{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/primary-industry","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/primary-industry","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":"primary-industry","term":"Primary Industry","group":"Reading the business","definition":"This is the main business activity, identified by a NAICS code. It determines if the business meets SBA size standards and eligibility rules, which is critical for securing a 7(a) loan.","what_it_means":"The SBA uses the NAICS code to classify the business and check against its size standards, which are based on revenue or employee count. If the business is too large for its primary industry, it's ineligible for a 7(a) loan. Verify this early in due diligence.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/primary-industry","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":"naics-code","term":"NAICS code","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/naics-code"},{"slug":"size-standard","term":"Size standard","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/size-standard"},{"slug":"ineligible-businesses-rule","term":"Ineligible businesses rule","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ineligible-businesses-rule"},{"slug":"due-diligence","term":"Due diligence","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/due-diligence"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How is my prior management experience evaluated if it's in a different industry?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-is-my-prior-management-experience-evaluated-if-it-s-in-a-different-industry"},{"question":"Does my business's industry affect its eligibility for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-my-business-s-industry-affect-its-eligibility-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Is prior experience in my specific industry required for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/is-prior-experience-in-my-specific-industry-required-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Will acquiring a business in a restricted industry (e.g., gambling, passive investing) kill approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/will-acquiring-a-business-in-a-restricted-industry-e-g-gambling-passive-investing-kill-app"},{"question":"Does my business's industry type affect its eligibility for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/does-my-business-s-industry-type-affect-its-eligibility-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"How does my business's industry affect its eligibility for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-my-business-s-industry-affect-its-eligibility-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"}]},"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 — Primary Industry","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/primary-industry","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}