Home of UGA and Georgia's best food scene. Get instantly matched with 300+ SBA-approved lenders serving Athens-Clarke County. No credit impact. No commitment.
Athens is anchored by the University of Georgia, the state's flagship university with over 40,000 students and 10,000 employees. UGA drives year-round economic activity through SEC athletics (football weekends alone generate tens of millions in hospitality revenue), world-class research programs, and a steady pipeline of graduates who start businesses locally. The result is a downtown district that has earned national recognition for its food scene, music venues, and independent retail.
Beyond the university, Athens is attracting biotech and agtech companies leveraging UGA's research infrastructure, while the Atlanta Highway and Epps Bridge corridors support franchise expansion and medical practices serving the growing population. SBA 504 and 7(a) loans give Athens entrepreneurs the leverage to acquire commercial property with just 10% down and stack financing up to $17M -- critical in a market where downtown real estate values continue to climb.
Hotels near UGA and Sanford Stadium, boutique lodging downtown, game-day hospitality properties, and event venues. SBA 504 + 7(a) stacking for acquisitions and renovations.
Downtown Athens office and retail acquisitions, mixed-use buildings near campus, and owner-occupied commercial real estate along Clayton and Broad Streets. 10% down with SBA 504.
5-50 unit apartment buildings in Athens, Normaltown, and Five Points. Owner-occupied multi-family with SBA 504 + 7(a) stacking in Athens' tight rental market.
Practice acquisitions near Piedmont Athens Regional, specialty clinics, dental offices, and medical office buildings serving Athens-Clarke and Oconee County.
Multi-unit franchise expansion along Atlanta Highway and Epps Bridge Parkway, restaurant buildouts, and fast-casual concepts. SBA 7(a) up to $5M per location.
Restaurant acquisitions, brewery and taproom buildouts, food hall concepts, and farm-to-table operations in Athens' nationally acclaimed downtown dining scene.
Athens is anchored by the University of Georgia, the state's flagship university with over 40,000 students and 10,000 employees. UGA drives year-round economic activity through athletics, research, and a steady pipeline of graduates who start businesses locally. The award-winning downtown food and music scene, combined with growing biotech and agtech sectors, creates diverse SBA loan demand across hospitality, commercial real estate, medical, and franchise sectors.
Pre-qualification through FundMySBA takes 90 seconds. Answer 4 simple questions about your Athens business and funding needs, and we instantly match you with SBA-approved lenders who specialize in your industry. No credit check required for pre-qualification.
Most for-profit Athens businesses qualify, including hotels and hospitality, restaurants and food businesses, medical and dental practices, commercial real estate downtown and along the Atlanta Highway corridor, multi-family properties, franchise operations, music venues, breweries, and professional services. Athens' university-driven economy supports growing SBA lending across all sectors.
Yes. SBA 7(a) loans up to $5M are ideal for restaurant acquisitions, buildouts, and equipment financing in Athens' acclaimed downtown food scene. For properties that include real estate, stacking SBA 504 and 7(a) loans allows financing up to $17M with just 10% down. FundMySBA matches you with lenders who understand Athens' unique restaurant and hospitality market.
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