Both are SBA 7(a) loans — the difference is size, speed, and process. SBA Express is a streamlined version for smaller amounts (generally up to $350,000 through the lenders Radix works with) with an expedited SBA review, so closings happen in roughly 3 to 4 weeks. Traditional SBA 7(a) handles larger amounts (up to $5 million) and goes through full SBA review, taking roughly 5 to 9 weeks.
Use SBA Express when you need working capital, debt refinancing, or growth funding in the $25,000–$350,000 range and want it fast. Use Traditional SBA 7(a) when you need more than $350,000, are buying real estate or a business, or want to consolidate several debts into one larger note — situations where the extra weeks are worth the larger loan.
Eligibility is similar for both: the lenders Radix works with generally want a personal FICO of 680 or higher, at least two years in business, and revenue and cash flow sufficient to service the new debt. Both carry 10-year terms for working capital (up to 25 years for real estate), monthly payments, and no prepayment penalty on terms under 15 years. Rates start around 9% and are tied to the Prime rate plus a lender margin.
Radix Financial Group brokers both through its nationwide network of preferred SBA lenders and routes each file to the lender most likely to approve it — having facilitated more than 3,500 SBA loans and over $700 million in funding.
Key facts at a glance
SBA Express isn’t a separate loan type — it’s a designation within the 7(a) program. The SBA grants certain experienced lenders “Express” authority, which lets them use their own underwriting and get a fast SBA response (often within 36 hours of submission) on loans up to a set ceiling. That speed is the entire selling point. Traditional 7(a) loans go through the SBA’s standard review, which is more thorough and takes longer, but supports much larger loans and more complex deals.
| SBA Express | Traditional SBA 7(a) | |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | $25,000 – $350,000 (via Radix’s lender network) | Up to $5,000,000 |
| Typical closing time | ~3–4 weeks | ~5–9 weeks (smaller loans faster) |
| SBA review | Expedited (lender uses delegated authority) | Full SBA review |
| Best for | Working capital, debt refi, quick growth capital | Larger working capital, business acquisition, real estate, multi-debt consolidation |
| Term | 10 yr (working capital); up to 25 yr (real estate) | 10 yr (working capital); up to 25 yr (real estate) |
| Rate | From ~9%, Prime + margin, variable | From ~9%, Prime + margin, variable |
| Payments | Monthly | Monthly |
| Prepayment penalty | None (terms under 15 yr) | None (terms under 15 yr) |
| Minimum FICO (via Radix) | 680 | 680 |
| Personal guarantee | Required (20%+ owners) | Required (20%+ owners) |
Don’t over-think the choice on terms — both products give you the SBA’s long terms (10 years for working capital, up to 25 for real estate), monthly payments, no prepayment penalty under 15 years, and rates tied to Prime. The personal-guarantee and UCC-filing requirements are identical. The real decision is just: how much do you need, and how fast?
When you pre-qualify with Radix, the team looks at the amount you need, your timeline, your credit and cash flow, and the use of funds — then routes the file to the preferred lender best suited to it. If $350,000 covers you and speed matters, that’s usually SBA Fast Track Express. If you need more, or you’re buying property or a business, that’s Traditional SBA 7(a). Either way, Radix has placed thousands of these — over 3,500 SBA loans and $700 million in funding across all 50 states — and often funds deals other brokers and banks decline.
See if your business is a fit
Get pre-qualified in minutes — start your application or browse more guides.
Is SBA Express a different loan than SBA 7(a)?
No — SBA Express is a designation within the SBA 7(a) program. Certain experienced lenders are granted Express authority, which lets them use their own underwriting and get an expedited SBA response on loans up to a set ceiling (generally $350,000 through the lenders Radix works with). The terms, uses, and rate structure are otherwise the same as standard 7(a).
How much faster is SBA Express?
SBA Express loans through Radix typically close in about 3 to 4 weeks, versus roughly 5 to 9 weeks for a Traditional SBA 7(a) loan. The SBA itself often responds to an Express request within 36 hours; most of the timeline is the lender’s underwriting and closing process.
Can I get more than $350,000 with SBA Express?
Through the lenders Radix works with, $350,000 is the practical ceiling for the SBA Express product. If you need more, a Traditional SBA 7(a) loan (up to $5 million) is the path.
Do SBA Express and Traditional 7(a) have the same rates?
Both are priced as the Prime rate plus a lender margin, variable, and both start around 9% through Radix’s network. The exact rate depends on loan size, term, and borrower profile, but neither product is structurally cheaper than the other.
Can I use SBA Express to refinance a merchant cash advance?
It depends on what you actually have. If your ‘MCA’ is a fixed-payment short-term loan — a set daily, weekly, or monthly payment that doesn’t change with your sales — then yes, SBA Express can usually refinance it (if the payoff amount is $350,000 or less; above that, a Traditional SBA 7(a) loan). But a true merchant cash advance, where repayment is a percentage of your sales or receivables, is not eligible to be refinanced with an SBA loan under SBA rules. Check your agreement: percentage-of-sales repayment means it’s a true MCA and can’t be SBA-refinanced; a fixed payment means it can. See our guide on SBA loans vs. merchant cash advances.
Do both require a personal guarantee?
Yes. Any owner with 20% or more of the business must personally guarantee the loan — this is standard for all SBA loans regardless of program. A UCC filing on business assets is also routine for both.
Can I use either one to buy commercial real estate?
Yes, both SBA 7(a) and SBA Express can fund owner-occupied commercial real estate, but for larger property purchases the Traditional 7(a) or SBA 504 program is usually the better fit. See our guide on 504 vs. 7(a) for commercial real estate.
How do I know which one I qualify for?
Pre-qualify with Radix and the team will tell you. Both products generally require a personal FICO of 680 or higher and two-plus years in business through Radix’s lender network; the choice between them is driven mainly by how much you need and how quickly.
© 2024 Radix Financial Group. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy
Radix Financial Group and its affiliates are not lenders participating in SBA’s 7(a) loan program. Radix is a marketplace to help business owners obtain SBA 7(a) loans. Said loans are ultimately processed and approved by a lender participant in SBA’s 7(a) loan program.