Industry data
Financing for food service contractors: what the loan data shows
249 SBA 7(a) loans went to food service contractors recently, at a median of $150,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
249 SBA 7(a) loans went to food service contractors in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $150,000 over 10 years. 27.3% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was The Huntington National Bank.
What a food service contractor loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Food service contractors and caterers | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 249 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $400,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.49% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 27.3% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 8.3% | 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.
- Startup share is about average, at 27% against 34% nationally.
- Lending here is fragmented. The top three lenders made only 24% of these loans between them, so no single institution owns this market. That is good news: it means shopping genuinely pays.
Which lenders actually fund food service contractors
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to food service contractors, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 28 | $80,500 | 21% | 10.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 17 | $283,500 | 24% | 11.25% |
| Northeast Bank | 15 | $95,300 | 27% | 10.75% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 13 | $15,000 | 92% | 13.50% |
| U.S. Bank | 12 | $50,000 | 0% | 9.74% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 10 | $35,000 | 30% | 11.88% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 9 | $120,000 | 0% | 11.25% |
| TD Bank | 8 | $50,000 | 38% | 10.62% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 6 | $917,500 | 17% | 9.70% |
| Newtek Bank | 6 | $275,000 | 33% | 11.50% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for food service contractors: California (33), New York (24), Ohio (17), Texas (15), Florida (13), Massachusetts (12).
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.