{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fico-sbss-score","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/fico-sbss-score","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":"fico-sbss-score","term":"FICO SBSS score","aka":"FICO Small Business Scoring Service score, SBSS score","group":"The loan itself","definition":"The FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) score is a numerical score used by SBA lenders to assess the credit risk of both the business and its principals. It's a key initial screening tool for 7(a) loan eligibility.","what_it_means":"For 7(a) loans up to $500,000, lenders use your FICO SBSS score for an automatic eligibility check; generally, a score above 155 is required. For larger loans, it's still a critical factor in the lender's overall credit analysis. A low score can stop your application dead, so know yours and work to improve it if needed.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fico-sbss-score","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":"credit-scoring","term":"Credit scoring","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-scoring"},{"slug":"credit-report","term":"Credit report","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-report"},{"slug":"7-a-small-loan","term":"7(a) Small Loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7-a-small-loan"},{"slug":"creditworthiness","term":"Creditworthiness","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/creditworthiness"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What is the status of the SBSS score requirement for 7(a) Small Loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-is-the-status-of-the-sbss-score-requirement-for-7-a-small-loans"},{"question":"How does the sunset of the SBSS score impact 7(a) Small Loan underwriting?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-sunset-of-the-sbss-score-impact-7-a-small-loan-underwriting"},{"question":"How does the \"sunset of SBSS score\" requirement affect underwriting for 7(a) Small Loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-sunset-of-sbss-score-requirement-affect-underwriting-for-7-a-small-loans"},{"question":"How must lenders underwrite 7(a) Small Loans following the sunset of the SBSS score requirement?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-must-lenders-underwrite-7-a-small-loans-following-the-sunset-of-the-sbss-score-require"},{"question":"How does the sunset of the SBSS score requirement impact underwriting for 7(a) Small Loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-sunset-of-the-sbss-score-requirement-impact-underwriting-for-7-a-small-loans"},{"question":"How has the sunset of the SBSS score requirement impacted underwriting for 7(a) Small Loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-has-the-sunset-of-the-sbss-score-requirement-impacted-underwriting-for-7-a-small-loans"}]},"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 — FICO SBSS score","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fico-sbss-score","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}