Industry data
Financing for bookstores: what the loan data shows
189 SBA 7(a) loans went to bookstores recently, at a median of $94,700. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
189 SBA 7(a) loans went to bookstores in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $94,700 over 10 years. 51.9% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was The Huntington National Bank.
What a bookstore loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Book retailers | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 189 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $94,700 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $40,000 - $175,500 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 51.9% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | not enough history | 7.1% |
What stands out
Reading these figures against all 7(a) borrowers:
- Loans here run smaller than average. The median of $94,700 is 37% below the $150,000 national median. Smaller loans price higher under the SBA spread caps, so budget for a rate above the headline range.
- New businesses do well here. 52% of these loans went to startups or businesses under two years old, against 34% nationally — an unusually open market if you have no trading history.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 25% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Which lenders actually fund bookstores
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to bookstores, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 22 | $63,900 | 68% | 9.62% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 14 | $50,000 | 14% | 14.25% |
| Newtek Bank | 12 | $68,500 | 17% | 11.50% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 9 | $15,000 | 89% | 13.50% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 9 | $50,000 | 78% | 11.74% |
| Northeast Bank | 7 | $25,000 | 14% | 11.00% |
| U.S. Bank | 5 | $30,000 | 40% | 11.24% |
| KeyBank | 5 | $20,000 | 100% | 10.93% |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 5 | $144,700 | 0% | 13.00% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 4 | $150,000 | 0% | 13.25% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for bookstores: New York (21), California (18), Pennsylvania (17), Michigan (12), Illinois (10), Washington (9).
Which financing fits
| Product | Fit for this sector | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | The dominant vehicle in this niche | 10.0% - 14.0% APR |
| Equipment financing | For the hard assets, often cheaper separately | 7.0% - 30.0% APR |
| Line of credit | For seasonality and payroll timing | 9.0% - 60.0% APR |
| SBA microloan | If you need under $50,000 | 8.0% - 13.0% APR |
| Business acquisition loan | If you are buying an existing operation | 10.0% - 14.0% APR |
Before you apply
- Check coverage first. Run the payment through the affordability calculator at 1.25x.
- Shortlist from the lender table, favouring ones whose median loan here is close to what you need.
- Assemble the documents — see the checklist.
- If you are buying rather than starting, read business acquisition loans first; the injection rules and diligence are different.