RMI
RMI Business Finance is a privately held Certified Development Company in Jefferson City, Missouri that administers SBA 504 loans, IRP loans, and RMI Direct loans for small and mid-sized businesses across Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and parts of Illinois.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersJefferson City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RMI does
RMI Business Finance is a privately held Certified Development Company (CDC) headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri, that administers SBA 504 loans, Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) loans, and its own RMI Direct loans to small and mid-sized businesses across Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and parts of Illinois. The firm, founded in 1999 and claiming more than 60 years of operational history, positions itself as the #1 CDC in its region and operates through six territory-assigned loan officers plus an Executive Director, with no disclosed parent company, external ownership, or institutional investors. Its core technology consists of standard SBA 504 loan administration and loan servicing workflows supported by a website, downloadable Excel-based 504 calculators, and basic social media presence; no API, proprietary AI/ML systems, or developer-facing platform is offered.
RMI's three product lines target distinct borrower segments. The 504 program provides long-term fixed-rate financing (10, 20, or 25 years) for real estate, machinery, and equipment under the standard 50/40/10 structure (bank 50%, RMI 40%, borrower 10%) with project caps of $5M standard and $5.5M for manufacturing or energy projects. IRP loans provide up to $250,000 to for-profit businesses in non-metro areas with populations under 50,000, while RMI Direct loans provide up to $250,000 fixed-rate financing to both for-profit and not-for-profit borrowers, with special provisions for female entrepreneurs.
Revenue is generated through loan origination fees and interest income on RMI's junior lien position, plus administration fees on IRP and Direct loans; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is relationship-driven: loan officers source borrowers directly across their territories, supplemented by an Elite Lending Partners network of regional banks (KS StateBank, Cornerstone, Hawthorn, Arvest, Enterprise Bank & Trust, Goppert Financial, Andover State Bank) that originate the senior lien, and referral partnerships with economic development councils and the Missouri SBDC. Pricing on 504 loans is publicly disclosed monthly and tied to Treasury rates, with current 25-year fixed at approximately 6.11% as of June 2026.
RMI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RMI
- Legal name
- RMI Business Finance
- Website
- https://rmiinc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- RMI Business Finance is a privately held Certified Development Company in Jefferson City, Missouri that administers SBA 504 loans, IRP loans, and RMI Direct loans for small and mid-sized businesses across Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and parts of Illinois.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RMI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Lending / SBA Loan Programs
- NAICS
- Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Loan Brokers (6163)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SBA/USDA Government-Backed Loan Intermediation (FSAEAEAI)
Keywords
Where RMI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jefferson City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
RMI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SBA 504 Loan Program: RMI provides 40% financing for SBA 504 loan projects, structured with a bank providing 50% senior lien and borrower contributing 10-20% down payment. Revenue generated through loan origination fees and interest income from the junior lien position. Maximum loan amounts of $5 million standard, $5.5 million for manufacturing businesses or those meeting energy goals.
- IRP (Intermediary Relending Program) Loans: Provides up to $250,000 in financing to for-profit businesses in non-metro areas with populations below 50,000. Revenue generated through loan administration fees and interest.
- RMI Direct Loans: Provides up to $250,000 in fixed-rate financing to for-profit and not-for-profit businesses for fixed assets, inventory, or working capital. Revenue from origination fees and interest income on direct loans.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | 504 10-Year Fixed Rate |
| Other | Monthly | 504 20-Year Fixed Rate |
| Other | Monthly | 504 25-Year Fixed Rate |
| Other | Monthly | RMI Direct Loans - Up to $250,000 |
| Other | Monthly | IRP Loans - Up to $250,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
RMI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RMI Business Finance is a Certified Development Company (CDC) that provides SBA 504 long-term fixed-rate loans, IRP (Intermediary Relending Program) loans, and RMI Direct loans to small and mid-sized businesses for acquiring real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, or working capital. The company operates as a financial intermediary that originates a junior lien position (up to 40% of project cost) alongside partner banks providing senior lien financing, and it disburses fixed-rate loans up to $250,000 directly for non-metro and not-for-profit borrowers.
Product overview
RMI Business Finance is a Certified Development Company (CDC) offering three primary loan products: 504 Loans (SBA-backed long-term fixed-rate financing for real estate, machinery, and equipment), IRP Loans (Intermediary Relending Program for non-metro for-profit businesses), and RMI Direct Loans (fixed-rate financing up to $250,000 for both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses). The company also provides a downloadable 504 Calculator tool. RMI serves businesses throughout Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and parts of Illinois, functioning as a financial intermediary connecting businesses with SBA-backed lending solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 504 loans can finance up to 40% of total project cost with maximums of $5 million standard, $5.5 million for manufacturing/energy businesses
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use RMI
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RMI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RMI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Sedalia/Pettis County Economic Development CouncilminorMissouri economic development council that referred LAG Industries to RMI for IRP loan financing to start agricultural manufacturing business.
- Missouri Small Business Development CenterminorMissouri SBDC in Kirksville that counselor Anastasia Tiedemann referred Lone Star Physiques owner to RMI for financing and grant program eligibility.
- eFactory Business IncubatorminorSpringfield, MO business incubator that RMI Business Finance helped sponsor through a $10,000 pitch contest won by 3D&L startup. Executive Director Zola Finch served as judge.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RMI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Live Oak Bank: One of the largest SBA 7(a) and 504 lenders in the U.S., headquartered in North Carolina. Operates broadly in SBA-backed small business lending with digital and relationship channels, similar to RMI's 504 focus but at national scale.
- Celtic Bank: Utah-based top SBA 504 lender and one of the most prolific CDCs in the country. Directly comparable to RMI as a CDC administering 504 loans nationwide with strong bank partner relationships.
- Newtek Business Banking: National SBA 7(a) and 504 lender providing small business financing across the U.S. Comparable to RMI in SBA loan products but operates at significantly greater scale with technology-enabled origination.
- Funding Circle US: Online small business lender offering SBA 7(a) loans alongside term loans and lines of credit. Comparable to RMI in serving SMB financing needs but through a digital-first platform that competes on speed and accessibility.
- SmartBiz Loans: Technology-enabled SBA 504 and 7(a) loan marketplace connecting borrowers with bank partners. Operates a similar bank-partner intermediation model as RMI but at national scale via SaaS platform.
Regional players
- CDC Small Business Finance: California-based CDC administering SBA 504 loans primarily in Southern California. Same CDC operating model as RMI but serving a different West Coast geography, useful for benchmarking CDC economics and deal velocity.
Direct peers
- Sunflower Certified Development Company: Kansas-based CDC providing SBA 504 loans across the same Midwest geography as RMI. Directly comparable in product offering, customer segment, and regional footprint - one of RMI's closest competitive analogs.
Others
- Missouri Small Business Development Center: Statewide SBDC network providing free counseling and referrals to small businesses in Missouri. Referrer and ecosystem partner to RMI - serves overlapping SMB customer base but does not lend capital directly.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RMI social profiles
Digital presenceRMI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RMI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
RMI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RMI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RMI
What does RMI do?
RMI Business Finance is a Certified Development Company (CDC) that provides SBA 504 long-term fixed-rate loans, IRP (Intermediary Relending Program) loans, and RMI Direct loans to small and mid-sized businesses for acquiring real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, or working capital. The company operates as a financial intermediary that originates a junior lien position (up to 40% of project cost) alongside partner banks providing senior lien financing, and it disburses fixed-rate loans up to $250,000 directly for non-metro and not-for-profit borrowers.
Is RMI a public or private company?
RMI is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was RMI founded?
RMI was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is RMI based?
RMI is headquartered in Jefferson City, United States, in the North America region.
How does RMI make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. SBA 504 Loan Program is the primary driver. The others are IRP (Intermediary Relending Program) Loans and RMI Direct Loans.
Who are RMI's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Live Oak Bank, Celtic Bank, Newtek Business Banking, Funding Circle US and SmartBiz Loans. CDC Small Business Finance is listed as a regional player. Sunflower Certified Development Company is listed as a direct peer. Missouri Small Business Development Center is listed as an others.
Does RMI have an API?
No public API is recorded for RMI.
What industry is RMI in?
RMI's product category is Commercial Lending / SBA Loan Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAI, SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans, with a secondary code of FSAEAEAI, SBA/USDA Government-Backed Loan Intermediation. Its NAICS code is 522 and its SIC code is 6159.