One of 16 Nationally
The economy works when small businesses do
Small businesses employ nearly half the American workforce, anchor local communities, and remain the primary driver of economic mobility in this country.
As a direct SBA lender, we are entrusted with connecting small businesses to the capital they need to grow — regardless of where they are or how they started.
SBA-licensed SBLCs
loan size
SBLC loan volume
We finance potential, not just history
SBA Lafayette is a Small Business Lending Company — one of only 16 SBLC-licensed non-bank lenders authorized by the SBA to originate 7(a) loans. That distinction matters. Without the distractions of a deposit-taking institution, we deliver fast, automated, and reliable SBA lending solutions with a more flexible credit box and a more deliberate process than conventional banks.
Congress created the SBA program in 1953 when recognizing that private markets alone cannot adequately serve small businesses. We take the mandate to champion small businesses seriously. Our focus is expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs who create jobs and strengthen communities — each loan we make is a direct expression of that commitment.
We are a cashflow-positive lender — which means we build smart, customized financing around your business needs, not rigid formulas. We evaluate what your business can become, not just what it looks like today. That single philosophy changes who gets access to capital.
Fifty years of federal commitment to small business
The SBA 7(a) loan program is one of the most powerful financing tools in America — and most small business owners never get access to it. We change that. As a direct SBA lender with a flexible credit box, we can move faster, think differently, and say yes where conventional banks say no.
Benefits of SBA Loans
An SBA Loan Can Be Used To
- Purchase owner-user commercial real estate
- Refinance commercial owner-user real estate
- Construct or renovate property
- Purchase or expand an existing business
- Transition ownership of a business
- Finance franchise businesses
- Refinance existing debt
- Purchase machinery and equipment
- Finance inventory and working capital
- Finance accounts receivable
Which loan is right for you?
Every business is different. We structure financing around your unique business goals — not a one-size-fits-all product.
Real Estate Loans
What it covers
Purchase, refinance, construct, or renovate owner-user commercial real estate. The business must occupy at least 51% of existing space, or 67% of newly constructed space.
Financing & Terms
Up to 90% financing, fully amortized over 25 years — keeping monthly payments low and cash flow in your business.
Assumability
First and second mortgages are assumable to qualified borrowers, adding long-term flexibility to your investment.
Business Loans
Business Acquisition
Buy an existing business or take on a partner buyout. Up to 90% financing, fully amortized over 10 years.
Equipment Acquisition
Finance the machinery, vehicles, or technology your business needs to operate and grow. Up to 100% financing on a 10-year term.
Debt Refinance
Restructure existing obligations on better terms. Up to 25 years for real estate debt, 10 years for everything else.
Working Capital & Inventory
Keep operations running and shelves stocked. Includes revolving lines of credit on a 10-year term.
Franchise Loans
Start-Ups
Launch a new franchise location with SBA-backed financing — lower down payments, longer terms, and flexible underwriting for approved franchisors.
Purchase & Renovation
Acquire an existing franchise or fund a full buildout or remodel. Covers leasehold improvements, FF&E, and construction costs.
Terms
Loan amounts from $350,000 to $5 million. Terms from 7 to 25 years depending on use of proceeds.
SBA Express
What it covers
Fast-tracked SBA financing for working capital, equipment, and lines of credit. Ideal for businesses that need capital quickly without a full 7(a) loan application cycle.
Terms
Up to $500,000 amortized up to 10 years. Streamlined underwriting and faster SBA turnaround than standard 7(a) loans.
Best For
Established businesses with strong cash flow that need speed — revolving lines of credit, bridge financing, or smaller capital needs.
How we turn a conversation into capital
A clear and efficient seven-step process designed to get you to closing as quickly as possible.
Structuring
We start by understanding your business and your goals — not just the loan amount. We consider the right loan type, the right term, and the right structure for your specific situation. No two deals are identical, and this step makes sure your loan is built to fit.
Proposal
We present you with a clear, customized loan proposal — including the amount, rate, term, and structure we're recommending and why. This is our opportunity to answer your questions, align on terms, and make sure everything makes sense before we move forward.
Underwriting
Our underwriting team takes the time to understand your financials, business history, collateral, and cash flow when evaluating your business' potential.
Approval
Once underwriting is complete, the loan goes through our internal approval process and SBA approval. We handle all SBA documentation and keep you informed at every step, so there are no surprises.
Closing
Loan documents are prepared, reviewed, and executed. Our team coordinates with your attorney, your escrow agent, and any other parties to make sure every condition is satisfied and the loan closing runs smoothly.
Funding
Capital is disbursed to you or your designated account once every condition is cleared. Our team is available through and beyond funding to answer any questions.
Servicing
Our relationship doesn't end at funding. We service your loan throughout its life — managing payments, handling any modifications, and staying available if your business situation changes. We're a long-term partner, not a one-time transaction.
Access to capital changes trajectories
Most of the jobs in this country aren't created by Fortune 500 companies. They're created by specialty trades businesses — HVAC, plumbing, electrical — that need capital to grow. The professional services firm ready to expand. The manufacturer in a mid-sized city that just needs a fair shot at financing.
That's what the SBA program was built for. And it's what we are dedicated to delivering.
Access
We reach entrepreneurs who traditional finance has overlooked — not because they aren't creditworthy, but because the system wasn't built with them in mind.
Potential
We are a cashflow-positive lender. That means we evaluate your business on what it can do — not just what it looks like on paper on the day you apply.
Community
Every loan we make employs people, anchors a neighborhood, and strengthens a local economy. Capital deployed here compounds here.
Most small businesses are eligible
SBA loans are more accessible than most business owners realize. If your business is for-profit, U.S.-based, and meets basic size standards, you are likely eligible — regardless of how how long you have been operating or your industry.
The SBA program was specifically designed for businesses that can't access conventional financing on reasonable terms, which represents a wide range and large number of businesses.
People who have done this before
SBA Lafayette is led by a team with more than 160 years of combined SBA and commercial lending experience, and over $2 billion in funded loan volume. Our leadership has built and scaled national SBA platforms across origination, underwriting, credit policy, and operations. We bring full life-cycle expertise — from first conversation to final payment.
30+ years in SBA and commercial lending. Funded more than $1 billion in SBA loans across national platforms.
Rocco Perate serves as Chief Executive Officer of SBA Lafayette, where he is building a nationally scaled, performance-driven SBA lending platform focused on disciplined growth and consistent credit quality. With more than 30 years of experience in small business and commercial finance, he brings deep expertise in SBA 7(a) and Express, 504, USDA, M&A, and franchise lending.
Rocco most recently served as an Executive Vice President and Director of SBA Lending at Meridian Bank and previously served in similar positions at Beneficial Bank, Square 1 Bank, and national lenders such as Heller Financial and The Money Store Investment Corporation.
Over the course of his career, Rocco has funded more than $1 billion in SBA loans, built and led high-performing national teams, and has trained the next generation of SBA professionals. His track record reflects a consistent ability to combine production strength with rigorous credit oversight, driving portfolio performance while expanding access to capital for small businesses. His leadership style is direct, execution-oriented, and rooted in building scalable infrastructure designed for long-term enterprise value creation.
30+ years in SBA lending. Built and led credit governance, compliance, and operations across multiple banking institutions.
Brian Bodo serves as Chief Operating Officer & Chief Credit Officer of SBA Lafayette, where he oversaw the build-out of SBA Lafayette's credit and operational infrastructure and now leads the day-to-day execution of credit and operational activities. Brian brings more than 30 years of SBA banking experience to the team, with expertise in commercial and government-guaranteed lending.
He most recently served as Senior Vice President and Director of the SBA Lending Group at 1st Colonial Bank, where he led strategic expansion, credit governance, and regulatory compliance across the SBA platform. Prior to that, Brian established and grew a 16-person SBA Finance Group at Firstrust Bank.
Throughout his career, Brian has strengthened credit policy frameworks, enhanced reporting infrastructure, optimized fee-income strategies, and maintained strict adherence to SBA SOP and regulatory standards.
23+ years of banking and regulatory reporting. Former public bank CFO overseeing IPO and acquisition activity.
Lucas Stewart, CPA, serves as Chief Financial Officer of SBA Lafayette, where he oversees financial operations, reporting, and strategic planning as the platform scales nationally. Lucas is a senior financial executive with more than 23 years of experience in banking, accounting, and regulatory reporting.
Previously, he was Executive Vice President, CFO and CAO of Metro City Bank and MetroCity Bankshares, playing a key role in the company’s IPO, acquisition activity, and systems transformation. Lucas began his career in public accounting at Mauldin & Jenkins and later held leadership roles at Fidelity Bank.
Throughout his career, Lucas has built financial planning and budgeting frameworks, strengthened internal controls and audit infrastructure, and maintained strict adherence to accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
10+ years in SBA loan processing and closing. Leads high-volume teams executing complex SBA transactions at scale.
Janelle Pickard serves as Director, Loan Documentation Specialist at SBA Lafayette, where she is responsible for overseeing the processing and closing teams. Janelle brings more than 10 years of SBA operations experience to the team with expertise in loan processing, closing, and pipeline management.
Janelle most recently served as Associate Vice President and SBA Loan Processing Manager at Meridian Bank, where she led high-volume processing and closing teams responsible for executing complex SBA transactions in full compliance with evolving SOP standards.
Janelle’s leadership ensures operational precision, documentation integrity, and efficient turn times – critical drivers of both borrower experience and secondary market execution. Janelle’s strength lies in building scalable closing infrastructure that supports production growth without compromising compliance or credit quality.
30+ years building and scaling national SBA 7(a), 504, and franchise lending platforms and production teams.
Jeff Roegge serves as National Sales Manager for SBA Lafayette, where he is responsible for overseeing and developing a nationwide Business Development Officer team. Jeff brings more than 30 years of experience building and scaling national SBA 7(a) and Express, 504, conventional, and franchise lending platforms to the team.
Prior to joining SBA Lafayette, Jeff was the Regional Sales Manager, East Region at Harvest Small Business Finance. Jeff led a multi-state platform producing +$200M in loans, spanning New York through South Florida. Jeff also previously held senior SBA leadership roles, helping grow national SBA production while implementing enterprise lending technologies.
Jeff is a proven leader who develops high-performing BDO teams, drives multi-state expansion strategies, and delivers top-tier SBA production.
14+ years in SBA underwriting and credit leadership. Built institutional-grade credit platforms across origination and compliance.
Numan Rizvi serves as Director of Credit at SBA Lafayette, where he is responsible for management of the credit underwriting team and execution of underwriting. Numan brings more than 14 years of specialized SBA underwriting and credit leadership experience, with a strong track record of building institutional-grade SBA credit platforms.
Most recently at Meridian Bank, Numan led the execution of underwriting and credit. Prior to that role, he partnered in the development and expansion of the SBA division.
Numan has structured and underwritten a broad range of SBA transactions, overseen credit policy implementation, trained underwriting teams, and ensured full compliance with SBA requirements. In addition to credit leadership, Numan has played a key role in operational scaling—supporting technology integration, workflow optimization, and process standardization. His approach combines disciplined risk management with practical deal structuring that supports sustainable production growth.
30+ years in SBA and government-guaranteed lending across SBA 7(a) and Express, 504, and USDA programs.
Morgan Johns serves as Senior SBA Underwriter Lead at SBA Lafayette, where he is responsible for underwriting activities and SOP compliance of the underwriting team, drawing on more than 30 years of nationwide experience in SBA and government-guaranteed lending, including SBA 7(a) and Express, 504, and USDA programs.
Most recently at Hanover Bank, Morgan led experienced processing and closing teams across full-cycle SBA lending – from borrower onboarding through closing – spanning standard and small loan programs, eligibility review, software platform management, and team development.
Recognized as a trusted SBA subject matter expert, Morgan strengthens institutional performance by aligning credit execution, operational discipline, and production strategy to support sustained, risk-adjusted growth.