If you’re a small or mid-sized business owner leasing your space, you’re missing out on one of the most strategic moves in long-term business planning — owning your commercial real estate.
Second Exit™ by ThinkSBA is a tailored service led by SBA financing expert Ryan Smith, designed to help you acquire the building your business occupies using SBA-backed financing.
What is the Second Exit™?
Most business owners focus on building and selling their business — the first exit.
But real wealth is often created in the Second Exit™: owning the real estate.
By using the SBA 7(a) loan program to purchase your building, you gain control over your location, reduce rent risk, and build equity as you grow your business.
The First Exit – Selling the Business
When it’s time to exit your business, owning the property introduces additional flexibility. Selling your business while retaining ownership of the building allows you to lease the property to the new owner. This approach creates an ongoing source of income while separating the business sale from the real estate asset.
For example, a manufacturing business owner might sell their operations but retain ownership of the building, leasing it back to the buyer. This strategy provides steady, reliable income without operational involvement. Retaining the property allows you to maximize the value of your assets while maintaining financial control over the next stage of your life.
The Second Exit – Selling or Leasing the Real Estate
After selling the business, you have the opportunity for a second exit by selling or leasing the property. This step can serve as an effective retirement or late-stage succession strategy. Here’s how it works:
- Capital Generation: Selling the property after exiting the business allows you to access the equity you’ve built, providing a significant financial resource for retirement or investment.
- Passive Income: Opting to lease the property instead of selling creates a continued income stream, offering flexibility for long-term financial planning.
- Timing Control: Real estate ownership gives you the ability to choose when to sell or lease the property, allowing you to respond to market conditions and optimize the value of your asset.
By structuring your exit in two stages—first the business, then the property—you create options for financial security and flexibility.
Services We Provide
1. SBA Loan Pre-Qualification
- Financial review of buyer and business
- Confirm eligibility for SBA 7(a) or 504
- Deliver a pre-qualification letter to support purchase offers
2. Financing Strategy Development
- Recommend optimal SBA structure (7(a) vs 504)
- Analyze property type, loan size, and long-term goals
- Outline down payment, working capital, and DSCR
3. Lender Matching and Sourcing
- Match you with the right SBA lender from a national network
- Coordinate multiple offers for review
- Align lender selection with your transaction needs
4. Loan Packaging and Submission
- Prepare and submit a complete loan file directly to underwriting
- Package includes tax returns, business plans, and purchase contracts
- Avoid the delays of working with traditional bank branches
5. Contract Review and Deal Structuring
- Ensure purchase contracts are SBA-compliant
- Coordinate across buyers, sellers, brokers, title, and escrow
- Advise on leasebacks, seller financing, and structuring
6. Loan Management Through Closing
- Track underwriting milestones and document requests
- Coordinate appraisals, site visits, and environmental reports
- Manage the entire closing process
7. Post-Close Optimization
- Plan for future refinance or 504 takeout
- Explore cost segregation and tax strategies
- Introduce vetted accounting and legal professionals
Property Types Commonly Financed
- Office buildings
- Medical and dental clinics
- Industrial and warehouse spaces
- Retail storefronts
- Automotive shops
- Daycare and education centers
- Mixed-use buildings (majority owner-occupied)
Call An SBA Loan Pro Today!
Don’t know whether you qualify for an SBA 7(a) or SBA 504 Loan to purchase real estate?
No problem, you’re one click away from scheduling a call with an SBA Loan Pro.
Schedule a call today!
Why Work With ThinkSBA
- Up to 90% financing
- Terms up to 25 years
- Fixed-rate options available
- Build long-term equity and reduce rent dependency
- Work directly with a specialist, not a retail loan officer
Get Started
If you’re ready to stop renting and start building your second exit, let’s talk.
Book a consultation: https://mysba.pro/30
Email Ryan: [email protected]