Industry data
Financing for pack-and-ship stores: what the loan data shows
617 SBA 7(a) loans went to pack-and-ship stores recently, at a median of $310,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
617 SBA 7(a) loans went to pack-and-ship stores in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $310,000 over 10 years. 56.1% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was The Huntington National Bank.
What a pack-and-ship 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 | Private mail and pack-and-ship stores | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 617 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $310,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $150,000 - $450,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 56.1% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 4.4% | 7.1% |
What stands out
Reading these figures against all 7(a) borrowers:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $310,000 is 107% 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.
- New businesses do well here. 56% of these loans went to startups or businesses under two years old, against 34% nationally — an unusually open market if you have no trading history.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 37% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- 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.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 4.4% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Which lenders actually fund pack-and-ship stores
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to pack-and-ship stores, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 131 | $200,000 | 57% | 10.00% |
| Bank of America | 64 | $466,450 | 67% | 6.79% |
| United Community Bank | 33 | $365,000 | 88% | 10.25% |
| Merchants Bank of Indiana | 24 | $440,000 | 33% | 10.12% |
| U.S. Bank | 23 | $320,000 | 52% | 9.51% |
| Citizens Bank | 22 | $413,450 | 68% | 10.25% |
| Newtek Bank | 20 | $137,500 | 50% | 11.25% |
| TD Bank | 16 | $75,000 | 62% | 9.57% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 16 | $230,000 | 81% | 9.75% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 13 | $260,000 | 77% | 8.33% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for pack-and-ship stores: California (89), Florida (58), North Carolina (49), Georgia (38), Texas (37), Pennsylvania (27).
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 |
| 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.