Question 1

Who in Amarillo is a natural SBA owner-occupied borrower?

Accepted Answer

Small businesses in agricultural services, trucking, and food processing. The metro had 7,094 establishments in the first quarter of 2025 across 123,407 covered jobs, heavily agricultural services, trucking, and food processing. Owning the building the business runs from is the usual reason to reach for a 7(a) or 504. We did not find local 7(a) or 504 volumes, so we make no claim about how active either program is here. See the SBA program page.

Question 2

How much of my Amarillo building does my own business have to occupy?

Accepted Answer

51% of an existing building, but 60% if you are building new. Under 13 CFR 120.131, an existing building needs your operating business in at least 51% of the space. New construction needs at least 60%, and only 20% of the space may be permanently leased to third parties, with an absorption plan for the rest. The distinction can decide whether a build-to-suit or an existing Amarillo building makes the project SBA-eligible. Talk to your attorney or CPA about how your lease plan lines up before you commit to a floor plan.

Question 3

How much cash do I put down on a 504 loan for an Amarillo building?

Accepted Answer

Ten percent is the floor, not the rule. Under 13 CFR 120.910 the borrower contributes 10% on an ordinary project, 15% if the business has operated under two years or the building is single purpose, and 20% if both are true. The 504 loan itself is capped at 40% of project cost (120.930), with a standard maximum of $5 million under 13 CFR 120.931, rising to $5.5 million only for small manufacturers or a qualifying energy project. Check whether your NAICS code falls in 31 to 33 before assuming the standard cap applies.

Question 4

I heard SBA fees were waived. Does that apply to an Amarillo closing?

Accepted Answer

Not in fiscal 2026, when fees were reinstated. For loans approved between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026, the 7(a) upfront guaranty fee returned at 2% to 3.5% and up depending on size, after being zero under $1 million in fiscal 2025. The 504 upfront fee returned at 0.50%, with the annual service fee cut to 0.209%. Small manufacturers are the exception: no 7(a) upfront fee at or under $950,000, and waived 504 fees. Those are fiscal 2026 figures as read on 2026-08-12. Fiscal 2027 began October 1, 2026, and we have not verified its fee schedule, so confirm current fees with the lender before you budget closing costs.

Question 5

Which SBA lender or district office covers an Amarillo deal?

Accepted Answer

We do not route you through one district office. We place your file across a network of more than 20 SBA lenders and match it to whichever one fits your scenario. Which SBA district office covers Potter and Randall counties was not verified for this page, so we will not guess at one, and we make no claim about local approval counts. We are not ourselves an SBA lender.

Question 6

What will owning my Amarillo building cost in property tax?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the county and whether the lot is inside a city. On 2025 rates the Potter County side of Amarillo stacks to 2.112080 per $100 and the Randall County side to 1.922830. An unincorporated Bushland ISD parcel runs 1.821830 on the Potter side and 1.632580 on the Randall side, with no municipal rate, and a parcel inside Tierra Blanca MUD #1 adds a full 1.000000. There is no homestead exemption on a commercial building. Pull the parcel's account at the Potter-Randall Appraisal District before you underwrite the tax line.

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