{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/eligibility-screening","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/eligibility-screening","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":"eligibility-screening","term":"Eligibility Screening","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"The initial process where a lender checks if a business and its owners meet the basic requirements for an SBA loan. This is your first hurdle to clear in the loan application.","what_it_means":"Your lender will conduct a thorough Eligibility Screening, checking your credit history, character, and the business's For-Profit Status and NAICS code. Complete Form 1919 accurately, as any red flags here can quickly derail your SBA 7(a) loan application.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/eligibility-screening","official_sources":[{"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"},{"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"}],"related":[{"slug":"form-1919","term":"Form 1919","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-1919"},{"slug":"for-profit-status","term":"For-Profit Status","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/for-profit-status"},{"slug":"naics-code","term":"NAICS code","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/naics-code"},{"slug":"credit-report","term":"Credit report","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-report"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does the SBA define a 'speculative' business for eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-the-sba-define-a-speculative-business-for-eligibility"},{"question":"How does the SBA define 'small business' for loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-the-sba-define-small-business-for-loan-eligibility"},{"question":"How does the SBA define a \"small business\" for eligibility purposes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-the-sba-define-a-small-business-for-eligibility-purposes"},{"question":"How does the SBA define a 'small business' for loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-the-sba-define-a-small-business-for-loan-eligibility"},{"question":"How are SBA small business size standards determined for loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-are-sba-small-business-size-standards-determined-for-loan-eligibility"},{"question":"What is the primary purpose of SBA Form 1919 for eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-is-the-primary-purpose-of-sba-form-1919-for-eligibility"}]},"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 — Eligibility Screening","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/eligibility-screening","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}