Sabre Finance

What Sabre Finance does

Sabre Finance is a nonprofit Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and SBA-approved lender headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The organization provides loan capital and technical assistance to small businesses, with a stated focus on startups and mid-life companies in Alabama and the Columbus, Georgia region. Its product portfolio spans Micro Loans (up to $50,000 over 7 years), Working Capital financing (up to 10 years), Machinery and Equipment financing (matched to useful life), and Building and Real Estate financing (up to 25 years). It also originates SBA 504 second-lien positions under the standard 50-40-10 structure with bank partners, participates in the SBA 7a, SBA Microlender, and Community Advantage programs, and offers a dedicated Veteran-Entrepreneur loan product. The core operating construct is a Revolving Loan Fund in which interest paid on each loan is recycled to expand total lending capacity, supporting a self-replenishing capital cycle alongside fixed SBA program participation.

The revenue model is interest-based: Sabre Finance earns interest on its originated loan portfolio (with diversified SBA 504 and 7a exposure), and reinvests returns through the Revolving Loan Fund rather than distributing to shareholders. Pricing varies by product tier — microloans cap at $50,000, SBA 504 features low long-term fixed rates with 10-25 year terms and 10% down payments, and ancillary fees include a $35 NSF fee, a 5% late fee after 10 days, and various account-change fees. Go-to-market is community-led: direct consultation ('coffee with us'), partner referrals via Co.starters, Create Birmingham, and the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, and on-the-ground engagement at the Hoover Entrepreneurial Training Center. The customer base is highly diversified across SMB subsegments (construction, sports/event management, RFID/inventory technology, security, media systems, food and beverage), with no single named client dominating disclosures. Strategic posture in 2024 reflects measured regional expansion, capital deepening via a $500,000 Synovus EQ2 investment, and execution-oriented C-suite additions including a new CFO and Operations Manager.

Name

Sabre Finance

Legal name

Sabre Finance

Website

https://sabrefinance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sabre Finance is a nonprofit Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and SBA Lender based in Birmingham, Alabama, providing microloans, SBA 504/7a financing, working capital, and technical assistance to small businesses in Alabama and the Columbus, Georgia region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Lending

NAICS

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

SBA/USDA Government-Backed Loan Intermediation (FSAEAEAI)

Keywords

• SBA lending services
• Small business financing
• CDFI lending
• Commercial real estate loans
• Microloan programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Revenue: As a nonprofit lender, Sabre Finance generates revenue through interest paid on loans. The Revolving Loan Fund is structured so that interest paid on each new loan expands the total amount available for future lending, creating a sustainable growth cycle for community lending.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sabre Finance is a nonprofit Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and SBA-approved Lender that provides SBA 504, SBA 7a, Community Advantage, and microloans, plus in-house Revolving Loan Fund loans for working capital, equipment, inventory, and commercial real estate, to start-up and mid-life small businesses in Alabama and the Columbus, Georgia region. Each loan is paired with technical assistance, business counseling, and job-creation advisory delivered by Economic Development Finance Professional-certified staff.

Product overview

Sabre Finance is a nonprofit Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and SBA Lender offering a portfolio of lending products designed to promote economic growth in Alabama. The core offerings include Micro Loans (up to $50,000 for 7 years), Working Capital (up to 10 years), Machinery & Equipment financing, and Building & Real Estate financing (up to 25 years). SBA lending programs include the SBA 504 Program (providing 40% of project financing in a 50-40-10 structure with bank partners) and the SBA Small 7a Program for startups and expansion. A dedicated Revolving Loan Fund supports the organization's mission to grow local job markets, with interest payments reinvested to expand lending capacity. A specialized Veteran-Entrepreneur loan addresses military veteran small business needs. The Entrepreneurial Training Center in Hoover provides technical assistance and business counseling to clients. The organization also participates in the Community Advantage lending program to reach underserved entrepreneurs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Micro Loans Small-dollar financing with a $50,000 maximum and terms up to 7 years, designed for startups and growing small businesses needing modest capital for working capital, equipment, and inventory.
• Machinery & Equipment Financing Financing for the useful life of machinery and equipment, enabling businesses to acquire or upgrade production capabilities through long-term asset-backed loans.
• Building & Real Estate Financing Long-term financing for commercial real estate and building acquisition or construction, with terms available up to 25 years through the Revolving Loan Fund.
• Working Capital Financing Operating capital loans with terms up to 10 years to support day-to-day business operations and cash flow for small businesses.
• SBA 504 Program SBA 504 loans fund commercial real estate and equipment purchases by providing up to 40% of project financing through a second-position lien, with partner banks funding 50% and the business contributing 10% equity, featuring low fixed rates and 10-, 20-, or 25-year terms.
• SBA Small 7a Program SBA 7a loan program providing financing to start-up and expanding businesses for working capital, equipment, inventory, and commercial real estate, offered under Sabre Finance's SBA lender approval.
• Revolving Loan Fund A self-replenishing capital fund where interest paid on each loan expands total lending capacity, used to support microloans, equipment financing, working capital, and commercial real estate loans for small businesses and the Birmingham region.
• Veteran-Entrepreneur Loans Dedicated loan product for veteran entrepreneurs providing specialized financing and advisory services for military veteran-owned small businesses, with veteran-focused underwriting and guidance.
• Community Advantage Lending SBA Community Advantage loans providing financing to underserved small businesses in underserved markets, offered under Sabre Finance's SBA Community Advantage lender approval.
• Entrepreneurial Training Center A training facility in Hoover, Alabama offering business counseling, technical assistance, and support services for entrepreneurs to develop and grow their small businesses.

Named customers11 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Co.startersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelect client and partner organization supporting entrepreneurial development in Alabama.
• Create BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelect client and partner organization focused on Birmingham area economic development.
• Regional Planning Commission of Greater BirminghamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner organization supporting regional planning and economic development initiatives in Greater Birmingham.
• Third-Party Lenders (Banks/Credit Unions)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFor SBA 504 loans, Sabre Finance partners with banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions that provide 50% of project financing with first priority lien, while Sabre Finance provides 40% through SBA 504 and the business contributes 10% equity.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LiftFund: A nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, microloans, and SBA 504 lending across the southern U.S., with a similar mission-driven model of pairing capital with technical assistance. Highly comparable to Sabre in product mix, customer segments, and nonprofit structure.
• Grameen America: A nonprofit microfinance organization providing small-dollar loans and business training to low-income entrepreneurs, particularly women. Comparable in microlending focus and nonprofit community development mission.
• TruFund Financial Services: A nonprofit CDFI providing SBA loans, microloans, and community development lending to underserved small businesses, primarily in the South. Operates with a similar mix of SBA programs and mission-driven technical assistance.
• Justine Petersen Capital and Asset Management: A nonprofit CDFI offering SBA 504, SBA 7a, microloans, and small business technical assistance with a mission to support underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable in scope, customer base, and community development focus.
• CDC Small Business Finance: A nonprofit Certified Development Company focused on SBA 504 lending for commercial real estate and equipment financing. Directly comparable to Sabre's SBA 504 offering and similar SBA partnership structure with banks.

Emerging players

• Kiva: A nonprofit microlending platform enabling crowdfunded small business loans globally with a 0% interest model. Comparable mission to expand capital access for underserved entrepreneurs, though different delivery mechanism.

Broad incumbents

• Accion: A global nonprofit microfinance and small business lending organization with broader geographic reach and product scope. Comparable in serving underserved SMBs with technical assistance alongside capital.
• Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF): A national nonprofit CDFI providing capital and financing solutions to small businesses and community development projects. Comparable in CDFI-driven small business lending, though operates at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• BCL of Texas: A nonprofit CDFI lender serving small businesses with SBA programs, microloans, and business advisory in Texas. Comparable product offering and CDFI positioning, though operating in a different regional market.
• Pathway Lending: A nonprofit CDFI serving small businesses across Tennessee with SBA 504, SBA 7a, and microlending programs. Highly comparable product suite and nonprofit CDFI structure, though operating in an adjacent southern geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SabreFinance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sabre-finance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Sabre Finance