The SBA government-guaranteed loan program may provide lower down payments, longer repayment terms, and easier qualifying criteria than conventional bank loans. The SBA 7(a) loan program is a great choice for small business owners, because the loan is backed by the federal government, almost always providing much better terms and security than you would find with a typical loan. Loan amounts are available up to $5 million per borrower, with repayment up to 25-years giving small business owners the flexibility that they need to grow their company.