An SBA fee waiver depends on the delivery method, gross approved loan amount and approval date. Manufacturing status alone does not make every SBA loan fee-free. The SBA fiscal year changes on October 1; a September application does not establish the fee schedule for an October approval.
| Item | FY2026: Oct. 1, 2025–Sept. 30, 2026 | FY2027: Oct. 1, 2026–Sept. 30, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible manufacturer 7(a) upfront waiver | Gross approval up to $950,000; MARC excluded | Gross approval up to $700,000; confirm delivery-method treatment |
| 7(a) annual SBA lender service fee | 0.55% of outstanding guaranteed balance; not chargeable to borrower | 0.55%; not chargeable to borrower |
| Manufacturer 504 | Check the applicable 504 fee schedule with the CDC | Eligible manufacturers: SBA upfront and annual fees waived, including refinancing |
Sources: FY2026 7(a) notice, FY2027 7(a) notice and FY2027 504 notice. These are SBA program fees; other closing costs can still apply.
Worked examples: a waiver is not a discount on every loan
Illustrations assume one standard 7(a) loan with a maturity over 12 months, a 75% guarantee and no special delivery-method exception. They exclude financed fees, increases and other loans subject to aggregation. A lender must calculate the actual approval amount and charges.
| Gross loan | Guaranteed portion | FY2026 eligible manufacturer | FY2027 eligible manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| $700,000 | $525,000 | $0 upfront waiver | $0 upfront waiver |
| $900,000 | $675,000 | $0 upfront waiver | $23,625: 3.5% × $675,000 |
| $3,000,000 | $2,250,000 | $81,875: $35,000 + $46,875 | $81,875: same standard calculation |
For the $3 million illustration, 3.5% applies to the first $1 million of the guaranteed portion and 3.75% to the remaining $1.25 million. The fee threshold uses gross loan size; the percentage calculation uses the guaranteed portion. Confusing those two bases produces inaccurate estimates.
MARC needs its own fee check
The FY2026 notice expressly excludes MARC from the manufacturer waiver. The FY2027 notice changes the wording and threshold. Do not carry the FY2026 exclusion forward automatically or assume an exemption without confirming the applicable MARC treatment with the lender. WCP and export working-capital facilities also have separate maturity-based schedules.
Costs to request in writing
- SBA upfront guaranty fee, approval year, delivery method and any exemption used.
- Lender origination/packaging costs, permissible extraordinary servicing fees, and whether each is recurring.
- CDC, appraisal, environmental, title, legal and interim-financing costs where applicable.
- Broker compensation and who pays it, as disclosed in your engagement agreement.
- Whether financing fees increases the gross loan amount or changes the applicable calculation.
Loans approved within 90 days may be aggregated for guaranty percentages and fees. Splitting a financing need to avoid fees is not permitted. Extensions or increases can also trigger additional fees. Compare the entire project cost and timing rather than choosing a program solely for an upfront waiver.
Use the 7(a) vs 504 comparison to choose a structure and the application checklist to prepare an accurate sources-and-uses budget.
Discuss your manufacturing financing plan
Talk with our team