Skip to main content

Will the SBA fund this deal?

Type in the price and the seller's numbers. The workbook checks them against the SBA's rules and tells you yes, maybe, or fix this first, with the reason. Before you sign anything.

See the free sample deal ↓

Or get the kit: $67, instant download

A real example, from the free sample deal

A restaurant priced at $550,000

The verdict

Likely, with conditions

  • Walk-away price (cash-flow limit)$1,007,655

    The most the cash flow could carry. The business's value also caps the SBA loans, about $550,000 here, so the asking price is the real limit.

  • Money you put inPass

    The deal needs $66,776. A seller loan covers $33,388 of it, and the buyer has $66,000 saved.

  • Can the business pay the loan?Pass

    It makes $1.58 for every $1 of loan payments. The SBA minimum is $1.25.

  • What backs the loanWatch out

    Short by $504,375. That alone isn't a reason to say no. The lender must take a claim on the buyer's home if the buyer has at least 25% equity in it.

  • Deal-killers found0

    Things like a payout tied to future results, or books that don't match the tax returns.

Every answer shows the SBA rule behind it, checked against SBA SOP 50 10 8.1 (effective Oct 1, 2026).

The Verdict tab of the kit workbook in Excel: asking price 550,000, walk-away price 1,007,655, price check PASS
This is the Verdict tab in Excel, from the same sample deal.

What you get

  1. 1. Your walk-away price. The highest price the business's cash flow can carry under the SBA's rules, checked against what the business is worth.
  2. 2. Yes, maybe, or fix this first. On the money you put in, the loan payments, and what backs the loan, each with the reason and the rule.
  3. 3. The deal-killers to check. Fifteen problems that sink SBA deals, so you can fix them before the bank finds them.

Works in Excel on a computer (Windows or Mac). Eighteen editions, one for each kind of business our books cover. Pick yours below.

What it can't do

It checks your deal against the SBA's written rules. The bank still makes the decision, and it looks at things the kit can't see:

  • your credit and your experience
  • the appraisal and valuation that come back later
  • that bank's own rules, which can be stricter than the SBA's

Get the kit

One payment, yours forever.

2. Your license

Personal

$67

your own deals

Buy Personal

Professional

$197

for brokers and advisors

Buy Professional
  • Works in Excel on a computer (Windows or Mac).
  • 14-day guarantee. If it doesn't do what this page says, email us and we refund you.
  • Instant download, secure checkout by Stripe.

On your phone? Get the free sample deal now and open the kit on a computer later.

Buying a different kind of business? Start with the tools, from $9.

Get the free sample deal

The restaurant deal above, run through the whole kit, as a PDF.

The free sample deal PDF downloads right away. No purchase needed.

The free sample deal PDF downloads right away. No purchase needed.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We'll also notify you of new book editions.

What buyers say

Used this kit? An honest review on Trustpilot helps the next buyer decide. Write a review on Trustpilot

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly do I get?

Five files, downloaded right after you pay: the deal workbook (Excel), a business plan template for your lender (Word), a checklist of every document the bank will ask for (Excel), a short prompt pack for using AI on your paperwork, and a one-page quick check. The workbook is the main piece. You type in the price and the seller's numbers, and the front tab gives you your walk-away price, the verdict, and the deal-killers it found.

I'm not good with Excel. Can I use it?

Yes. You only type in the blue boxes, things like the asking price, the rent, and your household budget. Each box has a note saying where to find the number. Everything else is already built and locked so you can't break it.

Does it work on my phone or in Google Sheets?

No. It needs Microsoft Excel on a computer (Windows or Mac, desktop or Microsoft 365). Google Sheets doesn't handle all of its formulas. On your phone now? Get the free sample deal now and open the kit on a computer later.

What's the difference between Personal and Professional?

Personal ($67) is for your own deals, as many as you like, forever. You can share the results with your lender, accountant, or attorney. Professional ($197) is for one person who works on other people's deals, like a broker, consultant, or accountant. Same files; the license is the difference.

What if it doesn't fit my deal?

Email [email protected] within 14 days and we'll refund you. No forms.

Is this a loan approval?

No. It checks your deal against the SBA's written rules (SOP 50 10 8.1, 13 CFR Part 120, and the current fee notices) and shows the rule behind every answer. Your bank still makes the decision, and it looks at things the kit can't see, like your credit and the appraisal.

TH

Written by Thomas Hartwell, author of the FUNDED series of industry-specific SBA lending guides.

Educational tool, not financial, legal, tax, or lending advice, and not a guarantee of loan approval; lender and SBA decisions are made independently. Hartwell Labs LLC is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Every delivered copy is stamped with the purchaser's email. Full disclaimer.