CDC Small Business Finance

What CDC Small Business Finance does

CDC Small Business Finance is a nonprofit Certified Development Company (CDC) and SBA-approved lender founded in 1978 and headquartered in San Diego, California. Operating as part of the Momentus Capital family of organizations alongside Capital Impact Partners and Momentus Securities, the company is the nation's #1 SBA 504 and #1 SBA 7(a) Community Advantage lender. Its core products include SBA 504 commercial real estate loans ($250K–$30M+ with 10/20/25-year fixed-rate terms at 10% down), SBA 7(a) Community Advantage loans ($30K–$350K starting at Prime + 2.75%), SBA Microloans ($10K–$50K), and a specialized VetLoan Advantage program for military entrepreneurs. Complementary offerings include complimentary pre- and post-loan business advising (supported by Wells Fargo's Open for Business Fund), Impact Investments providing non-dilutive preferred equity and mezzanine debt ($1–15M) to growth-stage community-centric companies, and Impower 95 — an alternative CRE financing product offered through affiliate Momentus Direct Capital for borrowers ineligible for SBA programs.

The company's revenue model is transaction-based: it earns interest income on its SBA-backed loan portfolio, plus origination fees, debenture-related fees (to CDC, SBA, and central servicing agent per NADCO pricing), and servicing fees. Distribution combines a direct field sales force with loan officers in San Diego, Arlington VA, Pasadena, New York, Detroit, and Irvine, supplemented by an inside sales team and an online pre-qualification portal. Customer acquisition is augmented by referral relationships with Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, America's SBDC, SCORE, and the Opportunity Finance Network. Since 1978, the organization has deployed over $20.9 billion in financing to more than 12,700 business owners, creating or preserving 253,500 jobs across underserved and mainstream small business segments.

The technology stack is conventional for a specialty finance CDFI — a Gateway Portal for online pre-qualification, a borrower self-service portal for account management, and a business loan calculator. There is no proprietary AI/ML or data platform disclosed; the company's competitive position rests on its SBA charter, mission-driven nonprofit status (which unlocks concessional capital from Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and CDFI Fund tax credit allocations), and 40+ years of brand credibility rather than technology differentiation. The 2024 Lenders Cooperative and Ventures Lending Technologies merger, supported by U.S. Bank Foundation grants, signals an emerging investment in tech-enabled lending infrastructure.

Name

CDC Small Business Finance

Legal name

CDC Small Business Finance Corp.

Website

https://cdcloans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CDC Small Business Finance is a nonprofit SBA-approved Certified Development Company and the nation's #1 SBA 504 and 7(a) Community Advantage lender, providing commercial real estate and small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs since 1978 as part of the Momentus Capital family.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Lending (SBA Lending)

NAICS

Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation (52229)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB), Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA), SBA/USDA Government-Backed Loan Intermediation (FSAEAEAI)

Keywords

• SBA 504 loans
• Commercial real estate financing
• Small business lending
• SBA 7(a) loans
• Community development lending

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SBA 504 Loan Interest and Fees: CDC Small Business Finance earns interest income and fees from SBA 504 commercial real estate loans. The organization acts as a Certified Development Company (CDC), financing 40% of total project costs with SBA backing. Revenue comes from interest on the loan portfolio and fees paid by borrowers including fees to CDC, SBA, and central servicing agent.
2. SBA 7(a) Community Advantage Loans: Provides small business loans from $30,000 to $350,000 through SBA 7(a) Community Advantage program. Generates revenue through interest income and loan fees.
3. Impact Investment Instruments: Non-dilutive preferred equity and mezzanine debt investments for growth-stage companies. Revenue generated through profit share payments and dividend distributions on preferred equity, and revenue share plus interest payments on mezzanine debt.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CDC Small Business Finance is a nonprofit Certified Development Company that provides SBA-backed loans to small businesses, including SBA 504 commercial real estate loans ($250k to $30M+), SBA 7(a) Community Advantage loans ($30k to $350k), SBA Microloans ($10k-$50k), and veteran-focused loan products. The organization also offers complimentary pre- and post-loan business advising and non-dilutive impact investments (preferred equity and mezzanine debt) for growth-stage companies.

Product overview

CDC Small Business Finance is a nonprofit financial services organization and the nation's leading SBA lender, operating as part of the Momentus Capital family of organizations. The company offers a portfolio of SBA-backed loan products designed for small business financing needs. The core offerings include SBA 504 Commercial Real Estate Loans for property and equipment acquisition ($250k to $30M+), SBA 7(a) Community Advantage Loans for working capital and business growth ($30k-$350k), and SBA Microloans for California startups ($10k-$50k). A specialized Veteran Business Loans program (VetLoan Advantage) provides preferential terms including rebates up to $3,000 for military entrepreneurs. Complementary services include free Small Business Advisors (pre/post loan advising), an online Borrower Portal for account management, a Business Loan Calculator tool, and a Resource Center with downloadable templates and guides. For borrowers not qualifying for SBA products, Impower 95 offers an alternative commercial real estate financing path through an affiliated entity. Impact Investments provide non-dilutive growth capital for community-centric companies. Since 1978, the organization has provided over $20.9 billion in financing to more than 12,700 business owners, creating over 253,500 jobs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SBA 504 Commercial Real Estate Loans Long-term, fixed-rate financing for purchasing, constructing, or improving owner-occupied commercial real estate or buying heavy equipment. Requires 10% down payment, finances 40% of project cost through CDC/SBA, with 50% from a bank. Loan amounts range from $250,000 to $30 million or more with 25, 20, or 10-year term options at standard, refinance, and manufacturing rate variants.
• SBA 7(a) Community Advantage Loans SBA 7(a) Community Advantage loans providing working capital and business financing ranging from $30,000 to $350,000. Features fixed and variable rates, up to 10-year terms, and no collateral requirement for approval. Available nationwide with focus on California, Arizona, Nevada, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Miami, and Washington D.C. Designed to serve startups and underserved borrowers.
• SBA Microloans Small-scale loans for California small businesses offering $10,000 to $50,000 with 7-year terms. Designed to help startups and very small enterprises access capital.
• Veteran Business Loans (VetLoan Advantage) Specialized loan programs for veterans, active military, and spouses. Features include cash rebates up to $3,000 on SBA 504 loans for commercial real estate, loans up to $20 million for commercial real estate, and $10,000 to $500,000 for working capital, starting a business, or business acquisition. Minimum 51% ownership by military community members required.
• Small Business Advisors (Business Advising Services) Complimentary business advising services for loan applicants and current borrowers, both pre- and post-loan. Includes support for credit repair, business plans, financial reporting, business strategy, and daily operating challenges. Services funded in part by Wells Fargo's Open for Business Fund.
• Impact Investments Non-dilutive growth capital for growth-stage, community-centric companies. Includes Profit Share Preferred Equity (minimum $4 million revenue, $1-15 million investment, 3-5 year holding period) and Revenue Share Mezzanine Debt ($1-15 million, unsecured, 3-5 year term). Focus areas include low-to-moderate income areas, employee-owned businesses, and health care/food access.
• Impower 95 (Alternative CRE Financing) Alternative commercial real estate financing offered through affiliate Momentus Direct Capital for borrowers who do not qualify for SBA 504 loans. Features 25% minimum owner occupancy (vs. 51% for SBA 504), 5-15% down payment, 85-95% LTV, up to 30-year amortization, and faster approvals without SBA eligibility restrictions.

Quantifiable outcome

• $20.9 billion in small business financing provided since 1978
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Capital Impact PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDC Small Business Finance is now part of the Momentus Capital family of organizations alongside Capital Impact Partners. Both organizations share similar visions and complementary expertise to deliver a suite of lending products and programs that holistically support communities.
• NADCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Association of Government Guarantee Lenders (NADCO) member. Debenture pricing published by NADCO determines SBA 504 rates.
• NAGGLmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Association of Government Guarantee Lenders member. CDC actively participates in NAGGL advocacy efforts for the small business lending industry.
• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Opportunity Finance Network, a national network of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) supporting equitable access to capital.
• America's SBDCmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with America's Small Business Development Centers to provide business counseling and referrals. SCORE partnership provides additional mentorship resources.
• SCOREmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSCORE mentorship partnership providing business counseling and mentorship resources for small business owners.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Peers

• BlueVine:

Emerging players

• OnDeck Capital (now OnDeck / ODX): OnDeck is a fintech lender providing short-term working capital and term loans to small businesses via a digital, fast-decision platform. While not SBA-backed, it competes for the same SMB borrower pool with faster funding (often same-day), representing the fintech disruption threat to CDC's 7(a) Community Advantage product.

Direct peers

• Capital Impact Partners: Sister organization within the Momentus Capital family. Capital Impact Partners is a CDFI providing community development lending and impact investments across health care, education, and economic development. Direct comparable as the only other major Momentus Capital entity and one of the largest CDFIs in the U.S.

Broad incumbents

• Live Oak Bank: Live Oak Bank is one of the largest SBA 7(a) lenders in the U.S., specializing in loans to small businesses across veterinary, healthcare, and franchise sectors. As a publicly-traded bank with deep SBA expertise, it is a broad incumbent competitor in CDC's core SBA lending market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SmallBusinessFinance
• Xx.com/CDC_Loans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdc-small-business-finance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles36 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 CDC Small Business Finance