FY2026 Fee Waiver Alert: SBA has waived upfront fees on 7(a) manufacturing loans up to $950K and all 504 manufacturing loans through September 30, 2026. This window closes in less than 8 months. If you're a manufacturer, this is the lowest-cost SBA financing in recent history.
SBA MARC Loan Program 2026for Manufacturers
Working Capital Built for Manufacturers
The SBA's first-ever loan program dedicated exclusively to small manufacturers. Launched October 2025. Up to $5 million. Revolving line or term loan. Stacks with your existing SBA financing. And right now, most banks don't know how to process one.
What is the SBA MARC loan program in 2026?
The SBA MARC program (Manufacturer's Access to Revolving Credit) is the SBA's first loan built only for U.S. manufacturers (NAICS 31 to 33). It provides up to $5 million of revolving working capital for up to 20 years at Prime plus 2.75% or less, and it stacks alongside an SBA 7(a) term loan and an SBA 504 real estate loan. Use MARC for inventory, raw materials, and production cycle cash flow; use 7(a) for an acquisition or one time equipment purchase; use 504 for an owner occupied facility. For FY2026, the SBA also waives guarantee fees on qualifying manufacturing loans through September 30, 2026.
PeerSense underwrites this choice against 163,172 real SBA manufacturing loans, about $73.9 billion, inside our 2.1 million loan public FOIA dataset. Manufacturers run a 12.5% long run default rate across a matured cohort of 116,028 loans, below the 15.6% all industry average. That lower loss rate is why lenders compete for well structured manufacturing credits, and it means the program you pick and the lender you are placed with move your rate more than the headline spread does.
PeerSense Capital Advisory · Analysis of 2.1M SBA loans (public FOIA data) · Manufacturing NAICS 31 to 33 · Updated July 2026
The First SBA Loan Built Specifically for How Manufacturers Actually Work
Manufacturing businesses have cash flow cycles that standard SBA products were never designed for. You take on a large contract, buy raw materials, pay labor, and wait 60-120 days for payment. That gap, between production cost and payment receipt, is exactly what MARC was built to fund.
MARC is not a modification of the existing CAPLines program. It is a new 7(a) loan delivery method with its own structure, designed from the ground up for manufacturers.
Maximum revolving line or term loan
Maximum term on revolving line (10-year draw + 10-year term-out), the longest working capital term SBA offers
Only manufacturing businesses qualify
Program launched; first loans closed December 2025
Two Structures. One Program.
Revolving Line of Credit
Most common use case
Draw period: up to 10 years
You borrow, repay, and borrow again as production cycles demand, just like a business line of credit, but with SBA backing and terms no conventional bank will match.
Term-out period: after the draw period closes
The balance converts to a fully amortizing term loan for up to 10 additional years. Total potential term: 20 years, twice as long as any other SBA working capital product.
Annual review
Each year your lender reviews cash flow, debt coverage, and collateral to renew the line. If you qualify, it renews. If you don't, it converts to term and closes.
Term Loan
For manufacturers who need a fixed working capital injection rather than ongoing revolving access. Maximum 10-year term. Same NAICS 31-33 eligibility. Same SBA guarantee structure.
Underwriting threshold: DSCR of 1:1
Lower than the 1.25x standard SBA typically requires. Built to reflect manufacturing's contract-driven cash flow reality.
Collateral
Lien on all business assets, with specific exceptions for vehicles and trading assets.
SBA MARC vs 7(a) vs 504 (2026)
MARC is the only SBA program built specifically for manufacturers with revolving working capital. Here is how it lines up against the general purpose 7(a) term loan and the 504 real estate program, so you can see which tool fits which need. As of 2026.
| Factor | SBA MARC | SBA 7(a) | SBA 504 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Revolving working capital: inventory, raw materials, work in process, AR bridging, production cycle payroll | General purpose: acquisition, working capital, equipment, or real estate | Owner occupied real estate and long life equipment |
| Max amount | Up to $5M (shares the $5M 7(a) aggregate cap) | Up to $5M term loan (not revolving) | Up to about $5.5M CDC portion (supports a larger total project) |
| Structure | Revolving line up to 10 years, then converts to a term loan for up to 10 more (up to 20 years total) | Single term loan, 10 to 25 year amortization | Two notes (bank first plus CDC second) with 10% borrower equity |
| Rate | Prime plus 2.75% or less | Prime plus 2.25% to 3.0% (variable) | Long term fixed CDC rate, blended about 8.5% to 9.5% |
| Exclusive to | Manufacturers only (NAICS 31 to 33) | Most for profit US small businesses | Owner occupied real estate or heavy equipment |
| Decision rule | Choose for working capital cycles, inventory, and raw materials | Choose for an acquisition or a one time equipment purchase | Choose for an owner occupied facility purchase |
FY2026 fee relief (through September 30, 2026): 0% upfront guarantee fee on 7(a) manufacturing loans up to $950K, and 0% upfront and annual service fee on all 504 manufacturing loans, for NAICS 31 to 33 manufacturers. Stacking MARC, 7(a), and 504 concurrently is allowed. Figures are approximate 2026 program terms and vary by lender and deal. The PeerSense advisory fee is paid at closing.
MARC Stacks. That's the Point.
MARC was explicitly designed to work alongside other SBA programs, not instead of them. A manufacturer can hold both simultaneously:
SBA 504
Fixed assets: equipment, real estate, facility expansion.
- Up to $5M (0% fees through September 30, 2026)
- 10-25 year terms
- Separate program with its own $5M ceiling
SBA 7(a) / MARC
These share a $5M aggregate cap as 7(a) products.
- Use standard 7(a) for acquisitions, renovations, or longer-term needs
- Use MARC for revolving working capital: inventory, raw materials, contract fulfillment
- Same $5M ceiling, different tools within it
Combined Potential
Up to $10M in SBA-backed capital: $5M across the 7(a)/MARC track, plus $5M through SBA 504 for fixed assets.
Most banks will offer you one of these. PeerSense structures the full stack, and knows which lenders will approve the combination.
What MARC Can and Cannot Fund
MARC Funds
- Raw material purchases
- Inventory build for known contracts
- Production scaling - payroll, operating costs during ramp-up
- New manufacturing contract fulfillment gaps
- General working capital
MARC Does NOT Fund
- Business acquisitions or ownership changes
- Floor plan financing
- Fixed asset purchases (use SBA 504 for that)
- Real estate (use SBA 504 or 7(a))
MARC Loan Eligibility Checklist
Download our free 1-page checklist to see if your manufacturing business qualifies for the MARC loan program
What's Inside:
- NAICS code verification
- SBA size standards check
- Financial readiness assessment
- Credit availability test
- Use of proceeds validation
- Program stacking opportunities
- Timeline expectations
- Next steps guidance
Most Banks Are Still Training Their Staff on This Program
MARC launched October 2025. First loans closed December 2025. As of early 2026, the majority of SBA lenders are still in the process of training their loan officers on MARC-specific underwriting and processing requirements.
That creates a specific problem for manufacturers: you walk into your bank, ask about MARC, and get a blank stare or a months-long delay while they figure it out.
PeerSense knows which Preferred Lender Program (PLP) lenders are actively processing MARC applications today, not next quarter. We match your deal to the right lender on day one. No training wheels. No internal bureaucracy slowing your application.
Tell Us About Your Business
NAICS code, revenue, current SBA relationships, working capital need.
We Identify the Right Lender
PLP status, MARC experience, speed, and fit for your deal profile.
Direct Introduction
You go straight to a lender who knows how to close it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the SBA MARC loan program
Related Resources
Explore other financing options and industry-specific guides
SBA 504 Loan
Fixed asset financing for equipment and real estate
Equipment Financing
Lease or loan options for manufacturing equipment
Manufacturing Industry Hub
Complete financing guide for manufacturers
Working Capital Loans
Short-term and long-term working capital solutions
SBA Loan Denied?
Alternative paths when SBA says no
Ready to Explore MARC Loan Financing?
PeerSense identifies the right capital source from our curated network of lenders, private equity firms, and institutional advisors, and makes the introduction. You get a straight assessment of where your deal fits and a direct connection to the source most likely to close it.
If you're a manufacturer looking to expand capacity, modernize equipment, or acquire real estate, the MARC loan program may be your best path forward.
Schedule a CallPeerSense is a commercial finance advisory firm and is not a direct lender. All financing is subject to credit approval and lender underwriting standards. SBA program details are current as of February 2026 and subject to change. PeerSense earns a referral fee at closing.