Industry data
Financing for dry cleaners: what the loan data shows
567 SBA 7(a) loans went to dry cleaners recently, at a median of $276,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
567 SBA 7(a) loans went to dry cleaners in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $276,000 over 10 years. 28.9% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was The Huntington National Bank.
What a dry cleaner loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Dry cleaners | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 567 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $276,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $100,000 - $548,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.00% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 28.9% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 9.7% | 7.1% |
What stands out
Reading these figures against all 7(a) borrowers:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $276,000 is 84% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- Startup share is about average, at 29% against 34% nationally.
- Lending here is fragmented. The top three lenders made only 15% of these loans between them, so no single institution owns this market. That is good news: it means shopping genuinely pays.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 9.7% 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
Environmental liability from solvents is the issue lenders raise first, particularly on older plants. A site that has used perc historically will need environmental review, and that can reshape the timeline and the price.
Which lenders actually fund dry cleaners
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to dry cleaners, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 35 | $150,000 | 31% | 10.50% |
| TD Bank | 27 | $50,000 | 26% | 11.50% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 25 | $35,000 | 52% | 12.50% |
| Bank of Hope | 25 | $240,000 | 40% | 9.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 19 | $278,500 | 21% | 10.75% |
| U.S. Bank | 16 | $61,400 | 44% | 9.12% |
| Newtek Bank | 16 | $175,000 | 25% | 11.50% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 15 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.25% |
| Woori America Bank | 15 | $340,000 | 47% | 9.25% |
| Hanmi Bank | 15 | $483,000 | 0% | 9.50% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for dry cleaners: California (73), Texas (71), New York (46), New Jersey (35), Illinois (33), Georgia (33).
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.