Whether you’ve already built a business for yourself and are looking to expand, or you’re keen to jump into a pre-existing company, business acquisitions and mergers hold undeniable appeal. After all, the right investment at the right moment could be the best possible way to grow your money quickly and efficiently, and to hopefully enjoy sizable returns for many years to come.
Unfortunately, all that glitters is not gold, and you may quickly find that, as well as acquisitions in themselves being often complicated, you’ll need to pay steep amounts to get started. That’s by no means to say that this isn’t a great option for your overall company goals, but it does require careful handling.
Namely, you’ll need to ensure both a concise acquisition plan and a firm grasp on acquisition finances. For the latter priority, well-sourced business loans are essential. The question is, which acquisition loans offer the most benefits in 2025?
SbaloansHQ – Best Full-Service Solution
Any lender can provide the money you need to acquire a business in the first place, but that’s by no means to say that your acquisition will pay off in the long run. To ensure that, you should seek the help of loan consultants like SbaloansHQ from the very beginning of your acquisition journey.
Business acquisitions make up 95% of what SbaloansHQ does, and this specialization is evident across their entire service offering. As well as using in-house expertise to pair you with the best possible SBA lender on their books, SBALoansHQ provides a full-service acquisition oversight, which includes loan consulting and all-important planning and projections to ensure the most financially viable acquisitions at all times. This oversight pairs perfectly with simplified, fast loan applications to ensure that your acquisitions always get off to a flying start.
Live Oak Bank – Best Bank Lender
What if you’ve already acquired a fair few businesses and just want to go straight down the middle with a solid, low-interest loan? Live Oak Bank provides precisely that with traditional bank-based acquisition loans that span terms of between 10 and 25 years and loan amounts of $5 million or more as required.
As well as having a great reputation for business loans in general, Live Oak Bank provides acquisition loan benefits, including the opportunity to speak with loan and business transition experts. However, it is worth noting that, with an average acquisition loan approval time of around 60 days, this might not be the best option for buyers seeking a quick sale!
Fuse Capital – Best Mid-Market Lender
Fuse Capital is a debt advisory provider that offers merger and acquisition loans for mid-market, sponsor-backed companies that are working to tight timelines or are seeking financing to cover transaction costs and other crucial expenses.
The Fuse Capital team works across a global lender’s network to tailor the best possible lending solutions. True to their overall business goal, Fuse Capital also approaches acquisitions with a debt mindset, ensuring a deep dive into wise financial choices and overall business capital. During an initial consultation, clients are required to explain their funding requirements and growth ambitions before their case is handed to an investment committee that’s focused on opportunities with the most potential for real value.
Wells Fargo – Best for Cross-Border Acquisitions
Acquisitions are complex enough, but adding the complication of cross-border purchases can leave many lenders stumped. Multinational financing company Wells Fargo provides export and import financing opportunities that are designed to help middle-market and large corporations succeed on a global scale.
In terms of acquisitions, Wells Fargo provides both specialty and structured financing opportunities, as well as trade, supply, and asset-based funding to help even the most complex cross-border acquisitions succeed. Wells Fargo also oversees broader business financing opportunities, including sizable SBA loans, and flexible options to meet the specifics of your acquisition requirements.
Bankprov – Best for Complex Acquisitions
Speaking of complex acquisitions, business bank partner Bankprov provides strategic acquisition lending that’s built with complex purchases in mind. Here, acquisition loans are built on a deep understanding of complex investment models, with expertise that aims to fully understand and guide the most layered or convoluted of purchase options.
The endless support on offer is especially notable, with Bankprov providing specialized partnerships that fully delve into your acquisition profile. Bankprov also offers benefits including adaptable terms according to your business plan, customized capital solutions, and even flexible structures that make it possible to generate recurring revenue as a form of acquisition collateral.
Highland Bank – Best for Big Loans
Business acquisition costs can vary a great deal depending on the company you have in mind, but many lending options aren’t quite enough to cover a large-scale acquisition. Highland Bank breaks away from that tradition by offering acquisition loans that can stretch as far as $9 million in some cases.
Despite these impressively high amounts, Highland Bank only requires a 10% down payment on its loans, which are built to suit everything from acquisitions to management or partner buyouts. As well as being an SBA preferred lender, Highland Bank partners with sponsors such as private equity firms and individual sponsors to provide their senior cash flow financing.
Takeaway
Business acquisition can be a long and gruelling process, and ensuring your finances are in place from the very beginning is key to securing the best possible deal for your purposes. From bank lenders to loan brokers and beyond, the names on this list are some of the best in the biz for setting you off on the right financial footing.
Of course, no amount of money will stand in for a solid financial plan, which is why many of these providers will also work to help in the planning and conception stages of your acquisition. The question is, how much help do you require, how much money do you need, and how quickly do you want it in the bank? The better able you are to answer each of these questions, the more quickly you’ll be able to see which of these options is most suited to your needs!
Also read: Cash Offer for a Fast Sale: Sell Your Home in Days, Not Months
