Crack the SBA Loan Code
Stop guessing which program you qualify for and why your application keeps stalling. This school walks you through every SBA rule, form, and lender conversation — so you show up prepared, not overwhelmed.
My promise is simple: by the time you finish, you'll understand this process better than most people who work inside it.— Freddy Foster
What you'll learn
What you'll be able to do
- Identify which SBA loan program (7(a), 504, Microloan, etc.) is the right fit for your specific business need and stage.
- Determine your eligibility by accurately interpreting SBA size standards, use-of-proceeds rules, and borrower requirements.
- Assemble a complete, lender-ready SBA loan application package including the business plan, financial statements, and required forms.
- Navigate the SBA approval process from lender submission through SBA authorization, closing, and disbursement.
- Avoid the most common compliance pitfalls and post-closing reporting obligations that can trigger loan default or SBA review.
- Negotiate with SBA-approved lenders from a position of knowledge, understanding fees, collateral requirements, and loan terms.
How it works
A school that adapts to you
This isn't a set of static videos. Every lesson is generated live and tuned to where you actually are.
We learn your level
A quick placement check tailors your starting point so you're never bored or lost.
Lessons adapt as you go
Each lesson is written for your pace and your goal, adjusting as your skills grow.
Your AI coach keeps you moving
Checkpoints, feedback, and gentle nudges turn progress into a real result.
The curriculum
What's inside your school
6 modules · 26 lessons
The SBA Lending Landscape
Builds foundational knowledge of how the SBA loan ecosystem works, who the key players are, and where each major program fits.
- 1.1How the SBA Actually WorksIncluded
- 1.2The Major SBA Loan Programs at a GlanceIncluded
- 1.3Choosing the Right Program for Your BusinessIncluded
- 1.4SBA-Approved Lenders: Banks, CDCs, and MicrolendersIncluded
Eligibility: Do You Qualify?
Teaches you how to accurately assess your eligibility by interpreting SBA size standards, borrower requirements, and use-of-proceeds rules.
- 2.1SBA Size Standards DecodedIncluded
- 2.2Borrower Eligibility RequirementsIncluded
- 2.3Eligible vs. Ineligible Uses of ProceedsIncluded
- 2.4Credit, Collateral, and Equity Injection BasicsIncluded
- 2.5Conducting Your Own Eligibility Self-AssessmentIncluded
Building a Lender-Ready Application Package
Covers every document, form, and financial statement required to submit a complete, compelling SBA loan application.
- 3.1The SBA Application Checklist: What Lenders ExpectIncluded
- 3.2Writing a Business Plan That Supports Your LoanIncluded
- 3.3Financial Statements and Projections Lenders TrustIncluded
- 3.4Completing Key SBA Forms (912, 1919, 1920, and More)Included
- 3.5Packaging and Presenting Your Application ProfessionallyIncluded
Negotiating Terms and Working With Lenders
Equips you to negotiate from a position of knowledge, understanding fees, interest rates, collateral, and loan covenants before you sign anything.
- 4.1Understanding SBA Loan Terms, Rates, and FeesIncluded
- 4.2Collateral Requirements and How to Navigate ThemIncluded
- 4.3Reading and Negotiating Your Loan Commitment LetterIncluded
- 4.4Working Effectively With Your SBA LenderIncluded
From Approval to Disbursement: The SBA Process
Navigates the full post-submission journey from lender underwriting and SBA authorization through closing and fund disbursement.
- 5.1Lender Underwriting: What Happens Behind the ScenesIncluded
- 5.2SBA Authorization and the Loan GuaranteeIncluded
- 5.3The Closing Process: Documents, Conditions, and TimelinesIncluded
- 5.4Disbursement: Getting Your Funds and What to Do FirstIncluded
Compliance, Reporting, and Avoiding Default
Ensures you stay in good standing after closing by mastering post-closing obligations, common compliance pitfalls, and default prevention strategies.
- 6.1Post-Closing Reporting ObligationsIncluded
- 6.2Common Compliance Pitfalls That Trigger SBA ReviewIncluded
- 6.3Preventing and Managing Loan DefaultIncluded
- 6.4Offer in Compromise and SBA Workout OptionsIncluded
Who it's for
Is this you?
First-time loan applicants
You've never applied for an SBA loan before and need a clear, start-to-finish map of the process before you approach a lender.
Previously denied borrowers
You were turned down or stalled and want to understand exactly why — so your next application is the one that succeeds.
Startup founders
You're early-stage and need to know which SBA programs are accessible to you and what eligibility requirements you have to meet right now.
Established small business owners
Your business is operating and growing, and you want to leverage a 7(a) or 504 loan for expansion, equipment, or real estate — the right way.
Self-employed entrepreneurs
You run your own operation and need to navigate borrower eligibility, equity injection rules, and financial documentation as a solo business owner.
Franchise and acquisition buyers
You're buying into a franchise or acquiring an existing business and need to understand how SBA financing works for acquisitions and what lenders will scrutinize.
Questions
Frequently asked
Your teacher
A note from your teacher
Freddy Foster
If you've ever sat across from a banker and felt like they were speaking a different language — or submitted an SBA loan application and heard nothing back but vague feedback — I want you to know that experience is incredibly common, and it's not a reflection of your business's potential.
The SBA loan process was not designed with the applicant in mind. The rules are dense, the forms are intimidating, and the lenders who work within this system every day naturally assume a baseline of knowledge that most small business owners simply don't have yet. The result? Good businesses with genuine funding needs get delayed, denied, or talked into the wrong program — sometimes all three.
That's exactly what this school is built to fix. I created it because the information you need to navigate SBA lending successfully already exists — it's just scattered across regulatory guidance, lender checklists, and hard-won experience. My job was to organize it, translate it into plain language, and sequence it so that you move from "I don't even know which program to apply for" to "I understand my eligibility, my application package is complete, and I know what to expect at every stage."
We cover the full arc — from choosing between a 7(a), 504, or Microloan program, to interpreting SBA size standards, to writing a business plan that actually supports your loan request, to sitting down with a lender and understanding every line in your commitment letter. We don't skip the hard parts: collateral requirements, equity injection, SBA forms, post-closing compliance obligations, and what to do if repayment becomes difficult. This is the complete picture, not a highlight reel.
You don't need to become an SBA expert to benefit from this school. You just need enough knowledge to make confident decisions, ask the right questions, and avoid the mistakes that quietly sink otherwise strong applications. That's a realistic goal, and it's exactly what I've built this curriculum to deliver.
If you're ready to stop guessing and start moving, I'd be glad to walk you through it.
— Freddy Foster
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- 6 modules, 26 lessons
- AI-adaptive lessons tuned to your level
- Quizzes & checkpoints to lock in progress
- Your own AI learning coach
- Learn on any device, at your pace
- Full access for as long as you're subscribed