Fixed-Rate Loans for Florida Businesses
SBA 504 loans give Florida business owners long-term, fixed-rate financing for commercial real estate and major equipment — the purchases that define where your business is heading, not just where it is today.
SBA 504 Financing Covers Your Biggest Business Purchases
How the SBA 504 Loan Program Finances Commercial Real Estate and Equipment
Commercial Lending Group of Florida is a licensed SBA lender in Jacksonville serving small business owners across Florida. We specialize in SBA 504 loans that finance commercial real estate, major equipment, and other fixed asset acquisitions.
The SBA 504 loan finances major fixed assets: owner-occupied commercial real estate, large equipment with a useful life of ten years or more, and qualified leasehold improvements. It offers long-term fixed rates, typically 10 or 25 years, with a low down payment, making it the most cost-effective structure for Florida business owners ready to build equity instead of paying rent.
Eligible uses include commercial real estate purchase or construction that the business will owner-occupy, major equipment purchases, and fixed asset acquisitions. These are the purchases that traditional bank financing often won't touch at terms a small business can sustain long-term.
This loan is designed for established businesses with cash flow, owner-operators intending to occupy at least 51% of a purchased building, and business owners tired of paying rent on space they could own.
We've walked Florida business owners through 504 applications for everything from warehouse acquisitions in Jacksonville to restaurant equipment packages on the Gulf Coast.
The 504 Loan Structure Keeps Your Cash Where It Belongs
Why a 10 Percent Down Payment Changes the Math for Small Business Owners
The SBA 504 loan requires a down payment of just 10 percent, far below the 20–30 percent a conventional commercial real estate lender typically demands. Keeping that capital in the business rather than locking it into a down payment means your cash stays available for payroll, inventory, and growth.
Rates on 504 loans are fixed for the life of the loan, typically 10 years for equipment and 25 years for commercial real estate. A fixed rate on a 25-year commercial loan means you know your exact monthly obligation for the next quarter-century. No adjustable-rate surprises, no refinancing pressure, and no exposure to rising rates.
If you're growing, buying is almost always cheaper than renting over a ten-year horizon. Every mortgage payment builds equity in an asset your business owns. Every rent check builds equity for your landlord. The SBA 504 program is the mechanism that makes owning accessible for small businesses that couldn't otherwise meet a conventional lender's terms.
Because Commercial Lending Group of Florida operates as an independent SBA broker, we match your 504 application to the lender whose criteria best fit your business profile — not the single bank whose products we're required to sell. That access to multiple SBA-approved lenders meaningfully improves your chances of approval and can influence the final rate and structure you're offered. For businesses with broader financing needs beyond fixed assets, our SBA 7(a) loans serve working capital, business acquisition, and refinancing goals.
Experience With SBA 504 Lending Makes the Difference
What an Experienced SBA Lender Checks Before Submitting Your 504 Application
Not every business purchase qualifies for the SBA 504 program. The asset must be a fixed asset with a useful life of ten years or more, and for commercial real estate, the business must occupy at least 51 percent of the building. The business itself must have sufficient cash flow to service the new debt — typically demonstrated through two to three years of tax returns and current financials.
Before we submit a single document on a 504 application, Ed Randall reviews the asset qualification, the borrower's cash flow coverage ratio, the appraisal requirements for the property or equipment, and the lender's current appetite for the asset class. After 21 years of SBA lending, that pre-submission review is what separates a clean approval from an avoidable decline.
Business owners who aren't sure whether they qualify for the 504 program can start with our SBA loan consulting service to assess readiness before any formal application begins.
Answers to Common SBA 504 Loan Questions
What is the minimum down payment for an SBA 504 loan?
The standard minimum down payment is 10 percent. Startups in business for less than two years and purchases involving special-purpose properties may require 15 to 20 percent. Either way, you retain far more working capital than a conventional commercial loan would allow, which is a meaningful cash flow advantage from day one.
How is an SBA 504 loan different from an SBA 7(a) loan?
The 504 program is built specifically for fixed assets: owner-occupied real estate and long-life equipment, with fixed rates and terms up to 25 years. The 7(a) loan is broader — it covers working capital, business acquisition, and refinancing. If you're not sure which program fits your situation, our SBA loan consulting service can help you identify the right path before you apply.
Can I use an SBA 504 loan to buy a building for my business?
Yes — buying a building for your business is the most common use of the SBA 504 program. You must owner-occupy at least 51 percent of the property. Financing can cover the purchase price and qualified renovation costs, with a 25-year fixed-rate term available, which keeps your monthly payment predictable across the life of the loan.
How long does it take to close an SBA 504 loan in Florida?
Most SBA 504 loans close within 60 to 90 days of a completed application. Starting with a pre-qualification review through Commercial Lending Group of Florida reduces back-and-forth delays by catching documentation gaps early. Ed Randall manages the process from pre-qualification through closing, so you're not navigating the lender and the SBA on your own.
Get Pre-Qualified for an SBA 504 Loan
If you're ready to stop renting and start building equity in your own commercial space, or you need long-term fixed financing for major equipment, the next step is a pre-qualification conversation with Commercial Lending Group of Florida.
There's no obligation, no sales pitch, and no pressure to commit to a product before you understand your options. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and by appointment on Saturdays.
