{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/affiliation-rule","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/affiliation-rule","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"affiliation-rule","term":"Affiliation Rule","group":"Reading the business","definition":"SBA rules that determine if one business is controlled by or connected to another, even if not formally owned. This matters for size standards and eligibility.","what_it_means":"If you or a \"key principal\" in your acquisition already own or control other businesses, the SBA combines their revenues and employee counts to determine if you still meet the small business size standard. Your lender will use Form 1919 to identify all relevant entities. Hidden affiliations can disqualify your loan.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/affiliation-rule","official_sources":[{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"affiliation","term":"Affiliation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/affiliation"},{"slug":"size-standard","term":"Size standard","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/size-standard"},{"slug":"key-principal","term":"Key principal","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/key-principal"},{"slug":"form-1919","term":"Form 1919","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-1919"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does the 'franchise rule' affect affiliation calculations for SBA 7(a) eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-franchise-rule-affect-affiliation-calculations-for-sba-7-a-eligibility"},{"question":"How does the SBA define 'total control' rule to determine affiliation for size standards?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-sba-define-total-control-rule-to-determine-affiliation-for-size-standards"},{"question":"How does the 'totality of the circumstances' rule apply when determining affiliation for SBA size standards?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-totality-of-the-circumstances-rule-apply-when-determining-affiliation-for-sba"},{"question":"How does the \"franchise rule\" specifically apply to determine affiliation for an independent dealer or licensee model?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-franchise-rule-specifically-apply-to-determine-affiliation-for-an-independent"},{"question":"When does identity of interest trigger affiliation for size determination under SBA rules?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-does-identity-of-interest-trigger-affiliation-for-size-determination-under-sba-rules"},{"question":"What are the specific thresholds or rules for determining affiliation based on common management, beyond direct ownership?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-specific-thresholds-or-rules-for-determining-affiliation-based-on-common-mana"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Affiliation Rule","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/affiliation-rule","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}