Industry data
Financing for clothing wholesalers: what the loan data shows
395 SBA 7(a) loans went to clothing wholesalers recently, at a median of $150,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
395 SBA 7(a) loans went to clothing wholesalers in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $150,000 over 10 years. 18.0% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was Bank of Hope.
What a clothing wholesaler loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Clothing and accessories wholesalers | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 395 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $90,000 - $350,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 18.0% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | not enough history | 7.1% |
What stands out
Reading these figures against all 7(a) borrowers:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $150,000 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.
- This is a hard market for new businesses. Only 18% of these loans went to startups, against 34% nationally. If you are pre-revenue, work from the startup table below rather than the main list.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 28% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Which lenders actually fund clothing wholesalers
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to clothing wholesalers, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Hope | 52 | $200,000 | 4% | 9.62% |
| TD Bank | 37 | $100,000 | 11% | 11.30% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 23 | $250,000 | 4% | 11.50% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 22 | $150,000 | 4% | 12.25% |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 19 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.50% |
| Northeast Bank | 16 | $175,000 | 6% | 10.25% |
| Newtek Bank | 15 | $250,000 | 7% | 11.50% |
| U.S. Bank | 14 | $35,000 | 29% | 10.87% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 13 | $15,000 | 85% | 13.00% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 12 | $280,000 | 8% | 11.12% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for clothing wholesalers: California (163), New York (69), Florida (31), New Jersey (17), Texas (14), Georgia (11).
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.