Annual Report · Updated FY 2025 close · Published Q1 2026
State of SBA Lending — 2026 Annual Report
A yearly benchmark of the SBA lending market: total 7(a) and 504 volume, dominant product mix, average loan size shifts, and how Preferred Lender share is reshaping approval velocity.
The data
Aggregate 7(a) and 504 origination volume, average loan size, and approval velocity across FY2025.
| Metric | FY 2025 | YoY change |
|---|---|---|
| 7(a) originations (count) | ~62,900 | +7.4% |
| 7(a) originations ($B) | $32.1B | +11.2% |
| 504 originations ($B) | $8.7B | +4.9% |
| Average 7(a) loan size | $510K | +3.5% |
| PLP share of 7(a) volume | 78% | +3 pts |
| Median PLP funding time (days) | 28 | -6 days |
| Non-PLP funding time (days) | 82 | -4 days |
Methodology
SBA program-level data via 7(a) and 504 FOIA disclosures, cross-referenced with Inflection Financing origination data for velocity metrics.
Key takeaways
- →PLP lenders now originate roughly 4 of every 5 SBA 7(a) dollars — a share that continues to grow.
- →The average 7(a) loan size crossed $500K for the first time in FY2025 as acquisition financing outpaced working-capital use.
- →Funding time is the single biggest reason borrowers switch from non-PLP banks to Preferred Lenders like Inflection Financing.
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<blockquote cite="https://inflectionfinancing.com/data/state-of-sba-lending-2026"><p><strong>PLP lenders now originate roughly 4 of every 5 SBA 7(a) dollars — a share that continues to grow.</strong></p><footer>Source: <a href="https://inflectionfinancing.com/data/state-of-sba-lending-2026">Inflection Financing — State of SBA Lending — 2026 Annual Report</a></footer></blockquote>
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Citation: Inflection Financing Commercial Lending Data, "State of SBA Lending — 2026 Annual Report" (FY 2025 close · Published Q1 2026). Available at inflectionfinancing.com/data/state-of-sba-lending-2026.
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