How much do SBA lenders typically lend to a book stores business?

The median SBA approval in NAICS 451211 is $61,250, with the middle 80% of loans between $10,000 and $450,000. Across all industries the median is $180,000.

Which lenders are most active in book stores?

By dollars approved: The Huntington National Bank, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, BankUnited, OceanFirst Bank, Wells Fargo Bank. A lender's experience in your NAICS code matters - underwriters who have seen a hundred deals like yours ask better questions and move faster.

Is book stores considered a risky industry by SBA lenders?

Of FY2010-FY2019 approvals in this industry that have reached a terminal status, 11.3% were charged off, versus 7.6% across all SBA lending. That is materially above average, which in practice tends to mean tighter underwriting, more collateral, or a larger equity injection.

NAICS 451211 · Retail

SBA loans for book stores

370 SBA loans worth $80.6M have been approved in this industry since FY2010 - the #406 most-financed NAICS code in the country.

Median loan

$61,250

-66% vs all industries

Typical range

$10K-$450K

Middle 80%

Median rate

6.25%

7(a) initial note rate

Median term

7 yr

Charge-off rate

11.3%

vs 7.6% all industries

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA data, as of 2026-06-30. Approvals from FY2010 onward. How we calculate this.

Lenders

Most active in this industry

Lender	Loans	Approved
The Huntington National Bank	36	$10.2M
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico	9	$8.6M
BankUnited	1	$5.0M
OceanFirst Bank	1	$4.0M
Wells Fargo Bank	34	$2.5M
JPMorgan Chase Bank	12	$2.3M
Truist Bank	3	$1.8M
Live Oak Banking Company	2	$1.7M
Stellar Bank	1	$1.7M
Southwest Heritage Bank	1	$1.7M

Geography

Where these loans were made

State	Loans	Share
California	34
New York	30
Ohio	27
Illinois	15
Indiana	15
Texas	15
Washington	15
Missouri	14

Approvals by fiscal year

’10

’11

’12

’13

’14

’15

’16

’17

’18

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’24

’25

’26

Loan count. Final bar is a partial fiscal year.

Loan sizes

Under $50K
40%
$50K - $150K
29%
$150K - $350K
16%
$350K - $1M
10%
$1M - $2M
3%
Over $2M
2%

Nearby

Other retail industries

See the sector

All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers4,300 · $107,450 Sporting Goods Stores3,679 · $121,000 Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores2,813 · $1,292,200 Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses2,417 · $100,000 Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers2,378 · $135,000 Other Direct Selling Establishments2,300 · $150,000 Electronic Shopping2,110 · $50,000 All Other Miscellaneous Retailers1,536 · $150,000

Common questions

How much do SBA lenders typically lend to a book stores business?: The median SBA approval in NAICS 451211 is $61,250, with the middle 80% of loans between $10,000 and $450,000. Across all industries the median is $180,000.
Which lenders are most active in book stores?: By dollars approved: The Huntington National Bank, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, BankUnited, OceanFirst Bank, Wells Fargo Bank. A lender's experience in your NAICS code matters - underwriters who have seen a hundred deals like yours ask better questions and move faster.
Is book stores considered a risky industry by SBA lenders?: Of FY2010-FY2019 approvals in this industry that have reached a terminal status, 11.3% were charged off, versus 7.6% across all SBA lending. That is materially above average, which in practice tends to mean tighter underwriting, more collateral, or a larger equity injection.

We are a publisher, not a lender or broker. We never take applications and are never paid by borrowers. Read the full disclosures.