SBA eligibility change (effective Mar 1, 2026) — looking for conventional acquisition lenders / intros
Hi all — a self-funded searcher seeking advice. I just learned there’s been a policy change to U.S. Small Business Administration loan eligibility effective March 1, 2026, that (as I understand it) removes eligibility for Legal Permanent Residents / green card holders. I am pursuing essential service businesses ($1–2M SDE range) in or around large US urban centers. Rather than pause my search, I want to quickly understand what a bankable conventional alternative looks like for lower-middle-market acquisitions of this size. I’m looking for: * Names of conventional lenders (banks / credit unions / non-bank lenders) that will finance SMB acquisitions without SBA * Any direct contacts (business banking / leveraged finance / “cash flow lending” groups) who are open to conversations with independent sponsors / searchers Specifically, I’d love advice on: 1. Typical leverage (senior debt as % of purchase price) and equity requirement 2. Amortization and pricing norms (e.g., 3–5 year term vs 7–10 year amort) 3. Underwriting focus: DSCR, collateral, recurring revenue, customer concentration, etc. 4. Whether lenders will get comfortable with intangibles/goodwill at this deal size (or if they’re strictly asset-backed) 5. Common ways people fill the gap: seller note, earnout, standby debt, etc. If you’ve closed a deal conventionally in the $1–2M SDE range (especially services: HVAC / landscaping / facility services / similar), I’d really appreciate: * who funded it, * what the structure looked like, * and what you’d do differently. Thanks all in advance.