Athens, GA · Commercial loan broker
Hazelcrest Group is a licensed commercial business-loan broker serving Athens and the surrounding corridor from Bogart to Watkinsville.
Funding your Athens business: one application, a file built for approval, and real options reviewed with someone local. No upfront fees to you.
Who we serve
We work with established businesses and startups across Athens, Winterville, Hull, Bogart, Watkinsville, Nicholson, Colbert, Arnoldsville, and Crawford. Most clients are service companies, manufacturers, retail shops along the Epps Bridge Parkway corridor, restaurants near downtown, contractors, and distributors operating near the CSX rail line. If you're looking for small business loans in Athens or need business funding in Athens to expand, hire, or buy equipment, you're in the right place. We handle deals from $50,000 into the millions. Revenue and time in business matter more than perfect credit.
Our office is at 1551 Jennings Mill Rd, Bogart, GA 30622, Athens, GA. Call (706) 963-2915 to start a conversation.
Loan programs
working capital advances, equipment financing, commercial real estate loans, business lines of credit, and invoice factoring each solve different problems We explain which program fits your situation, then connect you with lenders who actually fund that type of deal. No wasted applications.
More on SBA 7(a) LoansSBA 7(a) loans fund growth, acquisitions, real estate purchases, and refinancing. Terms stretch up to 25 years for real estate and ten years for equipment or working capital.
More on SBA 7(a) LoansEquipment financing lets you buy machinery, vehicles, tech infrastructure, or kitchen gear without draining cash reserves. The equipment itself secures the loan, so approval hinges on the asset's value and your ability to make payments.
More on Equipment FinancingA business line of credit in Athens gives you revolving access to cash for payroll gaps, inventory buys, or seasonal dips. Draw what you need, repay, then draw again.
More on Business Lines of CreditWorking capital advances cover immediate needs like payroll, rent, or supplier invoices when cash flow lags. Approval is faster than traditional loans because lenders focus on daily revenue rather than multi-year financials.
More on Working CapitalWhy us
Athens sits at the crossroads of UGA's economic engine and a growing regional manufacturing and distribution base. Businesses here face unique timing pressures tied to the academic calendar, football season surges, and supply-chain shifts along Highway 316. National brokers don't understand why a restaurant downtown needs capital in July or why a contractor in Watkinsville orders equipment in March. We do. We also know which lenders fund deals in Clarke and Oconee counties without demanding Atlanta-level collateral or impossible covenants.
Our office is minutes from Loop 10 and the Jennings Mill corridor. We meet in person, visit your location, and explain options in plain language. No jargon. No runaround.
How it works
Call (706) 963-2915 or visit 1551 Jennings Mill Rd, Bogart, GA 30622, Athens, GA to start. We'll ask about your business, revenue, how long you've operated, what you need funding for, and what you've tried before. That conversation takes fifteen minutes. If we see a match, we'll request financials, pull credit with your permission, and draft a summary for lenders. We submit your package to multiple sources simultaneously, then present the offers that come back. You pick the one that makes sense. We coordinate closing. The process typically takes two to six weeks for SBA deals, one to two weeks for equipment or lines of credit, and days for working capital.
You pay nothing upfront. We earn a fee from the lender when your deal funds. That fee is baked into the loan structure, and we disclose it before you sign anything.
Why us
Lenders specialize. One funds SBA deals but won't touch invoice factoring. Another loves equipment loans but avoids startups. A third only finances businesses with three years of tax returns. You'd waste weeks applying to the wrong sources. We already know who funds what. We also know which lenders moved into Athens recently and which ones tightened standards last quarter. That knowledge improves your approval odds and saves time.
Brokers don't lend, so we're not trying to force you into a product we own. We get paid when you get funded, which aligns our incentives with yours.
Service area
We serve Athens and the full surrounding region, including every suburb and corridor within a thirty-minute drive. That covers Winterville, Hull, Bogart, Watkinsville, Nicholson, Colbert, Arnoldsville, and Crawford. If you're operating in Clarke, Oconee, Jackson, or Barrow counties and need business funding in Athens or nearby, we'll work with you. Visit our service areas page for the full list and details on how we support businesses across Northeast Georgia.
Hazelcrest Group is a licensed commercial business-loan broker based in Bogart, serving Athens and the surrounding communities. We've built relationships with dozens of lenders, from national SBA-preferred banks to regional equipment financiers and alternative working-capital providers. Our job is to match your business with the right source and improve your odds of approval by presenting a clean, complete package. Learn more about our team, our process, and our commitment to transparent brokering on our About page.
What owners say
They explained exactly what the lender wanted before we applied, so there were no surprises.
Straight answers and no runaround. We finally understood our options.
They packaged our file properly and took it to the right people the first time.
Local, responsive, and honest about what would and wouldn't work for us.
Walked us through the whole process in plain English and kept us updated.
Told us upfront what to fix before applying, which saved us a hard pull.
Individual client experiences; results vary by business and program.
Serving the Athens area
We know which lenders fund which kinds of Athens businesses, and we position your file where it fits.
One local broker, many lenders, and no cost to apply.
Market context
Hazelcrest Group is a licensed commercial business loan broker serving Athens and the surrounding corridor from Bogart to Watkinsville.
There are more than 33 million small businesses in the United States.
SBA Office of AdvocacyMost firms that apply for financing seek $100,000 or less.
Federal Reserve Small Business Credit SurveyAbout half of applicant firms sought funds mainly to cover operating expenses.
Federal Reserve Small Business Credit SurveyNational data, reviewed 2026, figures from primary sources.
Common questions
Why Athens owners trust Hazelcrest Group
Talk to a local advisor and get matched to the right program, no obligation.
