SBA 7(a) Gas Station Feasibility Study in Wisconsin

Wisconsin fuel retail: mid-sized loans, mostly branded

Wisconsin's gas station and truck stop loans under 7(a) are smaller than those in the largest states. The file for FY2017 to FY2026 holds 195 loans worth $212.6 million. The median is $850,000, only 0.78x the typical fuel station loan nationally, and the middle half runs from $410,200 to $1.5 million. Wisconsin stands sixth among states on count, and fuel retail also holds sixth place on its list of 39 classes. Branded stations make up 54.4% of loans.

Two lenders write most of it

Byline Bank holds 41 loans worth $44.7 million and Bank Five Nine 36 worth $34.1 million. Then come T Bank, National Association with 11 loans and $19.6 million, The Huntington National Bank with 11 and $4.8 million, and Celtic Bank Corporation with 10 and $8.9 million. Two names lead the table. The table counts loans on each bank's books and says nothing of its lending practices.

Light losses in a cyclical sector

Wisconsin station approvals lapsed at 10.2% or more in FY2017 to FY2024, and the same 10.2% when undisbursed loans are counted. For Wisconsin's 106 funded loans in the early window, the charged-off share is 1.9% so far and 0.00% for the first five years. Both are minimums, and they are low, which fits a class with real estate and fuel supply behind it.

Years and places

Approvals fell from 37 in FY2021 to 7 in FY2026, a steady decline: 14 in FY2024 and 12 in FY2025 on the way. Milwaukee County has 28 loans, Waukesha 13, Kenosha 11, Sheboygan 10 and Racine 9, with Brown, Dodge and Outagamie at 8 each and Walworth and Washington at 7. Lending is spread over several counties rather than centred on one.

Coding limits

Wisconsin stations are classified by the borrower's industry, which merges truck stops with ordinary stations, while the 2022 industry listing carries no heading for charging, so a site built around charging will not appear.

What a Wisconsin fuel station study has to test

A study should begin with traffic counts, access and visibility, and the fuel and convenience stores nearby, then separate gallons from inside sales, where much of the profit is. Seasonality, including winter driving and tourist routes, should be shown month by month. If a brand is involved, supply terms and fees must be in the model. Tank age, environmental condition and compliance cost are central to the land's value. Compare the project to a median near $850,000 and explain anything beyond $1.5 million. Repayment must survive a lower-gallon year, with the appraisal resting on income and fuel-related risk.