Services / Acquisition financing
Business Acquisition Financing Advisors
Buy the business. Keep it healthy.
Buying a business is one of the largest financing decisions an owner makes, and the SBA’s rules for acquisitions are stricter than for most other uses. Bayside checks the deal against the current requirements, builds the file lenders need, and helps you structure the purchase so the business you buy can carry its own debt.
Buying a business, a competitor, another location or a partner’s share.
The target’s historical cash flow, your equity, your experience and the valuation.
Test the deal against the rules early, then match it to lenders who finance acquisitions.
When it fits
When acquisition financing makes sense.
Bayside usually starts an acquisition with the SBA 7(a) program, often alongside a seller note and the buyer’s own equity.
The loan is underwritten on what the target business has already earned, not on your plans for it. So the numbers have to work before you negotiate, not after.
Usually a fit if:
- You have a target business and a price in mind, or a signed letter of intent.
- The target has at least two years of clean tax returns.
- You can bring at least 10% of the total project cost as equity.
- You or your team have run a business like it.
What to watch
Where acquisition deals fall apart.
Historical coverage
Acquisitions need cash flow of 1.25x the debt payments on historical earnings. Under current SBA rules, projections don’t count.
Equity injection
10% of total project cost, with no more than half from sources like a seller note on full standby.
Valuation and quality of earnings
Every SBA change of ownership needs an independent business valuation, and a purchase price of $3M or more needs a quality of earnings report.
Citizenship
Every owner and required guarantor must be a U.S. citizen or national living in the U.S.
Side by side
SBA 7(a) acquisition rules at a glance.
| Requirement | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Loan size | Up to $5M per 7(a) loan |
| Cash flow coverage | 1.25x on historical earnings; projections don’t count |
| Equity injection | 10% of total project cost |
| Seller note | Counts toward the injection only on full standby for the whole term, and covers at most half of it |
| Valuation | An independent business valuation on every change of ownership |
| Quality of earnings | Required at a purchase price of $3M or more |
| Guarantees | Every 20%+ owner guarantees; in a partial sale, sellers who keep equity guarantee for two years |
Sources: SBA SOP 50 10 8.1, effective October 1, 2026; 13 CFR 120.160; FunderIntel, September 2026; Capital Source Group, October 2026. SBA rules change by notice; checked October 2026.
How Bayside works
Advice first. Then the funding.
Tell us what the money is for
A short call about your business, your goal and your timeline. Then a short application and your last 3–4 months of business bank statements.
Get your Capital Strategy Report
Every option you actually qualify for, the real cost of each, and a straight recommendation. In 24–48 hours, with no obligation.
Choose, and we take it from there
We match your file to lenders whose requirements fit it, help structure the deal, support you through funding, and stay in touch after it closes.
Related services
Compare it with.
SBA loans
Know whether SBA is realistic now, later, or not your fit, before you apply.
Explore SBA loans →02Bank and SBA readiness
Get to bank and SBA terms on a plan, not on hope.
Explore bank and SBA readiness →03Bridge loans
Short-term financing to a defined exit, and only to that.
Explore bridge loans →Guides on this topic
The first deal is supposed to make the second one possible.
Bayside Business Advisors
Questions
Straight answers.
Can I buy a business with no money down?
Not with an SBA loan. Current rules require an equity injection of 10% of the total project cost. A seller note can cover up to half of that, but only on full standby for the life of the loan.
Can I buy out my partner?
Often, yes. A partner buyout is a change of ownership, so the same SBA rules apply: historical cash flow, a valuation and guarantees. We check the numbers before you negotiate.
Does Bayside find businesses to buy?
No. We finance the purchase. If you need a business broker or valuation support, we can introduce you through our partner network.
What do you need to start?
The target’s recent tax returns and financials, the price or letter of intent, and a picture of your own finances.
Bayside Business Advisors is a capital advisor and commercial finance broker, not a lender. Every approval, amount, rate and term is set by the lender.
Find out what you actually qualify for.
Start with a short conversation and a look at your recent bank statements. Your Capital Strategy Report shows every option you qualify for and what each really costs.
No obligation. No hard credit pull to see your initial options.
Bayside Business Advisors LLC Copyright © | All Rights Reserved 2026
Bayside Business Advisors is a commercial finance brokerage and capital advisory firm based in Miami, Florida; not a direct lender. We help established businesses across South Florida explore commercial financing through a network of independent funding partners. Funding approvals, amounts, rates, and timelines are subject to lender review and qualification. Results described on this page are not guaranteed and may vary based on individual business circumstances, creditworthiness, and lender requirements. Bayside Business Advisors LLC does not charge upfront fees. All funding is subject to underwriting and lender approval. This page does not constitute a commitment to lend.