Industry data
Financing for window treatment retailers: what the loan data shows
241 SBA 7(a) loans went to window treatment retailers recently, at a median of $170,700. The lenders that make them, the terms they write, and what underwriters look at.
241 SBA 7(a) loans went to window treatment retailers in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $170,700 over 10 years. 53.5% went to new or under-two-year-old businesses, and the most active lender was United Midwest Savings Bank.
What a window treatment retailer loan actually looks like
These are approvals, not advertised ranges. Computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30.
| Measure | Window treatment retailers | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved, fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026 | 241 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $170,700 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $150,000 - $426,250 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to new businesses | 53.5% | 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 $170,700 is 14% 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. 54% 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 38% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Which lenders actually fund window treatment retailers
Ranked by loans approved in this niche. The median, startup share and rate describe each lender's own loans to window treatment retailers, not its national averages — which is how you spot a genuine specialist.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 54 | $150,000 | 96% | 11.00% |
| First Bank of the Lake | 21 | $270,200 | 81% | 10.00% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 17 | $170,000 | 65% | 10.50% |
| U.S. Bank | 12 | $434,100 | 58% | 8.62% |
| Bank of America | 12 | $587,500 | 50% | 6.62% |
| Customers Bank | 6 | $631,500 | 0% | 8.38% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 6 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.50% |
| Mission Valley Bank | 6 | $667,550 | 17% | 11.25% |
| Northeast Bank | 6 | $59,500 | 17% | 10.25% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 5 | $320,000 | 100% | 8.50% |
Where these businesses borrow
Most active states for window treatment retailers: Florida (28), California (20), Texas (13), Ohio (13), North Carolina (12), New Jersey (11).
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.