Industry data
Financing for cleaning companies: what the loan data shows
2,013 SBA 7(a) loans went to cleaning companies recently, at a median of $139,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
2,013 SBA 7(a) loans went to cleaning companies in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $139,000 over 10 years. 33.9% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was The Huntington National Bank.
What a cleaning companie loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Janitorial and cleaning companies | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 2,013 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $139,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $250,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 33.9% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 10.0% | 7.1% |
What stands out
Reading these figures against all 7(a) borrowers:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $139,000 is within a few percent of the $150,000 national median across all 7(a) borrowers, so nothing about this market is unusual on size.
- Startup share is about average, at 34% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 27% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 10.0% of loans to this market from the FY2010-2019 cohorts were charged off, against 7.1% overall. That history is why underwriting in this sector is tighter than the numbers alone would suggest — it is not personal.
What lenders look at in this sector
Contract length and customer concentration drive this. Commercial janitorial with multi-year contracts finances far better than residential cleaning, and the charge-off rate here says lenders have learned that distinction the hard way.
Which lenders actually fund cleaning companies
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to cleaning companies, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 255 | $60,000 | 46% | 10.25% |
| TD Bank | 152 | $50,000 | 32% | 11.50% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 146 | $150,000 | 95% | 10.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 108 | $50,000 | 13% | 13.50% |
| U.S. Bank | 95 | $35,000 | 33% | 9.49% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 91 | $30,000 | 32% | 12.00% |
| Newtek Bank | 91 | $150,000 | 15% | 11.50% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 76 | $150,000 | 3% | 12.50% |
| Northeast Bank | 71 | $103,000 | 14% | 10.50% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 62 | $15,000 | 90% | 13.50% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for cleaning companies: Florida (215), California (191), Texas (137), New York (135), Ohio (92), Pennsylvania (82).
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.