Industry data
Financing for septic service companies: what the loan data shows
208 SBA 7(a) loans went to septic service companies recently, at a median of $150,000. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
208 SBA 7(a) loans went to septic service companies in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $150,000 over 10 years. 41.3% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was U.S. Bank.
What a septic service companie loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Septic tank and related services | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 208 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $421,725 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 41.3% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 2.3% | 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 41% 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.
- 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 2.3% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Which lenders actually fund septic service companies
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to septic service companies, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 13 | $25,000 | 62% | 9.74% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 11 | $150,000 | 54% | 10.25% |
| Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 8 | $56,500 | 50% | 12.50% |
| Columbia Bank | 7 | $50,000 | 14% | 12.50% |
| TD Bank | 7 | $90,000 | 29% | 10.00% |
| Zions Bank | 7 | $120,000 | 29% | 9.25% |
| Banner Bank | 6 | $50,000 | 33% | 9.62% |
| Peoples Bank | 6 | $284,000 | 17% | 9.38% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 5 | $45,000 | 80% | 12.00% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 4 | $150,000 | 0% | 10.75% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for septic service companies: California (19), Ohio (14), Tennessee (11), Texas (11), New Hampshire (9), Oregon (9).
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.