SBA Acquisition Attorney in New York State

By Alex Lubyansky Managing Partner Last updated October 8, 2026

Acquisition Stars advises buyers and sellers on sba acquisition attorney matters across New York.

Serving 1 market across New York.

SBA Acquisition Attorney Practice in New York

Acquisition Stars advises buyers and sellers on sba acquisition attorney matters across New York. Alex Lubyansky leads every engagement, and has been M&A counsel since 2013 across transactions of varying complexity, from lower-middle-market deals to multi-party structures.

New York Transaction Considerations

New York City imposes its own General Corporation Tax (8.85%) and Unincorporated Business Tax (4%), effectively doubling the state-level tax burden for NYC-based businesses
Commercial rent tax applies to certain tenants in Manhattan below 96th Street, which can affect the valuation of acquired businesses with Manhattan leases
New York's Department of Financial Services (DFS) regulates financial services, insurance, and banking acquisitions with extensive review requirements

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SBA Acquisition Attorney Service Areas in New York

Acquisition Stars represents clients in each of the following markets. Click any city to learn about sba business acquisition law services in that area.

New York

SBA Business Acquisition Law in New York

New York Legal Framework for SBA Business Acquisition Law

Non-Compete Agreements

The lender expects a seller covenant that holds up, because the loan is underwritten on the goodwill the covenant protects.

Enforceable with three-pronged reasonableness test

Enforceable if reasonable in scope, duration (typically 1-2 years), and geographic area. Courts apply a three-pronged reasonableness test from the BDO Seidman line of cases. Non-competes must protect a legitimate business interest such as trade secrets or client relationships, must not impose an undue hardship, and must not be harmful to the public. Courts will partially enforce (blue-pencil) overbroad covenants.

Tax Considerations

Successor liability for unpaid state taxes falls on the borrower, so the lender requires clearance before the loan funds.

New York imposes a corporate franchise tax with rates up to 7.25% on business income, plus alternative bases (capital, fixed dollar minimum). The state requires combined reporting for unitary groups. New York City imposes its own General Corporation Tax (8.85%) and Unincorporated Business Tax (4%) on businesses operating within the five boroughs.

Filing Requirements

Spousal guarantees in community property states and buyer entity filings are lender closing conditions with their own lead time.

Entity mergers and conversions require filing with the New York Department of State. Tax clearance certificates are required for asset purchases (Form AU-196.10). New York City requires separate business filings for city-level taxes. Foreign entities must obtain authority to do business.

Bulk Sales / Asset Purchases

Lender closing conditions include creditor notice or tax clearance where the state keeps them, and that timing sets the funding date.

New York repealed its Bulk Sales Act (UCC Article 6), but buyers face successor liability risk under state tax law. The Department of Taxation and Finance can hold acquirers liable for a seller's unpaid taxes if proper tax clearance certificates (Form AU-196.10) are not obtained before closing.

The federal framework for a SBA-financed acquisition

An SBA 7(a) loan is the financing many buyers use to fund the purchase of an existing business, and a change-of-ownership loan follows its own eligibility and structuring rules set out in the SBA's current Standard Operating Procedures. Because the lender, not just the buyer, has to satisfy these rules, the purchase agreement and the loan application get negotiated together rather than in sequence.
Equity requirements depend on the ownership-change type and the SBA procedures in effect when the loan is processed. Have the lender confirm the transaction category, required contribution and acceptable sources before relying on a proposed seller note. Whether debt counts toward equity is separate from how much seller financing the purchase structure can carry.

Owners at 20 percent or more generally must guarantee

SBA regulations generally require any owner holding at least 20 percent of the business to personally guarantee the loan, under 13 CFR 120.160. The lender can also require other individuals or entities to guarantee even below that threshold if it wants more support for the credit. A buyer bringing in minority partners should know upfront who the lender will require to sign.

Sources: 13 CFR 120.160(a)

Equity contribution depends on the transaction type

SBA treats equity as one underwriting factor, so the minimum comes from its Standard Operating Procedures: SOP 50 10 8 (effective June 1, 2025) and SOP 50 10 8.1 (effective October 1, 2026). Version 8 requires at least 10 percent of total project costs for a complete change of ownership to a new owner, excluding lines of credit and 504 loans; seller debt counts only on full standby for the loan's life and no more than half of the required injection. Version 8.1, Appendix 15, sets 10 percent for an Initial Acquisition, not reducible; also 10 percent for Business Expansions and Owner Buyouts, which the lender may reduce or eliminate if the borrower meets liquidity and net-worth tests. Under 8.1, standby debt, seller debt and non-controlling minority equity together supply no more than half, and seller debt must be subordinated and on full standby to count. Confirm the version and category with the lender first.

Sources: 13 CFR 120.150, SOP 50 10 8, effective June 1, 2025, Section B, Ch. 1, Equity requirements, SOP 50 10 8, effective June 1, 2025, Section B, Ch. 1, Equity requirements, SOP 50 10 8.1 with Technical Policy Updates, effective October 1, 2026, Appendix 15, Underwriting, Equity Requirements and Limited Equity Injection Sources

Diligence focus for a SBA-financed acquisition

Whether minority owners cross the personal guaranty threshold
How much of the price the seller note can fund
Standby terms on any seller note in the structure
Lender's timeline for approval against the purchase agreement deadline
Community property or spousal guaranty requirements where they apply

Other M&A and Securities Services in New York

Acquisition Stars handles M&A transactions for New York clients and works with securities counsel on securities matters. Alex Lubyansky leads every M&A engagement.

Business Acquisition Lawyer in New York

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Alex Lubyansky leads every sba business acquisition law engagement, with an associate supporting the work.

M&A counsel since 2013. Nationwide practice. LOI through closing.

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