{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fico-small-business-scoring-service-score","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/fico-small-business-scoring-service-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-small-business-scoring-service-score","term":"FICO Small Business Scoring Service Score","group":"Reading the business","definition":"The SBSS score is a credit score used by SBA lenders for initial eligibility screening, particularly for smaller 7(a) loans. It combines personal and business credit data to assess a business's creditworthiness.","what_it_means":"For SBA 7(a) loans up to $500,000, lenders use the SBSS score to quickly determine if an application can proceed to full underwriting. Your target business needs a passing score (currently 155 for most loans) for the deal to move forward. This score is a critical early hurdle in the SBA loan process.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fico-small-business-scoring-service-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":"sbss-score","term":"SBSS score","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sbss-score"},{"slug":"credit-profile","term":"Credit Profile","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-profile"},{"slug":"personal-fico-score","term":"Personal FICO Score","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-fico-score"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"With the sunset of the SBSS score, what alternative credit scoring methods are acceptable for small 7(a) loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/with-the-sunset-of-the-sbss-score-what-alternative-credit-scoring-methods-are-acceptable-f"},{"question":"What operational adjustments must a lender make to its internal credit scoring and underwriting processes for 7(a) Small Loans following the SBSS score sunset?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-operational-adjustments-must-a-lender-make-to-its-internal-credit-scoring-and-underwr"},{"question":"What alternative credit scoring methods are now recommended for 7(a) Small Loans after the SBSS sunset?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-alternative-credit-scoring-methods-are-now-recommended-for-7-a-small-loans-after-the-"},{"question":"With the sunset of SBSS, what alternative credit scoring methodologies are acceptable for underwriting 7(a) Small Loans ($500,000 or less)?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/with-the-sunset-of-sbss-what-alternative-credit-scoring-methodologies-are-acceptable-for-u"},{"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"}]},"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 Small Business Scoring Service Score","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fico-small-business-scoring-service-score","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}