Startup USA Guide
Part B · Startup-relevant scheme

SBA 504 Loan Program (SBA 504)

Small Business Administration

Loan / Credit Growth / Scaling Manufacturing

The 504 program provides long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets through a three-party structure: a Certified Development Company (CDC), a senior lender, and the borrower, splitting the financing between them.

Type of support
Loan / Credit
Best suited for
Growth
Headline amount
Up to $5.5 million

Objectives

Help small businesses buy or build the fixed assets — buildings, land, or long-lived equipment (10+ year useful life) — that support business growth and job creation, on terms unavailable through conventional commercial financing alone.

Who can apply?

  • For-profit US business meeting SBA size standards.
  • Qualified management and a feasible business plan with demonstrated ability to repay.
  • Not eligible: working capital, inventory, real estate speculation, or passive investment.

What do you get?

  • Standard maximum $5 million; program ceiling $5.5 million for certain manufacturers and energy-efficiency projects.
  • 10, 20, or 25-year fixed-rate terms, priced off 10-year Treasury rates plus roughly 3 percentage points.
  • Also covers qualified debt refinancing tied to fixed assets.

How to apply

Apply through a Certified Development Company (CDC) working alongside a participating lender — find a local CDC via SBA's lender directory.

Go to official portal