# Commercial Cash-Out or SBA Refinance: Which Fits the Purpose?

> Conventional commercial cash-out accesses equity in an occupied property within RPC's loan and leverage caps. SBA refinancing serves eligible business debt and qualifying uses; it is not a substitute for unrestricted equity withdrawals.

Canonical: https://riversidepark.capital/commercial-cash-out-refinance-vs-sba-refinance
Markdown: https://riversidepark.capital/commercial-cash-out-refinance-vs-sba-refinance.md

## Quick answer

Conventional commercial cash-out accesses equity in an occupied property within RPC's loan and leverage caps. SBA refinancing serves eligible business debt and qualifying uses; it is not a substitute for unrestricted equity withdrawals.

## Are you releasing equity or refinancing eligible business debt?

Write down the use of every part of the proceeds. An investment-property owner seeking equity for another project is asking a different question from an operating business replacing debt on its own premises. SBA refinance eligibility depends on the existing debt and proposed use, and must be reviewed before assuming any funds can be released.

**Where it fits:** Commercial cash-out has a $5 million mortgage ceiling and 75% LTV. SBA is a separate financing path with owner-occupied CRE eligibility requirements and up to 90% financing only for qualifying transactions; that purchase/program headline is not an unrestricted SBA refinance entitlement.

**Example:** Illustrative: a landlord releasing equity from a leased retail building starts with conventional commercial cash-out. A retailer refinancing debt on its operating premises asks for an SBA eligibility review, including the original debt purpose and payment records.

**Fit check:** Occupied commercial real estate, minimum FICO 680, minimum DSCR 1.15x, and no more than 75% LTV. Value, income, title and documents must support the request.

Apply with your property and financing request, or submit a deal as a broker through Partners.

## Loan parameters

- Loan size: $100,000 to $5,000,000
- Loan type: Commercial Cash-Out Refinance

## Eligible assets

- Multifamily
- Office
- Retail
- Industrial
- Mixed-use
- Self-storage
- Cold storage
- Hotels
- Motels
- Data centers

## Underwriting guidelines

- Maximum loan amount: $5 million
- Maximum LTV: 75%
- Minimum FICO: 680
- Minimum DSCR: 1.15x
- Unlimited cash-out proceeds within the $5 million loan limit and 75% LTV
- Closing in as little as 30 days
- Commercial financing is available in 48 states. Washington, DC is unavailable. Check the property's state before proceeding.
- All property types are subject to underwriting.
- SBA 7(a): up to $5 million per loan. SBA 504: SBA/CDC portion up to $5 million, or $5.5 million for qualifying manufacturing and energy projects. Total project financing can be larger.
- RPC handles SBA terms individually. Submit an application for review; this page does not offer an automated rate-sheet quote.
- Owner-occupied commercial real estate eligibility requirements apply. RPC's public minimum FICO is 680; this is RPC's guideline, not a universal SBA credit-score rule. Business repayment capacity and SBA eligibility are reviewed individually; no common SBA DSCR floor is published here.
- Closing in as little as 45 days for qualified SBA transactions

## Which program facts apply to this request? (as of 2026-10-08)

| Fact | Public guideline |
| --- | --- |
| Loan amount | $100,000 to $5,000,000 |
| Program condition | Maximum loan amount: $5 million |
| Program condition | Maximum LTV: 75% |
| Program condition | Minimum FICO: 680 |
| Program condition | Minimum DSCR: 1.15x |
| Program condition | Unlimited cash-out proceeds within the $5 million loan limit and 75% LTV |
| Program condition | Closing in as little as 30 days |
| Program condition | Commercial financing is available in 48 states. Washington, DC is unavailable. Check the property's state before proceeding. |
| Program condition | All property types are subject to underwriting. |

- These are public guidelines, not a loan commitment. Final terms depend on underwriting.

## FAQs

**Q: Can an investment landlord assume SBA eligibility?**

No. Passive rental investment is different from an eligible operating business occupying commercial premises. Disclose who occupies the property and the business purpose.

**Q: What should I supply for an SBA refinance review?**

Describe the original debt purpose, current balance, collateral, payment history and intended use of proceeds. The team will confirm the applicable program's documentation and eligible uses.

**Q: Which timeline should I plan around?**

Commercial can close in as little as 30 days; qualifying SBA transactions in as little as 45 days. Neither is a committed date, and refinance eligibility or title issues can extend the work.

## Related

- [Commercial Cash-Out Refinance](https://riversidepark.capital/unlimited-cash-out-refinance)
- [Apply for financing](https://riversidepark.capital/apply)
- [Submit a deal as a broker](https://riversidepark.capital/partners)
- [Commercial real estate program](https://riversidepark.capital/commercial-real-estate-loans)
- [SBA financing](https://riversidepark.capital/sba-loans)
- [SBA 7(a) program and eligible uses (SBA.gov)](https://riversidepark.capitalhttps://www.sba.gov/loans/7a-loans/)
- [SBA 504 program and eligible uses (SBA.gov)](https://riversidepark.capitalhttps://www.sba.gov/loans/504-loans/)
- [SBA policy: coordinating 7(a) and 504 limits](https://riversidepark.capitalhttps://legacy.sba.gov/document/policy-notice-5000-879058-coordination-7a-504-maximum-loan-limits)

---
Source: Riverside Park Capital - https://riversidepark.capital/commercial-cash-out-refinance-vs-sba-refinance