Harvest Small Business Finance Review

Pros

• High borrowing amounts
• Rates tend to be inexpensive
• Monthly repayments
• Long-term financing options available
• Customers have an assigned account manager

Cons

• Some additional fees charged
• Collateral is required
• The application process is slow and involved
• Funds can take a while to disburse

Harvest Small Business Finance Overview

Harvest Small Business Finance is a direct lender of Small Business Administration 7(a) loans. Through Harvest Small Business Finance, you can apply for a commercial mortgage through the SBA 7(a) program. This non-bank lender provides eligible borrowers between $200,000 to $5 million, even when they’ve been turned down for other financing options.

SBA loans are notoriously slow, but Harvest Small Business Finance does everything it can to expedite the process, stating that it can give approvals within two to four days. The lender also strives to close each loan within 30 days.

Funds received through Harvest Small Business Finance can be used to purchase or refinance multipurpose owner-user real estate, including but not limited to office buildings, industrial, retail, hotels, self-storage, and more.

SBA Guaranteed Loans Offered

• SBA 7(a) Loans: These are loans issued by a lending institution and guaranteed by the Small Business Administration for up to 85% of the loan’s value. That guarantee allows borrowers to access rates and terms that normally wouldn’t be available to someone with their profile. SBA 7(a) loans can be used for business startups, cash flow for an existing business, and many other purposes.

Borrower Qualifications

The SBA has put borrower requirements in place that make it easier for small business owners to qualify for affordable funding, even if they’ve been turned down by banks, credit unions, or other lenders. To be eligible for an SBA 7(a) loan through Harvest Small Business Finance, businesses must:

• Be based in the US
• Meet the size standards set by the SBA
• Be a for-profit business
• Have equity to invest

Businesses must also demonstrate a need for funding, exhaust all other financial resources before applying, and use loan proceeds only for business purposes.

Although the SBA doesn’t set minimum credit scores, business and personal credit will be considered during the underwriting process. Intermediary lenders set their own requirements surrounding credit scores. Harvest Small Business Finance does not specify its minimum credit score requirement. Generally, though, borrowers should have a credit score of at least 640 to qualify for the 7(a) loan program.

For relaxed credit score requirements, consider Lendio:

Lendio	Apply Now Read our Review

For some loans, collateral may be required. If the loan-to-value ratio is at or below 85%, the commercial property serves as the collateral, and no additional collateral is needed. If the LTV is higher than 85%, collateral in the form of business or personal assets is required.

Terms & Fees

Rates

One of the advantages of the 7(a) program is that the SBA sets the rates, keeping these loans affordable for small business owners. SBA 7(a) loan interest rates are based on the prime rate plus a maximum markup by the intermediary lender. For Harvest Small Business Finance’s loans, a maximum markup of 2.75% over the prime rate is allowed. Head over to our article on current SBA loan rates to learn about up-to-date rates for 7(a) loans.

Fees

Harvest Small Business Finance does not specify the fees associated with receiving an SBA 7(a) loan. However, some common fees to expect include:

• Guarantee fee of 3% on loans of $150,000 to $700,000
• Guarantee fee of 3.5% on loans of $700,000 to $1 million, plus an additional 0.25% on the amount exceeding $1 million
• Late fees
• Service fees
• Origination fees
• Packaging fees
• Broker fees
• Closing costs

Harvest Small Business Finance Repayment Terms

Maximum repayment terms for real estate purchases through the 7(a) program are set at 25 years. Loans with terms of 15 years or longer are also subject to prepayment penalties during the first three years.

Harvest Small Business Finance’s Application Process

To start the application process with Harvest Small Business Finance, you must connect with a Business Development Officer, who will walk you through the process.

Required Personal & Business Information

Harvest’s application is available online and will need to be completed to qualify for a loan. It’s a standard loan application that requires personal and business information, including:

• Personal name and contact information
• Business name and contact information
• Education and work experience
• Personal and business declarations
• Personal assets and liabilities
• Business history
• A/R and A/P aging summaries
• Business ownership
• Debt summary
• Amount and purpose of loan
• Information on real estate to be financed

The SBA 1919 Form

The SBA 1919 form is also available on the website; this must be completed by an authorized representative of the business applying to receive the 7(a) loan. All co-applicants are required to complete this form. IRS form 4506-T is also available to request transcripts of tax returns.

Additional Loan Application Requirements

Your Business Development Officer can walk you through additional requirements and offer assistance filling out any required paperwork. The company will provide you with a checklist to simplify the process. Inquiries for new loans can be made by phone or email.

Sales & Advertising Transparency

Harvest Small Business Finance offers very little information about the 7(a) loan program on its website. Rates, terms, and fees are not available directly on the website. However, since the SBA sets rates, terms, fees, and basic borrower requirements, you can obtain this information through the SBA’s website.

The company does also post the current prime rate under Products –> Interest Rates; just keep in mind that your rate will probably be higher than this, up to a maximum of 2.75%.

Customer Service & Technical Support

Business owners inquiring about new loans can contact Harvest Small Business Finance through a dedicated email address and phone number. Current borrowers also have a dedicated email address and phone number that can be used for service questions. The lender also has a fax number for submitting documentation.

Current and prospective borrowers can send messages and stay updated on the lender’s latest news through the Harvest Small Business Finance Facebook page.

User Reviews

Negative Reviews & Complaints

Harvest Small Business Finance doesn’t have nearly as many online reviews as its competitors. Previously, reviews were difficult to find at all, but in recent months, a handful of reviews have popped up on sites such as the Better Business Bureau.

Most negative reviews surround Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, a program that has since expired and is no longer offered by Harvest Small Business Finance. The company received a rating of 1.13/5 (based on 15 reviews) on the BBB website and 1.5/5 (based on 22 reviews) on Yelp.

Common complaints include:

• Unclear instructions for applying for PPP loan forgiveness 
• Delays in dispersing PPP funds
• Unable to reach customer support 

Positive Reviews & Testimonials

As mentioned, Harvest Small Business Finance does not have many consumer reviews available online. Harvest does, however, have testimonial videos posted on its website. In these videos, borrowers praise the company for the following reasons:

• Creative financial solutions
• The easy and efficient loan process
• Professional team
• Excellent communication

Is Harvest Small Business Finance The Right Choice For Your Small Business?

Harvest Small Business Finance offers an alternative solution to bank loans, giving small business owners more access to affordable funding options. SBA 7(a) loans come with extremely competitive rates and terms that make purchasing or refinancing commercial real estate very affordable.

However, business owners with no prior experience or knowledge of SBA loans won’t find the information they need on Harvest Small Business Finance’s website. Information about this loan program on the company website is scarce. Business owners will need to seek out resources on the SBA website or connect with a Business Development Officer to learn more. There is also a lack of details surrounding the application process, documentation, and other requirements.

The lender promotes solution-oriented lending designed for borrowers that traditional lenders ignore. With a focus on simplifying and expediting the loan process and few negative reviews or complaints online, this could be a lender worth considering if you’re in the market for an SBA 7(a) commercial real estate loan.

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