# Is there a minimum time in business for an SBA loan?

**Short answer:** Not as a general rule. SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. A, Ch. 1 sets no minimum for 7(a) or 504 loans. Seasonal CAPLines, Export Express, the Export Working Capital Program and the 7(a) Working Capital Pilot have 12-month tests. Lenders may set their own.

Canonical page: https://www.sbaexpress.loans/answers/is-there-a-minimum-time-in-business-for-an-sba-loan/
Last checked: 2026-11-08

No general minimum applies. SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. A, Ch. 1 lists the core eligibility tests, and time in business is not one of them. The SOP addresses start-ups directly.

## Programs that do set one

- Seasonal CAPLines: in operation at least 12 calendar months (Sec. B, Ch. 4, Para. A.3).
- Export Express: at least 12 full months in operation, unless the key personnel have demonstrated export expertise and the lender underwrites conventionally. See Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A.1.
- Export Working Capital Program: 12 full months of operations, or a lender analysis showing sufficient management experience (Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. B.1).
- 7(a) Working Capital Pilot: 12 full months of operations before filing (sba.gov/sba-lenders, read November 8, 2026).

## Where time in business still matters

- A business in operation for 1 year or less is a start-up for equity purposes. A 7(a) start-up must inject at least 10% of total project costs.
- A New Business, open 2 years or less at approval, generally contributes more on a 504 loan (Sec. C, Ch. 1, Para. B).
- Lenders may rely on projections when history is thin.

## Lender rules

Lenders may set their own time-in-business minimums, and those vary by lender. An SBA rule allowing a start-up does not require any lender to make that loan.

## Sources

- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. A, Ch. 1 (p. 13)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 4, Para. A.3 (about p. 145)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A.1 (p. 168)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. B.1 (p. 175)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [sba.gov/sba-lenders (read November 8, 2026)](https://www.sba.gov/sba-lenders)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. C, Ch. 1, Para. B (p. 221)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)