Effective July 4, 2026, the SBA raised the cumulative cap a borrower can hold across its two flagship loan programs from $5 million to $10 million — up to $5 million through the 7(a) program plus up to $5 million through the 504 program. The agency called it the highest financing offering in its history, noting the limits had not been raised in over a decade. Borrowers must secure a 7(a) loan first to access the combined limit, and the change decouples 7(a) balances from the 504 program.
SBA doubles combined 7(a)+504 loan cap to $10M
If you are financing equipment, real estate, or an acquisition, you can now stack SBA-backed debt to twice the old ceiling, which matters most for capital-heavy or growth-stage small businesses that previously maxed out at $5M. Talk to an SBA-preferred lender about combining a 504 (long-term asset financing) with a 7(a) (working capital) rather than seeking pricier conventional debt. Structure the 7(a) first since it unlocks the combined limit.
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration
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