Bootstrapped vs SBA loan: I've done both, here's my honest comparison

I've acquired two businesses. First one I bootstrapped with personal savings + a small seller note. Second one I went the full SBA 7(a) route. Here's a real comparison. BOOTSTRAPPED (HVAC repair, $220K purchase): - Closed in 30 days from LOI to keys - No bank approval, no SBA paperwork, no waiting - Used $150K personal savings + $70K seller note at 6% - Total closing costs: about $4K (lawyer + accountant) - Downside: tied up almost all my liquid savings SBA 7(a) (Landscaping company, $540K purchase): - Took 4.5 months from LOI to close - 10% down ($54K) which was way more capital-efficient - SBA fees, packaging fees, bank fees — about $18K in closing costs - Required a full business plan, 3 years of projections, personal guarantee - Had to use an SBA-approved attorney which cost more - Monthly debt service is $4,200 which limits how much cash I can reinvest The bootstrapped deal was infinitely easier and faster. But the SBA deal let me buy a much bigger business with way less cash out of pocket. If I had to pick one path for a first-time buyer: bootstrap something small, learn the ropes, then use SBA for deal #2 when you know what you're doing. Neither is "better" — they serve different situations.