Why is it better to apply with FastWay SBA than go to a 'business development center' to get an SBA loan?

If you're a small business owner exploring SBA loan options, chances are you've come across your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC). And while these centers are great for some things, here's the blunt truth: They can’t actually help you get funded. At FastWay SBA, we do.

MYTH BUSTED

A common myth is: “I’ll just go to my local SBA center—they’ll help me get a loan.”

The truth is, the SBA does not lend money directly—and neither do the development centers it supports.

SBDCs can help educate and prepare documents, but they don’t connect you with a lender and don’t get you funded.

So what’s the difference between a Small Business Development Center and FastWay SBA?

Let’s break it down.

SBA Development Centers: Valuable—but Limited

SBDCs are designed to educate business owners. They’ll walk you through the minimum SBA requirements, help you build a business plan, maybe even draft some projections. That’s useful if you’re early in the journey or have no idea what a loan application looks like.

But once that’s done?

You’re on your own.

They won’t introduce you to a lender, and they can’t tell you which banks are actually approving loans right now.

Here’s the key: they don’t work with any banks.

So you could spend months prepping the “perfect” SBA loan package, only to find out that no lender wants to touch your deal—or that you never met the minimum credit or cash flow requirements in the first place.

FastWay SBA: From Prequal to Funding

At FastWay, we take a very different approach.

We don’t just help you get your docs in order, we actually help you get approved.

• Prequalify before applying and find out your SBSS Score
• Know which lenders match your profile
• Avoid wasting time on dead-end applications
• Get funded, often in under 30 days

We're not just advisors. We’re connectors. We work directly with SBA lenders and know their underwriting preferences inside and out.

And that’s a huge deal. Because every lender looks at SBA loans a little differently. Some prioritize credit. Some care more about industry experience. Some won’t touch certain deal sizes or uses of funds.

We already know which lenders are saying “yes” to deals like yours, because we’re funding them every week.

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It—See the Proof

• Just funded: $325K SBA loan to a first-time borrower with low collateral
• 10-year terms, under 30 days to fund
• Medical, construction, e-commerce, food service—all approved

👉 Check out our recent deals

We also built SBAScore.com to give borrowers an honest view of their SBA readiness—before they waste time applying blindly.

Still Not Sure? Let’s Compare Side-by-Side:

	SBA Dev Center (SBDC)	FastWay SBA
Business Plan Help	✅	✅ (optional)
SBA Loan Guidelines	✅ (Minimum Requirements)	✅ (Plus lender-specific rules)
Access to Lenders	❌	✅
Prequalification	❌	✅
Match to Best Bank	❌	✅
Real-Time Approvals	❌	✅
Time to Funding	❌	✅ Often in 2–4 weeks

Final Thought: Education is Step 1. Funding is Step 2.

SBDC advisors are great at helping you start the journey.

But if you want to finish it, you need someone who knows the terrain and has the lender relationships to get you across the line.

At FastWay, we have all the same knowledge—and a direct path to funding.

Book a Call with an SBA Specialist