Small Business Loans in Arkansas
264,119 small businesses. 567 SBA 7(a) loans approved in FY2024. Here's what the Arkansas financing landscape looks like — and how to navigate it.
Small businesses
264,119
SBA Office of Advocacy, 2024 Profile
SBA 7(a) loans — FY2024
567
$226.4M total approved
Avg SBA loan size
$399K
FY2024 · SBA FOIA dataset
Population
3,067,732
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 estimate
Arkansas has 264,000 small businesses employing 482,000 workers — 41.2 percent of the state's private workforce. In FY2024, Arkansas small businesses received 567 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $226 million, with an average loan size of approximately $399,000. Arkansas's SMB economy is anchored by retail and logistics (Walmart's global headquarters in Bentonville and its enormous supplier and services ecosystem), agriculture, and food processing — Tyson Foods' home state is one of the nation's largest poultry producers.
Bentonville has been transformed by Walmart's presence into a national logistics and supply chain hub — hundreds of supplier companies, logistics consultants, and technology firms have offices in Northwest Arkansas to serve Walmart's procurement operations. This creates a professional services SMB ecosystem that is unusually concentrated for a state of Arkansas's size. The Walmart effect extends to transportation — Arkansas has one of the highest trucking SMB concentrations in the country relative to its population.
Arkansas has no statewide commercial financing disclosure law. Equipment financing for trucking and agricultural operations is the dominant product type; SBA 7(a) serves growth-stage healthcare and professional services businesses in Little Rock and the Northwest Arkansas corridor. Data sourced from the SBA Office of Advocacy (advocacy.sba.gov), SBA FOIA loan dataset (data.sba.gov), U.S. Census Bureau (census.gov), and the Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey (fedsmallbusiness.org).
Top SMB industries in Arkansas
#1
Transportation & Warehousing
Arkansas's outsized trucking concentration — driven by the Walmart supply chain — makes it one of the nation's top trucking states per capita. Small fleets, freight brokers, and logistics companies access equipment financing and working capital for fleet operations.
#2
Agriculture & Poultry Processing
Arkansas is the nation's second-largest broiler chicken producer. Poultry farm operators, feed mill operators, and food processors access equipment financing and SBA 7(a) for facility expansion.
#3
Retail Supply Chain & Logistics Services
Bentonville's Walmart supplier ecosystem supports consulting, technology, and logistics SMBs that service Walmart's global procurement. Working capital lines bridge extended payment cycles with the world's largest retailer.
#4
Construction
Northwest Arkansas's rapid growth and Little Rock's urban development sustain active construction SMB markets. Equipment financing and SBA 7(a) are standard tools.
#5
Health Care & Social Assistance
Arkansas's healthcare SMB sector spans primary care, behavioral health, and home health across urban and rural markets. SBA 7(a) supports practice acquisitions; equipment financing covers medical technology.
Arkansas commercial financing disclosure
StatuteArkansas — no statewide CFDL enacted as of 2026-05-20
What this means for borrowersArkansas does not currently have a statewide commercial financing disclosure law. Commercial lending in Arkansas is governed primarily by federal law and lender-specific agreements.
CVL operating note: ClearValue Lending routes Arkansas SMB applicants to lender partners operating across all Arkansas markets.
SBA 7(a) lending in Arkansas — FY2024
Computed from SBA FOIA loan-level dataset (data.sba.gov). Aggregate of all FY2024 approved 7(a) loans with project state = AR.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total 7(a) loans approved — FY2024 | 567 |
| Total dollar volume — FY2024 | $226.4M |
| Average loan size — FY2024 | $399K |
Source: SBA FOIA 7(a) loan dataset — data.sba.gov, as of March 31, 2026. Reflects FY2024, the most recent full fiscal year aggregated here. SBA 7(a) is one program; lenders also deploy conventional, SBA 504, USDA B&I, and private-market products.
National SBA program context (FY2025)
Nationwide, the SBA guaranteed $44.8 billion across roughly 84,400 loans in FY2025 (Oct 2024–Sept 2025), one of the program's highest-volume years. Effective May 2026, the SBA also doubled the cumulative 7(a)/504 loan limit to $10 million per borrower — expanding access for established businesses seeking repeat or larger-scale financing.
Sources: SBA FY2025 press release · SBA May 2026 loan-limit rule.
Arkansas small business financing — common questions
How many small businesses are in Arkansas? +
Arkansas has approximately 264,000 small businesses, representing 99.3 percent of all businesses in the state. They employ 482,000 workers — 41.2 percent of Arkansas's private workforce. Source: SBA Office of Advocacy, 2024 Small Business Profile.
How active is SBA 7(a) lending in Arkansas? +
Arkansas received 567 SBA 7(a) loan approvals in FY2024, totaling $226 million. The average loan size was approximately $399,000. Source: SBA FOIA loan dataset, FY2024 aggregate.
Does Arkansas have a commercial financing disclosure law? +
No. Arkansas has not enacted a statewide commercial financing disclosure law as of 2026.
What financing products work best for Arkansas small businesses? +
Trucking and logistics businesses use equipment financing. Agricultural businesses use equipment loans and working capital. Walmart-adjacent supplier SMBs use working capital lines. Healthcare practices access SBA 7(a). The right product depends on your industry and revenue.
Is ClearValue Lending available in Arkansas? +
Yes. ClearValue Lending routes Arkansas SMB applicants to lender partners operating across Little Rock, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Fort Smith, and statewide. We are a funding platform, not a lender or broker.
What are typical eligibility minimums for Arkansas SMB financing? +
SBA 7(a) typically requires 2+ years in business, 650+ FICO, and $150,000+ annual revenue. Revenue-based financing may be available with 500+ FICO, 6+ months in business, and $10,000+ monthly revenue. All financing is subject to lender underwriting.
Sources & methodology
- SBA Office of Advocacy — 2024 Small Business Profile: Arkansas — SMB count, top industries, employment data. Underlying: Census 2021 data.
- SBA FOIA 7(a) Loan Dataset — FY2024 Arkansas Aggregate — FY2024 approval count and dollar volume, projectstate=AR, approvalfy=2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau — State Population Estimates (2025) — Arkansas population: 3,067,732 (July 1, 2025 estimate).
- Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey — 2026 Report on Employer Firms (2025 survey data) — Small business credit conditions, lender relationships, and financing outcomes. Federal Reserve System.
Editorial disclaimer: Data on this page reflects the sources cited above as of May 22, 2026. SBA 7(a) loan counts and dollar volumes are computed from the public SBA FOIA dataset. Small business counts use Census 2021 data as published by SBA Office of Advocacy in November 2024. Population figures are July 1, 2025 Census Bureau estimates. All financing is subject to lender partner approval. Not legal, tax, or financial advice.
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