Feel like you’re riding the waves of change? Business trends are evolving quickly. From tax law shake-ups to more women leading companies, from manufacturing gaining renewed energy to the constant hum of uncertainty—today’s environment is full of opportunity, if you know how to tap it. At Growth Corp, we believe the SBA 504 loan isn’t just one option among many—it’s the tool that aligns with these trends in a very real way. Let’s walk through five major business trends and show how the SBA 504 is a solution for each.
New Tax Provisions for Businesses
Imagine you’re sitting in your conference room, spreadsheets open, looking at your capital-investment budget and thinking: “Can we do more this year rather than next? Could this new equipment or facility purchase make sense given the tax code changes?”
Tax rules have shifted in a meaningful way. The passage of H.R.1 includes tax benefits for U.S. small businesses. In addition to expanded Section 179 expensing and credit for employee care and hiring, the Bill aims to improve cash flow for those businesses buying commercial real estate and equipment. So businesses are asking, “If I invest now in real estate or equipment, can I take advantage of accelerated depreciation or bonus expensing? Can I lock in something before costs go up?”
Tax Changes – Here’s where SBA 504 comes in:
- It’s designed for major fixed asset investments – buildings, equipment, and real estate that will serve your business long-term.
- Because you’re buying the asset (not just leasing), you may be in a stronger position to take advantage of the tax deductions tied to ownership and depreciation.
- The fixed-rate, long-term nature of the 504 loan allows you to plan your cash flow around those tax savings, rather than worrying about interest rate spikes or short-term debt.
- With a relatively modest down payment (often just 10%), you preserve more capital to invest or diversify – even as you capture tax benefits.
Partner Buyouts and Ownership Transitions
A business you helped build is now being passed on, a partnership is shifting, or a veteran owner is ready to step aside. These transitions are happening often—and they carry both opportunity and risk.
When ownership changes, you face questions: “How do we fund this buy-out without destabilizing the business? Can the new leadership step in without taking us off track?”
Ownership Changes – Here’s how SBA 504 supports this scenario:
- Because 504 loans are secured by long-term real estate or equipment assets, they can be used as part of the financing plan for the ownership transition, not just short‐term working capital.
- Fixed rates and long terms (10, 20 or 25 years) mean that monthly payments can remain stable—so the new owner isn’t paying large amounts and losing flexibility.
- The lower down payment preserves liquidity for the business during transition, so you’re not draining the business cash just to reorganize ownership.
More Women Business Owners
Another change and major trend we’re seeing is the rise of women business owners. The numbers are impressive. According to recent data, women own more than 12 million businesses in the U.S., employing over 10.7 million workers. Yet, with opportunity comes the need for access to smart financing—especially for real‐asset investments, expansion, or ownership changes.
Women Ownership Changes – Here’s why SBA 504 resonates:
- Predictable, fixed‐rate financing = helps businesswomen plan for growth without worrying about shifting interest costs.
- Lower equity requirements free up capital for hiring, branding, growth initiatives, rather than tying up everything in one asset.
- For women stepping into ownership or expanding operations, a 504 loan lets you “own” your facility (or equipment) rather than lease—and building equity is a strong long‐term strategic move.
Increased Focus on U.S. Manufacturing
Manufacturing is getting renewed attention—from reshoring trends to heavy equipment investment to the need for domestic capacity. For example: The manufacturing sector added about $2.90 trillion in value in Q1 2025 and accounted for roughly 9.7% of U.S. value-added output. Yet despite that size, many manufacturers are still facing investment headwinds: one survey highlighted that localization of production is seen as “highly relevant” by 74% of manufacturers in 2025 (up from 61% in 2023) amid ongoing uncertainty.
If you’re a manufacturer, you’re often talking about big equipment, facility expansions, land, utilities—capital‐intensive investments.
Manufacturing Changes – where SBA 504 shines:
- The program is built for fixed asset investment—machinery, buildings, long‐life equipment.
- For manufacturers, higher loan ceilings apply (up to $5.5 million per project, in qualifying cases) which gives more flexibility.
- Long amortization means your monthly cost stays manageable, helping you allocate cash toward innovation, workforce training, or automation rather than debt burden.
Economic Uncertainties
Let’s face it: the business environment is jittery. Inflation, interest‐rate moves, supply chain disruptions, tarrifs, geopolitical risk—all of it adds up. One survey found that 90% of manufacturing leaders feel that geopolitical risk is stalling their strategic development. In this kind of environment, it’s not just growth that matters—it’s stability.
Economic Changes – Where SBA 504 brings real value:
- Fixed interest rates for the term of the loan mean you lock in your cost today—so you’re not exposed to variable rate hikes or surprises.
- Long repayment terms let you spread payments over years, keeping monthly obligations manageable, which means you’re better prepared for bumps in the road.
- Because 504 is asset-based (real estate, equipment), you build equity and control rather than being at the mercy of a landlord or variable lease cost. That builds resilience.
Riding the Waves of Change – Wrapping It All Up
At Growth Corp, our view is this: these five trends aren’t passing fads—they’re structural shifts. When you combine smart tax strategy, ownership transition, growing diversity in business leadership, a manufacturing rebound, and instability in the economy, you get a clear demand for stable, long‐term financing anchored in real assets. That’s exactly what the SBA 504 Loan Program delivers.
If you’re thinking about a project that involves buying/expanding a facility, renewing equipment, solidifying ownership structure, or simply locking in stable debt while you grow, the SBA 504 is a strong contender—and we’d be happy to walk through how it might apply to your business now.
About Growth Corp
Small Business Growth Corporation (Growth Corp) is a nonprofit, mission-based lender dedicated exclusively to connecting businesses with quality expansion capital through administration of the SBA 504 Loan Program. At Growth Corp, we believe small businesses are the heart of every community. They’re where hard work meets hope, where families build futures, and where local pride takes root.
That’s why we do more than provide financing, we help business owners find a place to truly call their own. Through the SBA 504 Loan Program, we make ownership achievable with low, fixed rates and personal guidance every step of the way.
We know this isn’t just about accessing growth capital. It’s about creating stability for the people who pour everything into their businesses—and in turn, strengthen the communities we all share.
At Growth Corp, we’re not just financing growth. We’re helping dreams take root.
With a commitment to economic development, job creation and the small business sector, Growth Corp is ranked a Top 10 National CDC for SBA 504 loan volume and is Illinois’ largest 504 loan provider. Contact any member of our Lending Team today!