--- title: Small Business Loans in San Francisco - SmartBiz Loans description: If you own a small business in San Francisco, here’s how to get the funds you deserve to grow. image: https://smartbizbank.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/hardik-pandya-535344-unsplash-4-3.jpg --- - [Share](https://smartbizbank.com/blog/small-business-loans-in-san-francisco#) - - - - [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://smartbizbank.com/blog/small-business-loans-in-san-francisco](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://smartbizbank.com/blog/small-business-loans-in-san-francisco) # Small Business Loans in San Francisco August 19, 2022 By [Suzanne Robertson ](https://smartbizbank.com/blog/author/suzanne-robertson) Despite its high cost of living, San Francisco continues to remain one of the world's greatest cities to grow a small business into an empire. According to [Oberlo](https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/number-of-small-business-in-the-us), San Francisco is in the top ten for cities in the world that receive the most investment from venture capitalists. San Francisco is home to many technology companies including SmartBiz. [![See if you pre-qualify](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21458256/6c45bc84-909c-4147-81d0-bf968300b4f3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21458256/6c45bc84-909c-4147-81d0-bf968300b4f3) Along with amazing landmarks and attractions, San Francisco has one of the world’s most educated workforces. With this in mind, SF can be a great place to operate a business. Here's what you need to know about getting the low-cost funds you deserve to grow your business in San Francisco. ## Financing Options for Established San Francisco Businesses If you need funds for inventory, working capital, hiring or more, there are lots of options. Some are fast, others take more time, some are costly and others offer low-cost funds. So where do you turn for low cost funds? Here are options available in San Francisco for small businesses. ## SBA Loans If you qualify, the Small Business Administration’s low-cost loan programs can be your best option. SBA loans have low rates, long terms and very low payments to fuel stability, growth and savings. There are three types of SBA loan programs available for business owners, the [7(a) Loan Program](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/small-business-loans/fast-facts-what-is-the-sba-what-is-an-sba-loan), the CDC/504 Loan Program and the Microloan Program. ### The 7(a) Loan Program An SBA 7(a) loan can be used for a variety of purposes. - **Working Capital** – Purchase equipment, increase inventory, add marketing programs, for operating expenses to hire additional staff. - **Debt Consolidation Loans** – Refinance merchant cash advances, short-term business loans, high interest business loans, daily or weekly payment loans or business credit cards. - **Commercial Real Estate** – Refinance an existing commercial real estate mortgage, buy an office building or other owner-occupied commercial space. For in-depth information about the popular SBA 7(a) loan program, visit the SmartBiz Small Business blog and review our comprehensive article: [What is an SBA Loan?](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/small-business-loans/fast-facts-what-is-the-sba-what-is-an-sba-loan) ### The 504 Loan Program This program was created to give small businesses low cost funds for expansion or modernization. Typically, up to 50% of project costs are funded by a lender backed by the SBA. CDCs (Community Development Corporations) usually fund up to 40% of the project cost. The final 10% is a cash down payment expected to come from the small business owner. A [504 SBA loan](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/504-loans) might be a good fit for small business owners interested in purchasing a commercial real estate property and if their unique business circumstances fit with the public policy goals of your local CDC. Find a CDC in San Francisco [here](https://www.sba.gov/partners/lenders/cdc504-loan-program/list-cdcs). ### The Microloan Program The [Microloan Program](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/microloans) is for very small businesses, including start-ups and provides loans of up to $50,000. Requirements to qualify for a microloan can vary depending on the lender. Proceeds from an SBA Microloan can be used for most business expenses but not for paying down debt or real estate purchases. ## Non-SBA Loans in San Francisco There are plenty of non-SBA loan options available in San Francisco although they may have higher rates, shorter terms and larger payments. - **Business Lines of Credit** A business line of credit allows you to borrow funds up to a limit based on your credit, typically smaller than a term loan. You only pay interest on the amount you use, and you can continue borrowing as necessary until you reach the set maximum. These loans are usually unsecured, meaning that you won’t have to provide collateral to qualify. For in-depth information, read this post from the SmartBiz Blog: [Small Business Lines of Credit Pros and Cons](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/small-business-loans/small-business-lines-of-credit-pros-cons) Business credit cards are [revolving lines of credit](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/business-credit/how-does-a-line-of-credit-work-and-when-is-it-useful). The main distinction is that they don’t terminate once the predetermined limit is reached. They work like personal credit cards, with varying spending rewards and offers depending on the lender. Learn more here: [5 Business Credit Card Myths](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/business-credit/5-business-credit-card-myths). - **Merchant Cash Advances** A merchant cash advance (MCA) is most often used by small businesses that accept credit and debit card sales. You receive a specific sum in advance that is repaid either by a percent deduction from daily transactions or through daily or weekly payments. Keep in mind that MCAs often lead to extremely high annual percentage rates. Even the minimum within the range can be several times larger than term loan annual percentage rates and can reach up to well over 300%. For more info, read [What You Need to Know About an MCA](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/business-finances/what-your-business-needs-to-know-about-merchant-cash-advances). ## Bank Term Loans If your business isn’t quite ready for an SBA loan, or need funds more quickly than an SBA loan, consider applying for a bank term loan. [SmartBiz Loans offers term loans](https://www.smartbizloans.com/bank-term-loans) through its bank partners for working capital, debt refinance and new equipment purchase. Here’s information on a term loan from a SmartBiz bank partner: - $30,000 to $200,000 loan amounts - 2 – 5 year repayment terms - Fixed interest rate* - Monthly repayments - No pre-payment penalties *Interest rate depends on loan term and the applicant's credit and financial profile. [![See if you pre-qualify](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21458256/ff58ca82-d4f3-40af-ab9e-19ecd5636cab.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21458256/ff58ca82-d4f3-40af-ab9e-19ecd5636cab)     ## Advantages of SBA 7(a) Loans in San Francisco SBA 7(a) loans are known as the “gold standard” in small business funding and can help you meet your goals. An SBA 7(a) loan has several advantages compared to other options including: - Low interest rates - Long terms - Very low monthly payments - Available for many uses - Can help build business credit - No prepayment penalty - Available nationwide Read why SBA loans are so popular on the SmartBiz website [here](https://www.smartbizloans.com/why-sba-loans). ## Requirements to apply for an SBA 7(a) loan in San Francisco Lenders and loan programs have unique eligibility requirements for an SBA loan. For example, some lenders may require a business plan while others do not. (SmartBiz Loans does not require a business plan). [Requirements](https://www.smartbizloans.com/requirements-eligibility) for an SBA loan facilitated by SmartBiz include: - Time in business must be above 2 years - Business owner’s personal credit score must be above 650 - The business must be U.S. based and owned by US citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident who is at least 21-years old - No outstanding tax liens - No bankruptcies or foreclosures in the past 3 years - No recent charge-offs or settlements - Current on government-related loans ## How to apply for an SBA 7(a) loan in San Francisco **Step 1**: Check your eligibility. Before you even begin your application, make sure your business is eligible. Visit the [SBA website](https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans) for a list of eligible businesses. You must also meet the requirements listed above. **Step 2**: Review requirements and gather paperwork. The more organized you are, the swifter the application process will move. For a list of documents required for an SBA loan, visit the SmartBiz Blog. [How to Get an SBA Loan: Documents You Need ](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/small-business-loans/small-businesses-documents-you-need-to-apply-for-sba-loans) **Step 3**: Choose a lender. Although SmartBiz Loans is not a lender, we work with multiple banks to match you with the lender most likely to fund. You won’t waste time going from bank to bank. This video has step-by-step information about how to get an SBA loan:     When you work with SmartBiz Loans, expert support is available. The SmartBiz team is on hand to help facilitate the process. Our loan consultants can answer any questions that might come up during the loan process. To read 5-star reviews about our customer service, visit Google Reviews, the Consumer Affairs website or the [SmartBiz Loans TrustPilot page](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/smartbizloans.com). Discover if you’re prequalified for a low-cost SBA loan in minutes without impacting your credit score [here](https://www.smartbizloans.com/apply?partner_id=smartbiz&referrer=null). [![See if you pre-qualify](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21458256/7d8f1665-4bce-4703-ac80-79e7821f4a82.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21458256/7d8f1665-4bce-4703-ac80-79e7821f4a82) ![Q3 Promo E1](https://smartbizbank.com/hubfs/Q3%20Promo%20Email%20Images/Q3%20Promo%20E1.png) ### Access Funds Quickly Apply for a Bank Term Loan from a bank in our trusted network [![See if you pre-qualify](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21458256/08df270b-4561-4437-a5aa-11d47ef08efb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21458256/08df270b-4561-4437-a5aa-11d47ef08efb) - [Follow SmartBiz](https://smartbizbank.com/blog/small-business-loans-in-san-francisco#) - - - - - ### Access to the right loan for right now We’re connecting small businesses with SBA, bank term loans, lines of credit, and flexible financing options. [![See if you pre-qualify](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21458256/08df270b-4561-4437-a5aa-11d47ef08efb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21458256/08df270b-4561-4437-a5aa-11d47ef08efb) ##### Topic - [Business Loans](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/tag/business-loans) - [Business Stories](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/tag/business-stories) - [Marketing](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/tag/marketing) - [Money Management](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/tag/money-management) - [Operations](https://smartbizloans.com/blog/tag/operations) ## Related Posts [ See all blog posts ](https://smartbizbank.com/blog) [Money Management July 01, 2026 ## How to Reforecast Your Budget Based on Summer Trends When you built your company’s budget for this year, you no doubt looked at past data. However, there were probably also some future projections that... Read More ](https://smartbizbank.com/blog/reforecast-your-budget-with-summer-trends-smartbiz-bank) [Money Management June 24, 2026 ## The Counterintuitive Truth About Summer Slowdowns For many small business owners, summer is an uncomfortable time of year. Many consumers travel or spend more time at home, which typically leads to them making fewer... Read More ](https://smartbizbank.com/blog/do-less-this-summer-to-grow-your-business-smartbiz-bank) [Money Management June 22, 2026 ## Small Business Revenue: Determine Where You Stand As a business owner, regularly reviewing your annual revenue gives you a clear picture of your company’s current health and helps you evolve your business strategically so... Read More ](https://smartbizbank.com/blog/small-business-revenue-determine-where-you-stand) ### Smart growth is smart business ## Access to the right loan for right now See if you pre-qualify, without impacting your credit score. 1 [ Apply Now ](https://smartbizbank.com/apply) 1. We conduct a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, in processing your loan application, SmartBiz Bank and the lenders with whom we work will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may impact your credit score. The SmartBiz® Small Business Blog and other related communications from SmartBiz BankSM are intended to provide general information on relevant topics for managing small businesses. Be aware that this is not a comprehensive analysis of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide specific recommendations to you or your business with respect to the matters addressed. 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