Tucson is the second most populous city in Arizona with a population of 520,116 in 2016, and is the anchor of the Tucson metropolitan area, which had a 2010 population of 1,010,025. The city is located 108 miles (174 km) southeast of Phoenix and 60 mi (97 km) north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Tucson is the 33rd largest city and the 53rd largest metropolitan area in the United States.
The economy of Tucson is diverse and driven by several large industries. The city is a major center for the mining of copper, silver, and other minerals; it is also home to a number of manufacturing plants, including those that produce aircraft, missiles, optics, and other high-technology equipment. The service sector is also important to the city's economy, and Tucson is a major center for the medical and financial industries. The University of Arizona is a major economic engine in the city, as are the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the Port of Tucson. Tourism is also a significant industry in Tucson, with the city being a popular destination for winter visitors from all over the United States.
Small businesses are a vital part of the Tucson economy, accounting for over half of all private-sector jobs in the city. The city government is committed to supporting small businesses, and offers a number of programs and resources to help them start, grow, and thrive. Tucson is also home to a number of incubators and accelerators, which provide early-stage companies with the resources they need to succeed.
Comparing SBA loan types in Tucson
Three SBA programs come up most often for Tucson, Arizona businesses, and they do different jobs.
SBA 7(a) loan: program overview
Maximum loan
$5 million (sba.gov, fetched 2026-07-24)
What it funds
Working capital, equipment, owner-occupied commercial real estate, refinancing business debt, and business acquisition.
Who lends
Participating banks and non-bank lenders. The SBA guarantees a portion of the loan; it does not lend directly to borrowers.
Rate structure
Negotiated between lender and borrower, capped at the SBA maximum. Most 7(a) loans price off the WSJ prime rate plus a spread.
Personal guaranty
Required from every owner of 20% or more of the business (13 CFR 120.160(a)).
Program facts confirmed against sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/7a-loans on Jul 24, 2026. Confirm current fees and maximum rates with your lender before relying on them.
SBA 504 loan: program overview
Maximum loan
$5.5 million per the SBA-backed debenture (sba.gov, fetched 2026-07-24). Total project size can be larger because a bank funds the first mortgage alongside it.
What it funds
Major fixed assets: owner-occupied commercial real estate and long-life machinery and equipment. Not working capital or inventory.
Structure
A conventional first-mortgage lender, a Certified Development Company holding the SBA-backed second, and a borrower down payment.
Rate
The CDC portion is fixed for the full term and set at the monthly debenture sale.
Program facts confirmed against sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/504-loans on Jul 24, 2026.
SBA Express: program overview
What it is
A delivery method inside the 7(a) program. The lender uses its own forms and procedures and gets an accelerated SBA response, in exchange for a lower SBA guarantee percentage than Standard 7(a).
What it funds
The same uses as 7(a), including revolving lines of credit, which Standard 7(a) term loans do not offer.
Trade-off
Faster turnaround and lighter paperwork, against a smaller guaranteed portion, which some lenders price for.
Current SBA Express maximum loan size and guarantee percentage are set by SBA notice and change. Confirm them on sba.gov or with your lender; this site does not publish an unverified figure.
Small business loans available in Tucson
An SBA 7(a) loan made to a Tucson, Arizona business is made by a participating lender, not by the SBA.
The lender underwrites it, sets the rate within the SBA maximum, and services it. What varies locally is
which lenders are active, not the program rules.