On August 28, 2025, SBA issued Information Notice 5000-872051, 7(a) Fees Effective October 1, 2025 for Fiscal Year 2026 and 90-Day Rule Clarification (effective August 28, 2025). The notice has two purposes:  

  • To announce 7(a) loan fees for FY 2026 (October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026), including the exceptions to those fees, and, 
  • To clarify how the Guaranty (Upfront) Fee will be calculated when multiple loans approved within 90 days for the same borrower (including affiliates) include Working Capital Program (WCP) and Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) loans.

Generally, for FY 2026, both the Annual Service Fee and the Guaranty (Upfront) Fees will be consistent with the statutory maximums. Per the Notice, the 7(a) FY 2026 fees will be –

Lender’s Annual Service Fee

  • 0.55% (55 basis points) of the guaranteed portion of the outstanding balance of the loan

SBA Guaranty Fee (Upfront Fee) [excluding Export Working Capital Program (EWCP) loans, Working Capital Program (WCP) loans and SBA Express loans made to veteran-owned businesses]:

  •    For loans with maturities over 12 months –
  • For loans of $150,000 or less – 2% of the guaranteed portion of the loan (lender may retain no more than 25% of the fee).
  • For loans of $150,001 to $700,000 – 3% of the guaranteed portion of the loan.
  • For loans of $700,001 to $5 million, 3.5% of the guaranteed portion of the loan up to and including $1 million, plus 3.75% of the guaranteed portion over $1 million.
  • For loans with maturities of 12 months or less – 0.25% of the guaranteed portion of the loan.
  • EXCEPTIONS
  • For loans of $950,000 or less made to manufacturers (NAICS sectors 31-33) – 0%.
  • For SBA Express Loans made to businesses owned and controlled by a veteran or spouse of a veteran – $0 (per statutory exception).
  • The notice also provides details on the Upfront Fees applicable to Export Working Capital (EWCP) and Working Capital Program (WCP) loans. 

Calculation of Fees When Multiple Loans Within 90 Days

Continuing long-standing policy, generally when two or more 7(a) loans with maturities greater than 12 months are approved for the same applicant (including affiliates) within 90 days, the loans are combined for purposes of calculating the Guaranty and Upfront Fees. 

EXCEPTION for WCP and EWCP loans: When one or more of the loans approved within 90 days is a WCP or EWCP loan, the loan amounts are combined for purposes of calculating the Guaranty and Upfront Fee relief for manufactures, BUT in this scenario, ECP and EWCP loans are not combined with any other 7(a) loans since their guaranty fees are based on the maturity as outlined in the notice.

Please read the notice in its entirety for complete information on the FY 2026 7(a) loan fees. 

SBA also issued a parallel notice setting out the 504 Program fees for FY 2026, Information Notice 5000-871532, 504 Fees for Fiscal Year 2026 (effective August 28, 2025).