New and existing companies often need business loans to help them maintain cash flow while they make capital investments, expand, or prepare for opening day. The US Government has an agency called the Small Business Administration (SBA) that is charged with maintaining a variety of programs that offer business loans for different purposes. Just a few of these loans are discussed here. Small business loans called 7 (a) loans are the building blocks for many American small businesses. These loans are designed to help businesses that lack the credit and financial standing on their own to qualify for private loans. Although these loans are still issued by private lenders, the program is backed by the SBA, meaning that qualifying for the loans is easier. 7 (a) loans can provide up to $2 million