Small Business Government Programs — SBA Loans, Grants, & Tax Credits
Choose a business loan, research or export project, tax provision, contracting certification, or training service by your need and the actual application route.
Choose the route by what your business needs. Loans require repayment, research awards fund an eligible project, tax provisions affect a return, and contracting certifications help you compete for work. A program name alone does not establish that your business qualifies or that applications are open.
- Equipment or operating cash: Compare 7(a), 504 fixed-asset financing, and microloans against the expense, business and owner conditions, and repayment capacity.
- Disaster losses or an essential employee's military call-up: Use the separate disaster or MREIDL routes below, with their own eligibility and deadlines.
- Research or export development: Check an actual agency SBIR/STTR solicitation or your state's STEP approval and payment rules before committing to the project.
- Federal customers: Select the certification that fits your ownership, location, and target procurement, then prepare a contract offer; certification does not assign work.
- Training or startup support: Find an E2G or accelerator service you can use. Funding paid to a support organization is different from a grant paid to your business.
Small Business Program Guides
SBA Loan Programs
SBA 7(a) loans are made through participating lenders with an SBA guarantee. Review eligible uses, repayment factors, and documents for a lender application.
SBA 504 Loan ProgramSBA 504 loans finance major business fixed assets through a CDC and a private lender. Explore eligible projects, borrower equity, and application steps.
SBA 504 Loan EligibilityCheck SBA 504 eligibility for business finances, fixed-asset use, owner occupancy, and borrower contributions before discussing your project with a CDC.
SBA Microloan ProgramLoans of up to $50,000 through local intermediary lenders, including eligible nonprofit childcare centers. Check owner conditions, permitted uses, and repayment terms.
Business Support and Export Grants
Use past GAFC awardee lists to find startup support and check a provider's current services; historical prizes do not establish an open funding round.
State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)STEP helps small businesses develop export markets through state-run assistance. Check eligible activities, matching costs, and your state's application process.
Research and Development Funding
SBIR supports small-business research with commercial potential. Explore funding phases, project eligibility, and how to respond to an agency solicitation.
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)STTR research requires a qualifying partner and minimum business and partner work shares. Check principal-investigator rules and the specific agency solicitation.
Business Tax Credits and Deductions
Review the R&D tax credit's four-part eligibility test, qualifying research expenses, calculation methods, and records needed for a Form 6765 claim.
Section 179 DeductionSection 179 lets businesses expense qualifying property subject to tax limits. Check business use, placed-in-service rules, and the Form 4562 election.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)WOTC authorization currently covers workers starting by December 31, 2025. Check covered hire dates, timely state certification, and the tax claim; new 2026 hires are not currently covered.
Federal Contracting Certifications
The SBA 8(a) program combines federal contracting opportunities with business development support. Explore eligibility, certification, and ongoing obligations.
8(a) Program EligibilityAssess your business against SBA 8(a) size, ownership, control, and financial requirements, with a self-check for documentation and application readiness.
Women-Owned Small Business: WOSB & EDWOSBCompare WOSB and EDWOSB federal contracting eligibility, women-owned business control rules, financial tests, and documents for SBA certification.
HUBZone Contracting ProgramHUBZone certification opens federal contracting opportunities for qualifying businesses. Check office location, employee residency, and application requirements.
SDVOSB & VOSB Contracting ProgramsSDVOSB provides governmentwide reserved opportunities; VOSB reserved opportunities are at VA. Check veteran ownership, US residence, control, and certification versus contract size tests.
Disaster and Military Reservist Loans
Compare SBA physical-damage and economic-injury disaster loans, check declaration-specific deadlines, and prepare records of losses and business finances.
Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster LoanMREIDL offers working-capital loans when an essential employee's military call-up harms a small business. Review eligibility, records, and SBA application steps.