Industry data
Financing for gift shops: what the loan data shows
404 SBA 7(a) loans went to gift shops recently, at a median of $100,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
404 SBA 7(a) loans went to gift shops in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $100,000 over 10 years. 28.2% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was The Huntington National Bank.
What a gift shop loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Gift, novelty and souvenir shops | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 404 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $100,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $40,000 - $202,925 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 28.2% | 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 $100,000 is 33% below the $150,000 national median. Smaller loans price higher under the SBA spread caps, so budget for a rate above the headline range.
- Startup share is about average, at 28% against 34% nationally.
- Lending here is fragmented. The top three lenders made only 22% 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 gift shops
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to gift shops, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 39 | $50,000 | 31% | 10.00% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 26 | $50,000 | 8% | 14.00% |
| U.S. Bank | 23 | $50,000 | 48% | 8.99% |
| Newtek Bank | 21 | $55,000 | 14% | 11.50% |
| Northeast Bank | 19 | $50,000 | 16% | 10.50% |
| TD Bank | 16 | $42,500 | 38% | 11.00% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 16 | $75,000 | 25% | 10.75% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 14 | $15,000 | 93% | 13.38% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 14 | $135,000 | 0% | 13.25% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 13 | $100,000 | 15% | 11.25% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for gift shops: California (40), New York (25), Texas (25), Florida (21), Ohio (20), Massachusetts (20).
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.