Buying an Existing Business: How Acquisition Financing Works
How acquisition financing usually comes together when you buy an existing business: SBA 7(a) loans, seller notes, your equity injection and what lenders review.
Oct 19, 2026
Chris Scarfo
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Full disclosure below.
Co-founder, Lending Gurus
Chris Scarfo is the co-founder of Lending Gurus, an AI guidance platform that helps small business owners understand their financing options before they ever talk to a lender. He started it in 2024 as a small business lending brokerage.
Before Lending Gurus, Chris spent ten years in business banking at Wells Fargo, BlueVine, Bank of America and U.S. Bank. At BlueVine he funded an average of about $1M a month in lines of credit and term loans for small business owners. At Bank of America he brought in about $10M a year in new deposits and $5M a year in new lending, and at his peak ranked first in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the top 10 nationally. At U.S. Bank he led a business banking portfolio across several products as a senior relationship manager.
He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a father of three.
Articles by Chris
Small Business Grants vs. Loans: Which Fits Your Business?
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Request a Higher Business Credit Limit: 6 Moves for Small Businesses
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Oct 16, 2026
Bank Loan Alternatives: Weighing Cost and Timing for Small Businesses
Compare online loans, credit lines, invoice financing, and SBA microloans by cost, speed, and use case. Ask lenders questions before comparing offers.
Oct 15, 2026
Credit Utilization for Loan Approval: One Maxed Card Can Hurt
Learn how utilization affects loan approval, explore target ranges by loan type, and see how lenders weigh it against DTI as you prepare to apply.
Oct 13, 2026
Net 30 Accounts Build U.S. Business Credit Only If Vendors Report
Net 30 accounts build business credit only when vendors report. Align your EIN, track PAYDEX, and Guru matches you with lenders if trade credit falls short.
Oct 12, 2026
Debt Consolidation and Your Credit: Shop Without Hard Pulls
Learn how debt consolidation affects credit scores through utilization, payment history, and inquiries. Compare options through Guru without hard pulls.
Oct 11, 2026
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