How much do SBA lenders typically lend to a telephone answering services business?

The median SBA approval in NAICS 561421 is $156,000, with the middle 80% of loans between $25,000 and $1,425,000. Across all industries the median is $180,000.

Which lenders are most active in telephone answering services?

By dollars approved: Colony Bank, Truist Bank, Beacon Bank and Trust, Newtek Bank, Nicolet National 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 telephone answering services considered a risky industry by SBA lenders?

Of FY2010-FY2019 approvals in this industry that have reached a terminal status, 3.6% were charged off, versus 7.6% across all SBA lending. That is below average, which generally makes lenders more comfortable with the sector.

NAICS 561421 · Administrative & Waste

SBA loans for telephone answering services

124 SBA loans worth $62.4M have been approved in this industry since FY2010 - the #638 most-financed NAICS code in the country.

Median loan

$156,000

-13% vs all industries

Typical range

$25K-$1.4M

Middle 80%

Median rate

6.25%

7(a) initial note rate

Median term

10 yr

Charge-off rate

3.6%

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
Colony Bank	2	$8.6M
Truist Bank	4	$6.2M
Beacon Bank and Trust	5	$4.3M
Newtek Bank	6	$3.3M
Nicolet National Bank	4	$2.9M
BMO Bank	9	$2.5M
University Bank	2	$2.5M
Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc.	3	$2.4M
Regions Bank	5	$2.3M
PNC Bank	3	$2.1M

Geography

Where these loans were made

State	Loans	Share
Florida	14
California	13
Arizona	11
Ohio	9
Georgia	7
Texas	6
Nevada	5
Minnesota	5

Approvals by fiscal year

’10

’11

’12

’13

’14

’15

’16

’17

’18

’19

’20

’21

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’25

’26

Loan count. Final bar is a partial fiscal year.

Loan sizes

Under $50K
16%
$50K - $150K
22%
$150K - $350K
31%
$350K - $1M
15%
$1M - $2M
11%
Over $2M
5%

Nearby

Other administrative & waste industries

See the sector

Landscaping Services15,300 · $80,000 Janitorial Services6,400 · $100,000 Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings3,351 · $125,000 Employment Placement Agencies2,188 · $150,000 Solid Waste Collection1,841 · $176,300 Exterminating and Pest Control Services1,777 · $135,000 Remediation Services1,752 · $156,800 Private Mail Centers1,429 · $250,000

Common questions

How much do SBA lenders typically lend to a telephone answering services business?: The median SBA approval in NAICS 561421 is $156,000, with the middle 80% of loans between $25,000 and $1,425,000. Across all industries the median is $180,000.
Which lenders are most active in telephone answering services?: By dollars approved: Colony Bank, Truist Bank, Beacon Bank and Trust, Newtek Bank, Nicolet National 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 telephone answering services considered a risky industry by SBA lenders?: Of FY2010-FY2019 approvals in this industry that have reached a terminal status, 3.6% were charged off, versus 7.6% across all SBA lending. That is below average, which generally makes lenders more comfortable with the sector.

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