As comprehensive as all that sounds, SBA financing isn't
limited to the 7(a) group of loans. The Microloan Program is
administered by nonprofit intermediaries that will often walk you
through writing your business plan and taking inventory of your
business skills. "Micro" means less than $25,000 and a
carries a fairly short term, although maturity terms vary, as do
interest rates. Microloans take little time to process--often less
than a week. The greatest advantage of the microloan is that it can
be easier to get than a loan from a commercial bank. The only
downside is that the Microloan Program isn't available in all
regions.