SBA loans for flower growers and greenhouses
Floriculture Production · NAICS 111422 · Program that usually fits: 7(a) or 504
A floriculture loan from an SBA lender funds greenhouses, nurseries and cut-flower farms that sell what they grow. The USDA's Farm Service Agency also lends to growers, and SBA lenders will often ask whether you've tried FSA first, because for land purchases FSA terms can be better. For greenhouses, equipment and a retail operation, the SBA is usually the better fit.
Who qualifies
Greenhouse and nursery operators expanding production, growers buying a competitor, and farm-to-retail operations adding a garden center. Lenders want crop and sales history, contracts with wholesalers or retailers, and for a start-up, horticultural experience.
Which SBA program fits
7(a) for greenhouses and equipment
Covers greenhouse structures, heating and irrigation systems, delivery trucks and working capital, up to $5 million.
504 for land and permanent structures
Buying land or building a permanent greenhouse complex fits a 504 loan at a fixed rate.
7(a) for a retail garden center
Adding a retail outlet to a growing operation is an eligible business expansion.
What borrowers use the money for
- New greenhouse structures and environmental controls
- Irrigation, benches and automated potting lines
- Buying land or an existing nursery
- Delivery vehicles and cold storage
- Working capital through the growing season
Typical loan amounts, down payment and terms
Greenhouse projects commonly run $250,000 to $2 million. Equity is 10% to 15%. Because floriculture revenue is seasonal, lenders will set a working-capital reserve and often structure interest-only periods in the first growing season.
Example: a $500,000 loan
At today's maximum variable 7(a) rate of 10.00% over 10 years, the payment would be about $6,608 a month. Most well-qualified borrowers get a lower rate. On a 504 project, the SBA-backed 40% would be fixed at 6.97% (October 2026, 25-year). Try your own numbers.
Today's rate caps
These are the SBA's maximum 7(a) rates with prime at 7.00%. See current SBA 7(a) rates and SBA 504 rates for the full picture.
| Loan amount | Maximum spread | Maximum variable rate today |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | Prime + 6.5 | 13.50% |
| $50,001 to $250,000 | Prime + 6.0 | 13.00% |
| $250,001 to $350,000 | Prime + 4.5 | 11.50% |
| Over $350,000 | Prime + 3.0 | 10.00% |
Related industries and lenders
Related industries
SBA lenders active nationwide
Questions about floriculture loans
Can a greenhouse or flower farm get an SBA loan?
Yes. Floriculture is an eligible agricultural business, and 7(a) loans fund greenhouses, equipment and working capital. For land, compare SBA 504 terms with the USDA Farm Service Agency, which may offer lower rates.
How much can a nursery borrow through the SBA?
Up to $5 million on 7(a). Typical greenhouse expansions borrow $250,000 to $2 million, sized to the operation's sales history and contracts.
What is the term on a floriculture SBA loan?
Greenhouses and equipment usually go 10 years, though permanent structures can get 25 years when they dominate the project. Land and buildings on a 504 are 20 or 25 years.
What rate applies to a floriculture loan?
The 7(a) cap is prime plus 3 on loans over $350,000, or 10.00% today. A 504 loan's SBA portion priced at 6.97% fixed in October 2026.
Does the SBA lend to farms at all?
Yes, as long as the operation is a small business under SBA size standards and has a credit need the USDA won't fully meet. Many growers use FSA for land and the SBA for equipment and working capital.
Sources: SBA 7(a) terms, conditions and maximum variable rates; Federal Reserve H.15 selected interest rates (bank prime loan rate); October 2026 SBA 504 debenture pricing, as published by CDCs; SBA FOIA 7(a) and 504 loan-level data.