# Export Express loans **Short answer:** Export Express is a 7(a) loan or line of up to $500,000 for export development. SBA guarantees 90% on loans of $350,000 or less and 75% on larger loans. The lender decides without prior SBA review (SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A; App. 16). Canonical page: https://www.sbaexpress.loans/sba-programs/export-express/ Last checked: 2026-11-09 ## Key facts **Export Express loans: key facts** | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Maximum loan | $500,000 | | SBA guaranty share | 90% or 75%, by loan size | | Export Express line of credit term | 7 years | | No collateral required up to | $50,000 | | Operating history | at least 12 full months in operation, unless the key personnel have demonstrated export expertise and the lender underwrites conventionally | | Maximum variable rate | Prime plus 3.0 to 6.5 percentage points, depending on loan size | | Credit decision | Made by the lender, without prior SBA review | ## On this page - [What Export Express is](#what-export-express-is) - [Who qualifies](#who-qualifies) - [What it can pay for](#what-it-can-pay-for) - [Limits, guaranty and terms](#limits-guaranty-and-terms) - [Rates and fees](#rates-and-fees) - [Collateral and the credit decision](#collateral-and-the-credit-decision) - [What you give the lender](#what-you-give-the-lender) - [How it compares with SBA Express](#how-it-compares-with-sba-express) - [What this page cannot tell you](#what-this-page-cannot-tell-you) ## What Export Express is Export Express guarantees smaller revolving lines and term loans for small businesses developing the export side of their business (Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A). It offers many of the streamlined features of SBA Express, with a higher guaranty to offset international credit risk. Citations here refer to SOP 50 10 8.1, effective October 1, 2026. ## Who qualifies You must meet the core rules in Section A. You also need at least 12 full months in operation, unless the key personnel have demonstrated export expertise and the lender underwrites conventionally (Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A.1). That time does not have to be spent exporting. Accommodation businesses (NAICS 721) and gasoline stations (NAICS 457) cannot use Export Express. They may use other 7(a) programs (Para. A.2). ## What it can pay for An Export Express loan must fund an export development activity (Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A.1.a): - Translating brochures or catalogs for markets outside the United States. - A general line of credit for exports. At least 70% of the line must go to export purposes. - Performing a service contract for buyers outside the United States. - Financing specific export orders. - Buying, building or improving a U.S. production facility or equipment used to produce exports. - Term loans and other financing to develop a market outside the United States. It cannot finance operations outside the United States, except marketing or distributing U.S. exports. It cannot fund a change of ownership (Para. A.1.c). Refinancing follows Appendix 14. ## Limits, guaranty and terms - **Maximum:** $500,000, gross (Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A.3). - **Guaranty:** 90% on loans of $350,000 or less, and 75% on larger loans (App. 16, Para. B.5). - **Multiple loans:** Export Express loans approved within 90 days that together exceed $350,000 are limited to a combined 75% guaranty (App. 16, Para. B.5). - **Export Express lines of credit:** up to 7 years, including any term-out (App. 17, Para. B.6). - **Export Express term loans:** the general 7(a) maximums apply (App. 17, Para. A). ## Rates and fees The rate is negotiated, up to the 7(a) maximum of Prime plus 3.0 to 6.5 percentage points, depending on loan size (Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A.3.d). A lender may use its own base rate, but the rate cannot exceed that maximum (App. 18, Para. B.6). The guaranty fee follows the 7(a) schedule (Information Notice 5000-881797). For loans approved October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027: - $150,000 or less: 2% of the guaranteed portion. - $150,001 to $500,000: 3% of the guaranteed portion. - Maturity of 12 months or less: 0.25% of the guaranteed portion. - Waiver: 0% for loans of $700,000 or less to manufacturers (NAICS 31-33), listed food supply chain businesses and businesses in rural areas. ## Collateral and the credit decision SBA does not require collateral on an Export Express loan of $50,000 or less (App. 19, Para. B.6). Above that, the lender follows its written policies for similar non-SBA loans. SBA has authorized Export Express lenders to make the credit decision without prior SBA review (Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A.4.b). The lender must still show a reasonable assurance of repayment and document why credit is not available elsewhere. Whether to require equity is left to the lender. When the loan finances specific export deals, the lender must check Ex-Im Bank's Country Limitation Schedule and the OFAC sanctions lists (Para. A.1.d). ## What you give the lender SBA requires the lender to collect this information from you (Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A.1.e): - Estimated total export sales the loan will support. - A brief description of the product or service you will export. - How the loan will open or expand an export market. - The countries you will export to. - Estimated export sales for the 12 months after the application date. ## How it compares with SBA Express - **Guaranty.** Export Express carries 90% or 75%. SBA Express carries 50%. - **Line of credit term.** Export Express lines can run 7 years. SBA Express lines can run 10 years, including any term-out period. - **Purpose.** Export Express must fund export development. [SBA Express](https://www.sbaexpress.loans/sba-programs/sba-express/) has no export test. - **Business purchases.** Export Express cannot fund one. SBA Express can, under Appendix 15. ## What this page cannot tell you Lenders set their own forms, credit policies and collateral practices within SBA's rules, so those vary by lender. For application help, SBA's lender page points to the local U.S. Export Assistance Center (sba.gov/sba-lenders, read November 8, 2026). We do not estimate approval odds. ## Sources - [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 5, Para. A (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, App. 14, Para. B.6 (Para. B begins p. 358)](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, App. 16, Para. B.5 (Para. B begins p. 388)](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, App. 17, Para. B.6 (Para. B begins p. 391)](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, App. 18, Para. B.6 (Para. B begins p. 401)](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, App. 19, Para. B.6 (Para. B begins p. 408)](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) - [SBA Information Notice 5000-881797, FY 2027 7(a) fees (Sept. 3, 2026)](https://legacy.sba.gov/document/information-notice-5000-881797-fy-2027-7a-program-fees) - [13 CFR ยง 120.214(d)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-120.214) - [SBA Information Notice 5000-882227, p. 1 (Sept. 25, 2026)](https://legacy.sba.gov/document/information-notice-5000-882227-issuance-technical-updates-sop-50-10-81)