{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/size-standard","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/size-standard","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":"size-standard","term":"Size standard","group":"Reading the business","definition":"A size standard defines the maximum size a business can be to qualify as \"small\" for SBA programs. As a buyer, your target business must meet this standard for an SBA 7(a) loan.","what_it_means":"The SBA uses NAICS codes to assign a size standard, typically based on average annual revenue or number of employees. You need to ensure the business you're buying, combined with any affiliates, fits within these limits. Check the SBA's table to confirm eligibility early in your due diligence.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/size-standard","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":"affiliation","term":"Affiliation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/affiliation"},{"slug":"small-business","term":"Small business","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/small-business"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does common management trigger affiliation for size standard purposes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-common-management-trigger-affiliation-for-size-standard-purposes"},{"question":"How does the SBA define \"small business\" for size standard purposes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-sba-define-small-business-for-size-standard-purposes"},{"question":"How does common management trigger affiliation for SBA size standard purposes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-common-management-trigger-affiliation-for-sba-size-standard-purposes"},{"question":"When does a shared resource agreement create affiliation for SBA size standard calculations?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-does-a-shared-resource-agreement-create-affiliation-for-sba-size-standard-calculation"},{"question":"How does the SBA define 'affiliation' when determining a business's size standard?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-the-sba-define-affiliation-when-determining-a-business-s-size-standard"},{"question":"When does a contractual relationship between two businesses trigger affiliation for size standard calculations?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-does-a-contractual-relationship-between-two-businesses-trigger-affiliation-for-size-s"}]},"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 — Size standard","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/size-standard","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}