Lodestar Research

Original analysis of the markets where trades businesses change hands

Built from public data, published with full methodology, checkable by anyone.

Who's Buying the Trades

Original analysis of 4,370 SBA 7(a) loans used to acquire trades businesses, FY2020–2025 — deal sizes by trade, rates, top lenders, charge-off rates, and the NJ cut.

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The data, page by page

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What Do Trades Businesses Sell For? SBA Acquisition Loan Sizes by Trade

Median SBA acquisition loans by trade, FY2020–2025: electrical $801K, roofing $957K, plumbing/HVAC $735K, landscaping $500K. Full 15-trade table and caveats.

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What Is the Average SBA Loan to Buy an HVAC Business?

The average SBA 7(a) loan to acquire a plumbing/HVAC business was $1,138,681 (median $735,000) across 707 loans, FY2020–2025. Full data and methodology.

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What Are Current SBA Loan Rates for Buying a Trades Business?

FY2025 SBA 7(a) trades acquisition loans averaged 9.65% variable and 8.19% fixed at approval, on ~11-year terms. Six years of rate data and methodology.

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Who Lends on Trades Business Acquisitions? The Top SBA Lenders

Live Oak Bank funded 581 of 4,370 SBA trades acquisitions (13% of the market), 2x #2 Huntington. The full top-25 lender table, FY2020–2025.

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SBA-Financed Trades Business Acquisitions in New Jersey: The Data

New Jersey saw 89 SBA-financed trades business acquisitions in FY2020–2025 — about 15 a year — averaging $1.05M per loan. The full NJ data and what it means.

Every page states its sources and limitations. Read the methodology. Cite as: Lodestar Research analysis of SBA 7(a) FOIA data, 2026.