13 CFR § 120.120 - What are eligible uses of proceeds?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t13/s120.120"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "13 CFR § 120.120 - What are eligible uses of proceeds?"
title_number: 13
title_name: "Business Credit and Assistance"
section_number: "120.120"
section_name: "What are eligible uses of proceeds?"
chapter_name: "SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION"
part_number: "120"
part_name: "BUSINESS LOANS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "15 U.S.C. 634(b) (6), (b) (7), (b) (14), (h), and note, 636(a), (h) and (m), 650, 687(f), 696(3) and (7), and 697(a) and (e); sec. 521, Pub. L. 114-113, 129 Stat. 2242; sec. 328(a), Pub. L. 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182."
regulatory_source: "61 FR 3235, Jan. 31, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "120"
---


# 120.120 What are eligible uses of proceeds?

A small business must use an SBA business loan for sound business purposes.

(a) A Borrower may use loan proceeds from any SBA loan to:

(1) Acquire land (by purchase or lease);

(2) Improve a site (e.g., grading, streets, parking lots, landscaping), including up to 5 percent for community improvements such as curbs and sidewalks;

(3) Purchase one or more existing buildings;

(4) Convert, expand or renovate one or more existing buildings;

(5) Construct one or more new buildings; and/or

(6) Acquire (by purchase or lease) and install fixed assets (for a 504 loan, these assets must have a useful life of at least 10 years and be at a fixed location, although short-term financing for equipment, furniture, and furnishings may be permitted where essential to and a minor portion of the 504 Project).

(b) A Borrower may also use 7(a) and microloan proceeds for:

(1) Inventory;

(2) Supplies;

(3) Raw materials; and

(4) Working capital (if the Operating Company is a co-borrower with the Eligible Passive Company, part of the loan proceeds may be applied for working capital and/or the purchase of other assets, including intangible assets, for use by the Operating Company).

(c) A Borrower may use 7(a) loan proceeds for refinancing certain outstanding debts.

[61 FR 3235, Jan. 31, 1996, as amended at 77 FR 19533, Apr. 2, 2012; 88 FR 21899, Apr. 12, 2023]