WithFunded › Best-of guides › By speed, cost, and size
Best long-term business loans in 2026
The best long-term business loans are SBA loans: up to 10 years for working capital and equipment under SBA 7(a), and up to 25 years for real estate under 7(a) or 504. Bank term loans and commercial mortgages are the conventional alternatives. A longer term lowers the monthly payment and raises the total interest, so it suits assets that last.
By the WithFunded team · Published November 11, 2026 · Rates as of November 2026
The short list
- Best for 10-year working capital or acquisition
- SBA 7(a) loan
- Best for 20- and 25-year terms
- SBA 504 loan
- Best for investment property
- Commercial real estate loan
- Best conventional loan up to about five years
- Bank term loan
- Best for matching term to asset life
- Equipment loan
The 5 best options, ranked
1. SBA 7(a) loan Best for 10-year working capital or acquisition
Few other lenders will stretch an unsecured or goodwill loan to a decade. The 7(a) program does, at a capped rate.
Watch for: Heavy documentation, and the timeline rules it out for anything urgent. SBA loan guide →
2. SBA 504 loan Best for 20- and 25-year terms
For buildings and long-lived equipment, 504 loans offer the longest fixed-rate terms available to a small business.
Watch for: Only for fixed assets. It cannot fund payroll, inventory, or other working capital. SBA loan guide →
3. Commercial real estate loan Best for investment property
A conventional commercial mortgage amortizes over decades and fits property that will not be owner-occupied.
Watch for: Appraisal, environmental review, and closing add both time and cost. Commercial real estate guide →
4. Bank term loan Best conventional loan up to about five years
Banks commonly write term loans of one to five years for established businesses.
Watch for: The slowest route outside SBA and the hardest to qualify for. Term loan guide →
5. Equipment loan Best for matching term to asset life
Equipment terms follow the useful life of the equipment, which for heavy machinery can run seven years or more.
Watch for: Older or highly specialized equipment gets shorter terms and higher rates. Equipment financing guide →
Side-by-side comparison
| Option | Verdict | Cost basis | Funding speed | Qualifies on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) loan | Best for 10-year working capital or acquisition | Capped at 10.00%–13.50% by loan size (prime plus the SBA maximum spread) | Weeks to months | Generally stronger credit and two or more years in business |
| SBA 504 loan | Best for 20- and 25-year terms | CDC portion roughly 6.6% on 10 to 25 year terms | Weeks to months | Owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, plus a down payment |
| Commercial real estate loan | Best for investment property | Conventional pricing varies by property and borrower; long amortization | Weeks to months | A stronger profile and a down payment; the property is the collateral |
| Bank term loan | Best conventional loan up to about five years | About 7% median on new small-business term loans (Kansas City Fed, Q4 2025) | Weeks | Strong credit, established financials, often collateral |
| Equipment loan | Best for matching term to asset life | Representative 8%–30% APR, with the term matched to the equipment's useful life | Days to weeks | The equipment is the collateral, which can offset a thinner credit profile |
What it costs
Monthly payments on a standard fixed-payment loan at the representative 8%–30% APR band. The low end of each range is 8% APR and the high end is 30% APR.
| Amount | 36 mo | 60 mo | 84 mo | 120 mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $3,134–$4,245 | $2,028–$3,235 | $1,559–$2,859 | $1,213–$2,636 |
| $250,000 | $7,834–$10,613 | $5,069–$8,088 | $3,897–$7,148 | $3,033–$6,590 |
Financing $250,000 over 60 months costs about $5,069–$8,088 a month, or $54,146 to $235,301 in total interest, depending on the rate you qualify for. WithFunded calculation, representative 8%–30% APR band. Not a quote.
SBA 7(a) rates are capped at prime plus a maximum spread that shrinks as the loan grows. At the current 7.00% prime rate, these are the highest payments a lender could charge on a 25-year term:
| Loan amount | Maximum rate | Monthly payment at the maximum |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | 13.00% | $2,820 |
| $500,000 | 10.00% | $4,544 |
| $1,000,000 | 10.00% | $9,087 |
Payments at the SBA maximum variable rate for each size tier. Many borrowers qualify below the maximum. Source for rate caps: U.S. Small Business Administration. WithFunded calculation.
What lenders look at
- What the loan pays for. Lenders match the term to the life of the asset.
- Stable cash flow over several years.
- Collateral, which matters more as the term gets longer.
Mistakes to avoid
- Stretching the term on something that will be used up quickly, such as inventory.
- Overlooking prepayment penalties, which are common on long-term and SBA loans in the early years.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the longest term for a small business loan?
- Up to 25 years for real estate under the SBA 7(a) and 504 programs. Working capital and equipment under 7(a) generally run up to 10 years.
- Is a longer term always better?
- No. Stretching a $100,000 loan from 36 to 60 months lowers the payment but adds thousands in total interest. A longer term is worth it when the lower payment protects cash flow.
- Can I pay off a long-term loan early?
- Usually, though some loans charge a prepayment penalty in the first years. Check the terms before signing.
See what your business qualifies for
Answer a few questions and get matched to your best-fit option. Zero upfront fees. Checking won't impact your credit.
Get matched → or open the payment calculatorWhat our clients say
Real reviews from business owners funded through Big Think Capital.
Excellent
Based on 3,304 reviews on Trustpilot
Landon and Austin were greatLandon and Austin were great. Knowledgable and explained everything in a way that made it all really easy to understand. I avoid these call like the plague but these two were a joy to work with.
Highly recommendedHighly recommended! I worked with Corey, and he was awesome. He found an option after I received multiple rejections that no other company had presented to me. It was within my budget and my timeline. I'm so thankful!
BTC has become my go to for working…BTC has become my go to for working capital. Recently, my company was in a bind and needed funds. The BTC team, headed by Drew, took a problem solving approach and helped to overcome an initial denial, resulting in a better facility than the one I was turned down for. Thanks BTC! Thanks Drew!
Showing 5-star reviews of Big Think Capital, our funding partner. TrustScore 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot as of November 10, 2026. Read all reviews
How we ranked these options
This guide ranks types of financing, not individual lenders. Each option is ordered by how well it fits the need described on this page, judged on four things in this order: whether the structure matches how the money will be used and repaid, total cost, funding speed, and how hard it is to qualify. Cost figures are WithFunded calculations from published rate inputs as of November 2026: the bank prime loan rate from the Federal Reserve, the SBA maximum-rate schedule, and Federal Reserve survey data. The method follows our 2026 SMB Financing Cost Report, whose own figures use June 2026 rates.
WithFunded is a financing marketplace, not a lender. Our 2-minute form suggests a product type from the families we cover, and a funding partner reviews the request. Not every structure named in this guide is available through WithFunded: options such as SBA microloans, USDA farm loans, bank loans, and seller financing are ones you would pursue directly with the provider. They are listed because leaving out a good fit would make the ranking less useful.
Related guides
The top-ranked option on this page is SBA 7(a) loan because it fits the most common version of this need. Your own best fit depends on your revenue, time in business, credit, and how fast you need the money.
Disclaimer. WithFunded and Big Think Capital are a financing marketplace; we are not the direct lender and do not guarantee funding, approval, rates, or terms. Everything on this page is a representative example only — not an offer or a commitment to lend, and not financial advice. Actual rates, fees, payments, and terms are set by the funding lender and depend on your business, credit, and the product. Where required by state law, the lender provides cost-of-financing disclosures before any agreement is signed.