Rise Business Funding

SBA Loans in Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville's economy is one of the most dynamic in the Southeast, anchored by healthcare, hospitality, music, and a thriving small business community. Whether you run a restaurant on Broadway, a clinic in Midtown, or a boutique in East Nashville, SBA loans in Nashville, Tennessee can provide the long-term, affordable capital your business needs to grow.

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Funding $5K to $5M

SBA-backed and conventional funding options sized for Nashville businesses of every stage

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Rise Business Funding connects you with lenders quickly so you spend less time waiting and more time operating

Nashville, TN Focused

We work with businesses across Davidson County and greater Nashville, from Germantown to Antioch

About SBA Loans in Nashville

A Nashville general contractor secures a permit to break ground on a mixed-use project in the Germantown corridor, then discovers the project timeline runs eighteen months and the draw schedule does not align with payroll. That gap is exactly what an SBA 7(a) loan is structured to close. With terms extending up to ten years on working capital and up to twenty-five years on commercial real estate, SBA loans give construction businesses across the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA the runway to carry costs between draws without draining reserves. Davidson County filed 47,037 new business applications in 2023, the highest rate in Tennessee at 23.6 per 1,000 residents, and a significant share of that activity tied directly to construction and real estate growth. If your business operates in that space, construction business loans and real estate business loans backed by SBA programs offer the long-term structure that project-based work demands.

The same logic applies along Nashville's I-40/I-65/I-24 freight corridors. Transportation and warehousing businesses added 7,160 net jobs in Q4 2024 alone, making the sector Tennessee's second-largest net job gainer that quarter. Owner-operators and mid-size carriers moving goods through those corridors routinely need capital for fleet expansion or facility deposits before revenue from new contracts arrives. Trucking business loans structured as SBA 7(a) facilities let you finance equipment at favorable rates and preserve cash for fuel, insurance, and driver payroll. For businesses that need shorter-cycle capital alongside an SBA loan, equipment financing or a business line of credit can run parallel without disrupting your primary facility.

Agriculture and food processing businesses in Middle Tennessee face a different timing challenge. Harvest cycles in August through October compress cash needs into a narrow window. An SBA loan paired with a business term loan gives nursery and livestock operators the capital stack to handle both seasonal inventory buildups and longer-term infrastructure investment. Rise Business Funding works with businesses across all three of these sectors to match SBA loan structures to the specific timing, collateral, and revenue profile your operation brings to underwriting.

Financing Options in Nashville

Every product Rise Business Funding offers is available to Nashville businesses. Choose the structure that fits how you want to access and repay capital.

SBA 7(a) Loans

The SBA 7(a) loan is the most widely used SBA product, offering flexible use of funds for working capital, equipment, business acquisitions, and real estate. Repayment terms can extend up to 25 years for real estate and 10 years for other uses. Lenders in our network work with Nashville businesses across all major industries.

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SBA 504 Loans

SBA 504 loans are ideal for Nashville businesses purchasing commercial real estate or making large fixed-asset investments. They feature long repayment terms and are structured through a Certified Development Company alongside a lender. This product suits businesses investing in Nashville's competitive commercial corridors.

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SBA Microloans

SBA microloans provide up to $50,000 to small and early-stage businesses that may not yet qualify for larger programs. They are distributed through nonprofit intermediary lenders and often come with technical assistance resources. Nashville-area startups and micro-enterprises benefit from this accessible entry point into SBA financing.

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Term Loans

Conventional term loans through lenders in our network complement SBA options by offering fast processing and flexible eligibility for Nashville businesses that need predictable monthly payments. Use funds for expansion, staffing, renovation, or equipment purchases. Terms range from short to multi-year based on the lender and use of proceeds.

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Business Line of Credit

A revolving line of credit gives Nashville businesses on-demand access to working capital between busy seasons or irregular cash flow periods. Draw and repay as needed, only paying interest on what you use. This product pairs well with SBA term financing to cover day-to-day operating expenses.

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Equipment Financing

Nashville businesses in food service, healthcare, construction, and transportation often need specialized equipment to operate and grow. Equipment financing through our lender network uses the equipment itself as collateral, which can make qualification more accessible. Preserve cash flow while acquiring the tools your business depends on.

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Requirements to Qualify

Nashville businesses typically meet the following thresholds. Even if you fall short on one factor, Rise Business Funding evaluates your full financial picture.

Minimum Credit Score

FICO 600+

Most lenders in our network require a personal FICO score of at least 600. For SBA loans in Nashville, Tennessee, stronger credit profiles generally unlock better rates and higher loan amounts. Business credit history is also reviewed alongside personal credit.

Monthly Revenue

$25,000+

Your business should be generating at least $25,000 per month in gross revenue. Nashville businesses across hospitality, healthcare, and retail typically meet this threshold once they have established a consistent customer base and operational history.

Time in Business

6+ Months

Lenders in our network generally require at least six months of operating history. Established Nashville businesses with longer track records tend to qualify for larger SBA loan amounts and more favorable repayment terms from SBA-approved lenders.

Business Bank Account

Required

A dedicated business checking account is required to verify revenue, manage loan disbursements, and support underwriting. This applies to all SBA loan products and is a standard requirement across lenders in our network serving Nashville-area small businesses.

How It Works in Nashville

1

Submit Your Application

Complete Rise Business Funding's streamlined online application in minutes. Share basic information about your Nashville business, monthly revenue, and the type of SBA financing you are seeking. No lengthy paperwork upfront.

2

Get Matched with a Lender

Within 24 hours, Rise Business Funding reviews your profile and connects you with SBA-approved lenders in our network who are best suited to your business type, funding need, and qualifications. You receive clear options without the guesswork.

3

Receive Your Funding

Once approved by your matched lender, funds are disbursed directly to your business bank account. SBA loan timelines vary by product and lender, but Rise Business Funding works to keep the process as efficient as possible for Nashville business owners.

Why Nashville Business Owners Choose Rise Business Funding

  • Lender Network Breadth

    Rise Business Funding connects Nashville businesses with a broad network of SBA-approved lenders, community banks, and alternative funding partners, giving you access to more options than approaching a single institution.

  • Nashville Market Knowledge

    We understand Nashville's business landscape, from the capital costs of opening a venue on Lower Broadway to the equipment needs of a growing healthcare practice in Brentwood. Our matching process accounts for your specific industry and location.

  • Transparent Process

    No hidden fees or confusing lender hierarchies. Rise Business Funding explains every step, so you know what to expect from application through funding.

  • Full Product Range

    Beyond SBA loans, our lender network covers term loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, and more, so Nashville businesses can find the right fit regardless of their stage or funding need.

Industries We Serve in Nashville

From the dominant sectors of the Nashville economy to the small operators that keep neighborhoods running, Rise Business Funding works across every legitimate industry.

Tennessee-Specific Resources

Nashville-area business owners have access to a strong network of local and state-level resources that complement private SBA financing. The SBA Tennessee District Office in Nashville serves all 95 counties through more than 120 approved lending partners, which collectively approved over $670 million in SBA-backed loans in Fiscal Year 2025. Pathway Lending, a Nashville-based Treasury-certified CDFI endorsed by the Tennessee Bankers Association, offers term loans and commercial real estate financing with an average small business loan size of $202,000. Fund Tennessee's LendTN program channels $47 million in SSBCI 2.0 funding through CDFIs statewide, with at least 58% of loaned dollars directed toward socially and economically disadvantaged borrowers. The Tennessee Small Business Development Center network provides free loan-packaging support that can strengthen your SBA application. These programs are valuable starting points, and Rise Business Funding's SBA loan products are designed to work alongside them.

Fund Tennessee

Tennessee's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI 2.0) program, administering $117 million in federal funding statewide through three components: LendTN (a $47 million debt program delivered via Treasury-certified CDFIs across all 95 counties), InvestTN (equity investments into Tennessee-located startups at the pre-seed and seed stages), and AssistTN (technical assistance to help SEDI-owned and very small businesses become capital-ready). At least 58% of loaned dollars must serve socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

fundtennessee.org

Pathway Lending

Nashville-based, U.S. Treasury-certified CDFI and the only CDFI endorsed by the Tennessee Bankers Association, offering small business term loans, lines of credit, equipment and commercial real estate financing starting at $5,000 (average small business loan size of $202,000 in 2024), with a focus on veteran-, women-, minority-, rural, and low-to-moderate-income borrowers across all regions of Tennessee. Pathway is a participating lender in the LendTN program under Fund Tennessee and has delivered more than $587 million in direct lending over 25 years.

pathwaylending.org

LiftFund

Treasury-certified nonprofit CDFI operating a Tennessee-specific lending portal, offering SBA Community Advantage loans (up to $350,000, 7 to 10 year terms) and microloans to small businesses in Tennessee that do not qualify for traditional bank financing, with particular emphasis on underserved entrepreneurs including minorities, women, and veterans. LiftFund has deployed nearly $1 billion in funding to more than 28,000 business owners across 13 states, with Tennessee as a primary service market.

tennessee.liftfund.com

SBA Tennessee District Office

The U.S. Small Business Administration's single district office for Tennessee, located in Nashville, serves all 95 counties of the state and delivers SBA 7(a) loans, 504 loans, and microloans through more than 120 approved lending partners, which collectively approved over $670 million in SBA-backed loans for Tennessee businesses in Fiscal Year 2025. The office also provides counseling referrals, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery assistance.

sba.gov

Hope Credit Union

Treasury-certified CDFI credit union serving the Deep South including Tennessee, providing small business loans up to $250,000 and commercial loans above that threshold, with 64% of small business loans historically going to Black-owned businesses and 74% made in economically distressed regions. HOPE also administers the Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund, which explicitly covers Tennessee, and offers start-up loans, business real estate lending, and SBA-sponsored financing for businesses in underserved areas.

hopecu.org

Tennessee Small Business Development Center

Statewide network of Small Business Development Centers hosted by Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro and accredited by the National Association of Small Business Development Centers, providing free, confidential consulting on business planning, financial projections, loan packaging, and market research to Tennessee entrepreneurs at every stage. The TSBDC also serves as the designated technical assistance partner for the AssistTN component of Fund Tennessee (SSBCI).

tsbdc.org

Frequently Asked Questions

About Funding in Nashville

To access SBA loans in Nashville, Tennessee, you can apply through Rise Business Funding's online platform, which matches you with SBA-approved lenders in our network. You will need to meet basic eligibility requirements including a FICO score of 600 or higher, at least $25,000 in monthly revenue, and six or more months in business. After submitting your application, Rise Business Funding reviews your profile and connects you with lenders suited to your business type and funding need, streamlining the traditional SBA application process.

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