Small Business Loans in Montana
117,419 small businesses. 312 SBA 7(a) loans approved in FY2024. Here's what the Montana financing landscape looks like — and how to navigate it.
Small businesses
117,419
SBA Office of Advocacy, 2024 Profile
SBA 7(a) loans — FY2024
312
$127.4M total approved
Avg SBA loan size
$408K
FY2024 · SBA FOIA dataset
Population
1,132,812
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 estimate
Montana has 117,000 small businesses employing 236,000 workers — 53.1 percent of the state's private workforce — one of the highest small business employment shares in the country. In FY2024, Montana small businesses received 312 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $127 million, with an average loan size of approximately $408,000. Montana's SMB economy is defined by its geography: agriculture and ranching, outdoor tourism (Glacier National Park, Yellowstone border, Big Sky skiing), and a growing remote-work professional class are the dominant economic forces.
Montana has been one of the top destinations for remote-work migration — the Bozeman and Missoula metros have attracted technology workers and entrepreneurs relocating from California and the Pacific Northwest, driving significant population growth and a new professional services SMB sector. This has also accelerated construction in a state with limited housing inventory, making construction one of the most active SMB sectors in recent years.
Montana's outdoor tourism economy — world-class fly-fishing, hunting, skiing, and national park visitation — supports a large seasonal hospitality SMB sector. Revenue-based financing and working capital lines are well-suited to outfitters, lodges, and recreation businesses whose revenue is concentrated in summer and ski seasons. Montana has no statewide commercial financing disclosure law. 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 Montana
#1
Agriculture & Ranching
Montana is a leading producer of wheat, barley, cattle, and sheep. Ranch and farm operators access equipment financing for agricultural machinery and seasonal working capital for livestock and crop operations.
#2
Accommodation & Outdoor Tourism
Glacier National Park, Yellowstone gateway communities, Big Sky Resort, and Flathead Lake drive Montana's outdoor tourism economy. Outfitters, lodges, and recreation operators use revenue-based financing and working capital for seasonal operations.
#3
Construction
Montana's population influx — particularly in Bozeman and Missoula — has created one of the Mountain West's most active construction SMB markets for a state of its size. Equipment financing and SBA 7(a) are the primary tools.
#4
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
Remote-work migration has created a growing professional services SMB sector in Montana's college towns. IT consultants, designers, and professional services firms use working capital lines to serve national client bases from Montana.
#5
Health Care & Social Assistance
Montana's rural and growing population drives healthcare SMB demand — primary care, behavioral health, and dental practices accessing SBA 7(a) for expansion and equipment financing for medical technology.
Montana commercial financing disclosure
StatuteMontana — no statewide CFDL enacted as of 2026-05-20
What this means for borrowersMontana does not currently have a statewide commercial financing disclosure law. Commercial lending in Montana is governed primarily by federal law and lender-specific agreements.
CVL operating note: ClearValue Lending routes Montana SMB applicants to lender partners operating across all Montana markets.
SBA 7(a) lending in Montana — FY2024
Computed from SBA FOIA loan-level dataset (data.sba.gov). Aggregate of all FY2024 approved 7(a) loans with project state = MT.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total 7(a) loans approved — FY2024 | 312 |
| Total dollar volume — FY2024 | $127.4M |
| Average loan size — FY2024 | $408K |
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.
Montana small business financing — common questions
How many small businesses are in Montana? +
Montana has approximately 117,000 small businesses, representing 99.3 percent of all businesses in the state. They employ 236,000 workers — 53.1 percent of Montana's private workforce. Source: SBA Office of Advocacy, 2024 Small Business Profile.
How active is SBA 7(a) lending in Montana? +
Montana received 312 SBA 7(a) loan approvals in FY2024, totaling $127 million. The average loan size was approximately $408,000. Source: SBA FOIA loan dataset, FY2024 aggregate.
Does Montana have a commercial financing disclosure law? +
No. Montana has not enacted a statewide commercial financing disclosure law as of 2026.
What financing products work best for Montana small businesses? +
Agricultural businesses use equipment financing and seasonal working capital. Tourism and outdoor recreation businesses use revenue-based financing. Construction businesses use equipment financing and SBA 7(a). The right product depends on your industry and revenue.
Is ClearValue Lending available in Montana? +
Yes. ClearValue Lending routes Montana SMB applicants to lender partners operating across Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, and statewide. We are a funding platform, not a lender or broker.
What are typical eligibility minimums for Montana 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: Montana — SMB count, top industries, employment data. Underlying: Census 2021 data.
- SBA FOIA 7(a) Loan Dataset — FY2024 Montana Aggregate — FY2024 approval count and dollar volume, projectstate=MT, approvalfy=2024.
- U.S. Census Bureau — State Population Estimates (2025) — Montana population: 1,132,812 (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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