SBA Guaranty Fee Calculator
Estimate your SBA 7(a) guaranty fee using the SBA's general tiered fee structure (for loans with maturities over 12 months). Always confirm the exact current-year figures with the SBA's official calculator, linked below.
| Loan Amount | Guaranty Fee Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $150,000 | 0% |
| $150,000 – $700,000 | 2% |
| $700,000 – $1,000,000 | 3% |
| Above $1,000,000 | 3.5% |
This fee is almost always financed into the loan balance, increasing your total borrowing amount and monthly payment.
These tiers illustrate the SBA's general fee structure and are not guaranteed current. The SBA sets exact percentages and thresholds by fiscal year and revises them periodically — confirm the current schedule with the SBA's official guaranty fee calculator before relying on a figure for a real application. This is an estimate only, not a loan offer. SBALoanPro is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Methodology & Sources
The SBA charges an up-front guaranty fee on the government-guaranteed portion of most 7(a) loans with maturities over 12 months, tiered so that smaller loans pay a lower percentage than larger ones — the structure exists to keep the program accessible to very small borrowers while spreading more of the guarantee's cost to larger loans. The exact tier breakpoints and percentages are set by the SBA for each fiscal year, and in some years the SBA has waived or reduced fees on smaller loans as a policy choice. Because of that, this page shows the general tiered shape of the fee rather than asserting a single locked-in current-year number — always check the SBA's own fiscal-year fee calculator (linked above) for the figure that applies to your loan today.
Worked Example
Input: $350,000 loan amount. Using the illustrative tier for loans in the $150,000–$700,000 range shown in the table above, the estimated guaranty fee is $7,000 (2% of $350,000). If financed into the balance rather than paid upfront, this raises the amortized principal to $357,000 before the monthly payment is calculated — see the 7(a) Payment Calculator to see the payment impact directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the official, current SBA fee schedule?
It reflects the SBA's general tiered structure. Exact percentages and thresholds are set by fiscal year — confirm current figures with the SBA's own official calculator, linked above.
Is the guaranty fee the same as an origination fee?
No — the guaranty fee goes to the SBA. Origination and packaging fees are separate charges set by your lender.
Do I pay the guaranty fee out of pocket?
Most borrowers finance it into the loan balance instead, avoiding a large cash requirement at closing. Compare both paths in the 7(a) Payment Calculator.