Instant Replay: SBA Financing for Acquisitions: Review, Updates, and What’s Next with Lisa Forrest

This event landing page contains a playback of a session recorded on November 13, 2025. This playback is indexed and transcribed.​ ​If you’re planning to acquire a business soon, this is the SBA briefing you can’t miss. ​​Join Lisa Forrest of Live Oak Bank —nationally recognized SBA lending leader—for a practical, insider’s look at what’s changed, what’s working, and what’s coming next in SBA financing for business acquisitions. ​​In this action-oriented session, Lisa will break down: ​​• The latest SBA rule changes and how they impact ETA, searchers, and acquisition entrepreneurs ​​• What lenders are prioritizing now: cash flow, collateral, equity injections, seller notes, and deal structure ​​• Current approval timelines, rates, and how to position your deal to close • ​​Common pitfalls in diligence and underwriting (and how to avoid them) ​​• What’s ahead for 7(a) and 504 programs, and how to plan your capital stack accordingly ​​Who should attend: ​​• Acquisition entrepreneurs and self-funded/partnered searchers • ​​CEOs and operators considering a second acquisition or tuck-in ​​• Brokers, M&A advisors, CPAs, and attorneys supporting lower middle market deals ​​• Owners planning to sell who want to understand buyer financing dynamics ​​Why this matters now: ​​• Market conditions, interest rates, and lender appetites are shifting—smart buyers are adapting their structures • ​​Recent SBA guidance opens new opportunities (and introduces new scrutiny) for acquisition deals • ​​Competitive processes reward prepared buyers who can communicate bank-ready deals ​​Guest Speaker: ​​Lisa Forrest is the Head of Searchfund and M&A Lending at Live Oak Bank, where she leads a national platform focused on financing business acquisitions across the lower middle market. With more than three decades in SBA and conventional senior debt, Lisa has structured and closed acquisition financings for self-funded and traditional searchers, independent sponsors, partner buyouts, key manager/employee acquisitions, and growth-by-acquisition strategies. Her expertise spans SBA 7(a) and 504 programs, cash-flow lending for intangible-heavy deals, and pragmatic capital stacks that align buyers, sellers, and lenders. A recognized community builder in ETA, she regularly hosts searcher and SMB networking events and mentors emerging acquirers.