals, business valuations and closing. All of that varies by lender and by deal.

## Delegated loans

On a delegated loan, SBA does not review the lender's credit analysis before issuing a loan number (SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 1, Para. C.1.b, p. 118). SBA's table does not give separate figures for delegated and non-delegated loans.

## SBA Express

SBA publishes no turnaround time for SBA Express; the lender makes the credit decision.

## What SBA's public data cannot show

SBA's public 7(a) loan file lists approved loans only. It has no application dates and no declined requests, so it cannot measure how long a decision took.

## How to get a usable answer

- Ask each lender for its own timeline, in writing.
- Ask whether it will process your loan under delegated authority.
- Ask when it plans to order appraisals or valuations.

Treat any timeline as that lender's estimate.

## Sources

- [SBA, Terms, conditions and eligibility for 7(a) lenders, sba.gov/sba-lenders (read November 8, 2026)](https://www.sba.gov/sba-lenders)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 1, Para. C.1.b (p. 118)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SBA 7(a) loan file (FOIA), data as of June 30, 2026](https://data.sba.gov/dataset/7a-504-foia)