SBA Paycheck Protection Program — explained

This emergency loan program offered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) was designed to help small businesses retain employees during the coronavirus outbreak. Rates are fixed at 1% — much lower than a traditional business loan or an SBA disaster loan.

Keep your full staff on the same salary and you could get the full loan forgiven after eight weeks. But even if you lose some staff, you may still be eligible for forgiveness.

Paycheck Protection Program in a nutshell

• Interest rate: 1%
• Maximum loan amount: $10 million based on payroll expenses
• Fees: Waived guarantee and annual fees
• SBA guarantee: 100% of loan amount
• Term: 2 or 5 years, with payments deferred until forgiveness is issued or up to 10 months after the covered period — interest accrues during deferment
• Collateral: No collateral or personal guarantee
• Turnaround: Faster than a 7(a) loan — lenders don’t have to wait for SBA approval
• Other criteria: No requirement to prove you tried and failed to get credit elsewhere
• How to apply: Fill out the 2-page application with any bank, credit union or online lender participating in the program

What is the Paycheck Protection Program?

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) offered government-backed loans for businesses that have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak, called a Paycheck Protection Program loan or Paycheck Protection Loan (PPL).

It was created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 as a way to encourage employers to keep employees on payroll, hire back staff and help cover overhead expenses. It covers eight or 24 weeks of eligible operating costs, starting on February 15th up to December 31st — and you can apply for forgiveness.

Applications were open from April 3rd to August 8th. But it's possible another round of funding will become available after a new stimulus bill is signed into law.

How does the Paycheck Protection Program work?

The PPP is a modification of the SBA 7(a) loan program that works like a combination of a loan and a grant. Generally, you’ll follows these steps:

1. Apply for a loan. Business owners apply with a private lender for a loan to cover operating costs.
2. Defer payments. The lender defers payments for six months after the loan is issued.
3. Apply for forgiveness. The borrower applies to have eligible operating costs forgiven after the 24 weeks are up.
4. Repay balance. The borrower repays any remaining balance after forgiveness as a two-year term loan.

Apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan today

Below is a list of online lenders offering SBA Paycheck Protection Program loans. We recommend applying as soon as possible, since funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Get help filling out the application with our guide.

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Name	Product	Filter Values	Loan amount	APR	Requirements
First Down Funding business loans			$5,000 – $300,000	Fee Based	At least 1 year in business, an annual revenue of $100,000+, and a minimum credit score of 400	Alternative financing up to $300K with highly competitive rates.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data…
Lendio business loans			$500 – $5,000,000	Starting at 6%	Operate business in US or Canada, have a business bank account, 560+ personal credit score	Submit one simple application to potentially get offers from a network of over 300 legit business lenders.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data…
ROK Financial business loans			$10,000 – $5,000,000	Varies	Eligibility criteria 3+ months in business, $15,000+ in monthly gross sales or $180,000+ in annual sales	A connection service for all types of businesses — even startups.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data…
OnDeck small business loans			$5,000 – $250,000	As low as 9.99%	600+ personal credit score, 1 year in business, $100,000+ annual revenue	A leading online business lender offering flexible financing at competitive fixed rates.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data…
Rapid Finance small business loans			$5,000 – $1,000,000	Fee based	Steady flow of credit card sales, bad credit OK	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data…
Fundbox business loans			$1,000 – $100,000	4.99	You must have an established business.	Get flat rate, short-term financing based on the financial health of your business, not your credit score.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data…
Kickpay e-commerce business loans			$20,000 – $1,000,000	Not applicable	At least $250,000 in the past 12 months of revenue, e-commerce business, use a 3rd party fulfillment center for storing and shipping inventory, at least one US location.	Get a loan for your e-commerce business based on your sales history.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data…
LendingClub business loans			$5,000 – $500,000	12.15% to 29.97%	12+ months in business, $50,000+ in annual sales, no bankruptcies or tax liens, at least 20% ownership of the business, fair personal credit score or better	With loan terms that vary from 12 to 60 months, enjoy fixed monthly payments and no prepayment penalties through this award-winning lender.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data…
Monevo business loans			$500 – $100,000	3.99% to 35.99%	Credit score of 500+, legal US resident and ages 18+.	Use this connection service to get paired with a loan you can use for business.	Check eligibility More Info		loading Fetching your data…

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What businesses can qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program?

All businesses must be established before February 15, 2020 and have employees that they reported on payroll tax or contractors reported in an IRS Form 1099-MISC. Your business must also not be in bankruptcy proceedings.

The SBA also expanded eligibility to business owners with a felony criminal past on June 8th. Under a new ruling, the typical five-year look-back period was reduced to one year for business owners with non-financial felonies.

Eligible types of businesses

The following types of businesses are eligible, as long as you have fewer than 500 employees or meet SBA size standards for your industry, or meet the SBA’s alternative PPP size standards — whichever is greater:

• For-profit businesses
• Sole proprietorships
• Independent contractors
• Partnerships
• Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations
• Veteran 501(c)(19) organizations
• Tribal 31(b)(2)(C) organizations
• Hospitality and food service businesses with more than one location
• Franchises

How do I know if my business meets SBA size standards?

You can find out if your business meets traditional SBA size standards by using a tool on the SBA website. It varies depending on your industry.

If you don’t meet traditional SBA size standards, you still can qualify by meeting these alternative size standards:

• Tangible net worth of $15 million or under
• Net income of $5 million or under for two full fiscal years

Do affiliates affect my business’s size?

Not necessarily. For PPP applicants, the SBA doesn’t consider affiliate businesses when calculating the size of service industry businesses, franchises or businesses that receive help from a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC).

Restrictions on business activity

The SBA has a few restrictions on what types of business activity can qualify for a PPP loan.

• Illegal activity. Businesses involved in any activity that violates federal law are ineligible. This includes the cannabis industry.
• Gambling. Businesses that made either $1 million or over 50% in revenue from gambling activities are not eligible for this loan.
• Household employers. Individuals who have maids, nannies, private chefs and other staff in their homes don’t qualify for a PPP loan.

Generally, if your business doesn’t qualify for an SBA 7(a) loan due to your business’s industry or activity, it also is ineligible for a PPP loan.

SBA loan requirements and restrictions

Ownership requirements

Everyone with a 20% ownership stake in the company or higher must also meet a few criteria:

• US citizen or permanent resident
• Not delinquent on a federal loan, including SBA loans
• No federal loan defaults in the past seven years
• Not currently in bankruptcy proceedings
• Not currently facing criminal proceedings or incarcerated
• No felony or misdemeanor charges or convictions against a minor in the past seven years
• Legally able and willing to complete the application

Does my credit score matter?

The SBA doesn’t set any specific credit requirements, but it also doesn’t prohibit lenders from considering your credit score.

However, since it’s fully guaranteed by the SBA and comes with forgiveness, it’s likely your credit score won’t factor into your application as much as it would with other SBA loans.

How much can I borrow?

Technically, Paycheck Protection Loans run as high as $10 million, but the maximum you can borrow is one month of eligible payroll costs multiplied by 2.5.

To learn more about how much you can borrow, read our guide to calculating average monthly payroll costs. We’ve even included a calculator based on the SBA’s formula to make the process even easier. But it’s up to the borrower to accurately calculate the loan amount, so you’ll need to back up your calculation with relevant tax and payroll documents.

Calculating your average monthly payroll costs is a little different if you’re self-employed, an independent contractor or a sole proprietor. Read our guide to applying for a PPP loan as a self-employed borrower for a step-by-step process.

PPP loan stats as of June 30, 2020

How do I apply?

You can apply through a private lender that offers PPP loans. Applications for small businesses, nonprofits and sole proprietors opened on April 3rd. Applications for independent contractors and self-employed individuals opened on April 10th.

Most lenders that work with small businesses are offering this loan — not just SBA lenders. However, you might hit fewer snags if you work with a lender that’s already worked with the SBA. Read our step-by-step guide to filling out the application for help getting started.

Our list of top SBA lenders

How long will it take?

The Treasury Department estimated that the turnaround time would be 24 to 48 hours — or even faster. However, some lenders are skeptical that they’d be able to process applications that quickly, especially during the first few days of the program. But it’s still likely faster than the months it takes to receive funds through a typical SBA 7(a) loan.

“The loans should be approved more quickly than previous SBA-backed loans since the process will be handled entirely by the lender,” Michael W. Myhre, the CEO of the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, told Finder. “There is no separate review being conducted by the SBA.”

What can I use the PPP loan for?

The Paycheck Protection Loan is meant to cover payroll and some operating costs, including:

• Employee salaries, commissions or compensation
• Other eligible payroll costs
• Healthcare insurance premiums
• Paid sick, medical and family leave
• Rent on leases signed before February 15, 2020
• Interest payments on mortgages taken out before February 15, 2020
• Interest on other debt issued before February 15, 2020
• Utilities set up before February 15, 2020
• Refinancing SBA loans issued between January 31, 2020 and the date you take out the PPP loan, including Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs)

While these costs might be legitimate uses of the funds, not all are eligible for reimbursement.

How does forgiveness work?

You can qualify for 100% forgiveness on your PPP loan if you spend all of the funds on eligible expenses eight weeks after your lender disburses the loan. At least 60% of your forgiveness amount must be based on eligible payroll costs. Only 40% can cover other operating expenses.

If you laid off staff or reduced salaries between February 15th and April 26th, you have until June 30th to reverse those changes — otherwise, you’ll only qualify for a reduced amount of forgiveness.

How to get 100% forgiveness on your PPP loan

Top 4 tips to get a PPP loan

Here are a few ways to make the most of this new SBA loan program:

• Apply with a lender you have a relationship. Business owners have reported an easier time qualifying with a lender that they have a relationship with, like their bank or an SBA lender.
• Contact lenders before applying. Some lenders may have additional requirements that aren’t advertised online.
• Consider a connection service. If your bank isn’t offering PPP loans, a connection service can help you find a lender willing to work with your business.
• Stay on top of changes. The SBA is constantly changing how this program works, so check back often — we’ll be updating our guide regularly as new details emerge.

Other perks for small businesses in the stimulus package

From tax credits and deferred payroll taxes to grants and SBA loan subsidies, here are a few more benefits for small businesses offered by the CARES Act of 2020:

• Tax credits. To encourage small businesses to retain employees, the government is offering a tax credit for up to 50% of qualified wages — up to $10,000 — per employee per quarter. However, you won’t qualify for this if you take out a Paycheck Protection Loan.
• Deferred payments on payroll taxes. Small businesses can defer paying employments taxes through December 31, 2020.
• SBA loan payment subsidies. The SBA will cover principal, interest and any fees for six months on all SBA 7(a) loans, Community Advantage loans and microloans.
• Unemployment insurance. Expanded unemployment benefits can help you keep your staff if you can’t afford to cover them — and is sometimes higher than what you’d normally pay. But getting a PPP loan can affect their eligibility for these benefits.

15+ benefits and programs inside the coronavirus stimulus package

Bottom line

The SBA Paycheck Protection Program can help your business cover expenses during the coronavirus outbreak at no immediate cost. And it has more flexible eligibility criteria than other SBA guarantee programs. Read about other financing available to you with our guides to business loans and grants available during the pandemic, as well as other types of SBA loans available to you.

You can also stay up to date on ever-changing coronavirus news with our hub.

Frequently asked questions

Finder.com received a PPP loan in May 2020.