SBA 7a loan cap for married searchers

searcher profile

November 02, 2022

by a searcher in New York, NY, USA

How does the $5MM loan cap ($3.75MM guarantee cap) apply to two searchers who are married? My spouse already has an SBA 7a loan (but I am NOT a guarantor of that loan). Does my spouse's loan reduce how much I'm able to borrow for my acquisition? For example, if my spouse currently has a $3MM 7a loan, when I apply for a 7a loan, will I be capped at $2MM, or will I be able to borrow up to $5MM as well (obviously, for a separate business unrelated to my spouse's)?

Thanks in advance for your help.

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commentor profile
Reply by an investor
from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, USA
I think this is a great question for many of the 7a loan underwriters on this platform but my understanding is that if you are not an equity holder in your wife's business (regardless of guarantor status), you are on your own tab, if you will, and your wife's amount shouldn't impact your total loan availability.
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Reply by an investor
from University of Nebraska in Austin, TX, USA
I've already dug into this with multiple lenders. The resounding answer was 'you are seen as one balance sheet, so $5M is the cap between the couple". If you find a different answer, please let me know.
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