Industry data
Financing for liquor stores: what the loan data shows
2,056 SBA 7(a) loans went to liquor stores recently, at a median of $500,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
2,056 SBA 7(a) loans went to liquor stores in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $500,000 over 10 years. 32.4% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was Hanmi Bank.
What a liquor store loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Liquor and wine stores | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 2,056 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $500,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $200,625 - $1,000,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 32.4% | 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 larger than average. The median of $500,000 is 233% 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 32% against 34% nationally.
- Lending here is fragmented. The top three lenders made only 18% of these loans between them, so no single institution owns this market. That is good news: it means shopping genuinely pays.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.75% is 0.50 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
What lenders look at in this sector
The licence is often a large share of the purchase price, it may not transfer automatically, and lenders treat it inconsistently as collateral. Settle how your state handles the licence transfer in week one, not at closing.
Which lenders actually fund liquor stores
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to liquor stores, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanmi Bank | 171 | $735,000 | 6% | 9.50% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 106 | $100,000 | 34% | 10.00% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 88 | $60,000 | 47% | 10.75% |
| Commonwealth Business Bank | 78 | $476,000 | 14% | 9.75% |
| Open Bank | 69 | $630,500 | 12% | 9.75% |
| Bank of Hope | 65 | $500,000 | 62% | 9.25% |
| U.S. Bank | 54 | $269,750 | 43% | 8.99% |
| American Continental Bank | 48 | $565,000 | 8% | 9.25% |
| PCB Bank | 47 | $574,000 | 32% | 9.25% |
| Metro City Bank | 47 | $2,670,000 | 28% | 9.25% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for liquor stores: California (404), Colorado (232), New York (164), Michigan (147), Georgia (131), New Jersey (119).
Which financing fits
| Product | Fit for this sector | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | The dominant vehicle in this niche | 10.0% - 14.0% APR |
| Commercial mortgage | If you are buying the building | 6.5% - 9.5% APR |
| Equipment financing | For the hard assets, often cheaper separately | 7.0% - 30.0% 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.