Lenders approved $39.6 million in SBA 7(a) loans to Washington child care businesses in fiscal 2025, up from $17.1 million a year earlier.
Lenders approved 28 SBA 7(a) loans worth $39.6 million to Washington child care businesses in fiscal 2025, more than double the $17.1 million across 18 loans in fiscal 2024. Fiscal 2026 is on a similar pace: $29.8 million across 18 loans in just the first nine months.
A small number of large loans can swing these totals, so the dollar amount moves more than the loan count. Still, 28 loans in a year was the most for Washington child care since at least fiscal 2020.
More centers, slightly fewer workers
Washington had 2,374 child care locations in early 2026, up 6.4% from 2,231. Jobs slipped to about 22,792 from 22,930 (-0.6%). Average pay rose 5.9% to $735 a week, including part-time staff.
What this means if you’re opening a daycare
SBA-backed loans are a common way to buy or build out a center, and more lenders are making them in Washington. Compare SBA and other options in our guide to daycare business loans. Lenders and landlords will usually ask for proof of coverage, so read up on daycare insurance in Washington before you sign.
How we got these numbers
Jobs, business locations and pay come from the federal Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) run by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It counts workers covered by unemployment insurance, so it misses most self-employed owners. We compare January–March 2026 with January–March 2025 for private employers in industry code 624410 (child day care services). “Jobs” is the average of the three months; the March-only number is in the CSV. “Business locations” counts each worksite, so a company with three sites counts three times. Average weekly pay mixes full-time and part-time workers, so it isn’t an hourly rate. The 2026 figures are preliminary and BLS may revise them. SBA loan counts come from the SBA 7(a) loan data file (data through June 30, 2026), matched on the borrower’s state and industry code. They show approvals, not money actually paid out, and leave out other SBA programs and regular bank loans. SBA fiscal years run October to September, so fiscal 2026 has only nine months so far. Data pulled October 16, 2026.