Port 51 Lending

What Port 51 Lending does

Port 51 Lending is a nationwide direct lender specializing exclusively in SBA 7(a) loans for U.S. small businesses. Founded in 2018 and headquartered at 2 Park Avenue, New York, with an additional office in Zionsville, Indiana, the company operates with 11–50 employees and is majority-owned by MassMutual. Port 51 serves SMB borrowers across a deliberately diversified set of verticals — gas stations and convenience stores, assisted living facilities, dental practices, childcare facilities, transportation, franchises, car washes, and medical offices — covering use cases that span business acquisitions, ownership transitions, owner-occupied commercial real estate, equipment purchases, working capital, and debt refinancing.

The company's product portfolio centers on the SBA 7(a) loan program with loan sizes up to $5 million, supplemented by Companion Loans of up to $6.5–7.5 million that layer alongside the 7(a) facility to expand deal capacity for growing SMBs and middle-market companies on owner-occupied real estate. Pricing is variable at WSJP Prime plus a spread of up to 2.75%, with terms of up to 10 years for working capital and equipment and up to 25 years for real estate, on a fully amortizing basis with no balloon payments. Distribution is direct-to-borrower through an AI-powered online application at port51.com, supplemented by referral channels including BDO, LenderMatch, MassMutual affiliates, and a content-driven top-of-funnel marketing program targeting each served vertical.

Port 51's core operating advantage is its SBA Preferred Lender Program (PLP) status, which grants delegated underwriting authority and enables in-house credit decisions without SBA review, supporting an average close time of 27 days versus an industry standard of 30–90 days and a 90% closing rate. An in-house legal team reduces closing friction and cost, while a flexible credit philosophy that prioritizes cash flow and structure over rigid formulas supports the company's vertical specialization. Revenue is generated from interest spreads on retained loan balances, origination and servicing economics on the guaranteed portion, and standard SBA guarantee fees, with $310M+ in total loans originated in 2025 at a $1.5M+ average loan size placing Port 51 among the top five non-bank SBA Preferred Lenders in the United States.

Name

Port 51 Lending

Legal name

Port 51 Lending LLC

Website

https://port51.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Port 51 Lending is a nationwide direct SBA 7(a) lender providing loans up to $5M and companion loans up to $7.5M to SMBs across gas stations, assisted living, dental, childcare, and similar verticals. The MassMutual majority-owned firm differentiates via PLP status, AI-powered applications, and 27-day average closings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. SBA 7(a) Loan Interest: Port 51 Lending earns interest income on SBA 7(a) loans it originates. Loans are government-guaranteed (up to 75% by SBA), with variable rates priced at WSJP Prime + spread up to 2.75%. Revenue derived from interest spreads on the unguaranteed portion of loans plus fees.
2. Companion Loans: Additional lending solutions layered on top of SBA 7(a) loans for expanding small businesses and middle-market companies, providing up to $6.5-7.5 million in total financing for owner-occupied commercial real estate. Revenue generated from interest on companion loan portions.
3. Loan Guarantee Fees: SBA 7(a) loans generate guarantee fees paid to the SBA based on loan size, which are standard in the program and passed through as part of loan economics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Port 51 Lending is a nationwide direct lender that originates SBA 7(a) loans of up to $5 million for small businesses, covering business acquisitions, owner-occupied commercial real estate, working capital, equipment purchases, debt refinancing, and construction. The company supplements its SBA 7(a) loan product with Companion Loans of up to $6.5–7.5 million for larger owner-occupied real estate financing needs, delivering an AI-powered application, in-house legal team, and PLP (Preferred Lender Program) status that enables an average 27-day close time.

Product overview

Port 51 Lending is a nationwide direct lender specializing in SBA 7(a) loans offered as a unified product portfolio. The core offering is the SBA 7(a) Loan program providing loans up to $5 million for small business financing needs including acquisitions, commercial real estate, working capital, and equipment. This is supplemented by Companion Loans (up to $7.5 million) that work alongside the 7(a) loan as a single coordinated financing package. The company differentiates through an AI-powered application process, in-house legal team, and PLP (Preferred Lender Program) status enabling faster closings averaging 27 days.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SBA 7(a) Loans Flagship SBA 7(a) loan product offering up to $5 million to small business borrowers for business acquisitions, owner-occupied commercial real estate, working capital, debt refinancing, equipment, and construction. Features variable rates tied to WSJP Prime plus a spread of up to 2.75%, terms up to 25 years for real estate and 10 years for working capital/equipment, fully amortizing structure, and as little as 10% equity injection.
• Companion Loans Companion lending product providing up to $6.5–7.5 million in additional long-term, fully amortizing financing layered on top of SBA 7(a) loans to expand funding for owner-occupied commercial real estate. Designed for expanding small businesses and middle-market companies requiring financing beyond the SBA 7(a) cap. Features single closing, one interest rate, and flexible prepayment options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27-day average close time vs. 30-90 day industry standard
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Celtic Bank: A top non-bank SBA PLP lender with a national SBA 7(a) franchise; competes head-to-head with Port 51 for SMB acquisition and owner-occupied CRE financing across similar verticals and average loan sizes.
• Fountainhead SBF: Non-bank SBA lender (504 and 7(a)) serving small business acquisition and CRE financing; comparable in scale, vertical specialization, and PLP-driven operating model to Port 51.
• Live Oak Bank: The largest non-bank SBA 7(a) lender in the U.S. and a fellow SBA PLP lender; directly competes with Port 51 on SMB acquisition, CRE, and refinancing deals, with overlapping vertical specialization and a similar tech-enabled origination model.
• Harvest Small Business Finance: Non-bank SBA PLP lender focused on SBA 7(a) originations to small businesses nationwide; competes with Port 51 on similar deal sizes, vertical SMB niches, and SBA-guaranteed acquisition financing.
• Newtek Business Services: Publicly traded SMB-focused financial holding company with a sizeable SBA 7(a) lending franchise; competes with Port 51 across SMB verticals while also operating technology and payment services.

Emerging players

• SmartBiz: SBA-preferred fintech lending marketplace specializing in SBA 7(a) loans to small businesses; comparable technology-led origination model and target customer base, though it operates a marketplace rather than balance-sheet direct lending.
• BlueVine: Fintech SMB lender offering lines of credit and term loans to small businesses; competes with Port 51 for SBA-adjacent SMB credit demand with a fully digital, AI-driven application experience.
• Funding Circle US: Tech-enabled online SMB term-loan lender that overlaps with Port 51's target customers (small business owners seeking working capital and acquisition financing), though it is not an SBA PLP lender.

Broad incumbents

• Citizens Bank: Large regional commercial bank with an established SBA lending program serving SMB acquisition, CRE, and working capital needs; competes with Port 51 on deal flow and SBA PLP-driven speed advantages.
• Byline Bank: Chicago-based commercial bank with a large SBA lending franchise and multiple PLP designations; competes with Port 51 in SBA 7(a) for SMBs nationwide while operating a broader commercial banking balance sheet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/port51lending

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Port 51 Lending