How a Burlington County gap loan changes the math
The Bridge Commission's loans range from zero-interest Route 130 loans of $125,000 to $2,000,000 to direct loans of up to $50,000 [5]. The Bridge Commission's loans are meant to sit beside a commercial lender, not replace one. The Route 130 fund can cover up to 25% of a project's cost at 0.00%, for terms of up to 10 years [5]. Eligible towns are those in the Route 130 corridor; the commission publishes a corridor map [5].
Worked example: $125,000 of a building purchase at 0% vs 10%
Borrowed from the Route 130 fund at 0.00% over 10 years [5], $125,000 costs $1,041.67 a month and nothing in interest.
The same $125,000 from a bank at 10% over 10 years would cost $1,651.88 a month and $73,226.11 in interest. The 10% is an example rate, not a quote. Title, appraisal and environmental costs are yours either way [5].
With prime at 7.00% on Oct 20, 2026 [4], 75% of prime is 5.25%, so the 4% cap applies to the Small Business Loan and Direct Loan [5]. A $50,000 Direct Loan at 4% over 10 years works out to $506.23 a month. One thing to ask about: the page's text says the Direct Loan does not require bank involvement, while its comparison table lists a participating bank as required [5].
Marlton borrows most often; Moorestown borrows bigger
| Town | SBA loans | SBA dollars | Median loan | Establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlton | 50 | $9.0 million | $100,000 | 1,573 |
| Moorestown | 33 | $21.3 million | $263,000 | 989 |
| Mount Laurel | 27 | $15.5 million | $110,000 | 1,450 |
| Mount Holly | 11 | $1.8 million | $80,000 | 639 |
Marlton's 50 SBA loans were led by beauty salons (7), then limited-service restaurants, landscapers, specialty contractors and caterers (3 each) [1]. Moorestown took fewer loans but more than twice the dollars, at a median of $263,000 [1]. Mount Laurel's ZIP code held 46,619 employees in 2023, more than any other Burlington postal city [2].
Mount Holly and Pemberton are the county's Urban Enterprise Zone towns [6]. Mount Holly's UEZ office is at 23 Washington Street, (609) 267-1742 [6]. Certified zone businesses may collect sales tax at 3.3125% on most in-person sales of goods at their zone location [7]. Burlington also has 5 Opportunity Zone tracts from 2018, one each in Burlington city, Palmyra, Pemberton Township, Riverside and Willingboro [8].
Burlington's SBA lending, year by year and by industry
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 7(a) dollars | 504 loans | 504 dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 131 | $52.1 million | 6 | $7.1 million |
| FY2025 | 101 | $40.9 million | 2 | $0.9 million |
| FY2026 to June 30 | 60 | $37.5 million | 4 | $9.3 million |
The count of 7(a) loans fell from 131 to 101 between FY2024 and FY2025, but loans got larger: nine months of FY2026 already brought $37.5 million [1]. The county's median SBA loan was $125,000 [1]. Rates are negotiated with the lender, under SBA caps tied to prime [3]. Personal and repair services took the most loans (43), construction 38, and food service 33 worth $22.3 million at a median of $238,000 [1].
Who lends in Burlington County
| Lender | Loans | Median loan |
|---|---|---|
| TD Bank | 94 | $42,500 |
| Northeast Bank | 23 | $72,300 |
| WSFS Bank | 21 | $400,000 |
| Newtek Bank | 20 | $132,500 |
| M&T Bank | 15 | $75,000 |
WSFS Bank (Wilmington Savings Fund Society) made 21 loans worth $17.4 million, the large-loan lender here [1]. Trenton Business Assistance Corporation handled 9 of the county's 12 SBA 504 property loans [1].
Card processing for Burlington County businesses
Burlington had 1,316 retail stores, 747 restaurants and 321 personal care shops in 2023 [2], and beauty salons were the county's most common SBA borrower, 12 loans [1]. Salon and spa tickets run larger than a coffee, so the percent part of the fee is the part to watch.
On a $100 color appointment, Square's in-person 2.6% + 15¢ [11] comes to $2.75. If the client pays with a debit card from a large bank, Regulation II caps that bank's interchange at 21¢ plus 0.05% [10], 26¢ on $100. The gap between those two numbers is the room an interchange-plus price can give a debit-heavy salon.
Under New Jersey's P.L.2023, c.146, any credit card surcharge must not be greater than what processing actually costs you [9]. See how the pieces add up on our processing fees guide, or upload a statement to the fee analyzer.
Free help for Burlington County owners
The NJSBDC at Rutgers University-Camden covers Burlington along with Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties [12]. For the county loans, start with the Bridge Commission's economic development team [5]. If you need money faster than a county or SBA approval, a line of credit or term loan can close sooner at a higher cost, and a merchant cash advance, which is a purchase of future receivables rather than a loan, is usually the costliest. Batch Capital can compare them after the quiz.