{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/small-business-size-standard","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/small-business-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":"small-business-size-standard","term":"Small business size standard","group":"The loan itself","definition":"Criteria set by the SBA to define what constitutes a \"small business,\" typically based on revenue or number of employees. Your target business must meet this to qualify for an SBA loan.","what_it_means":"The SBA determines eligibility based on whether the business meets its small business size standard for its primary industry, identified by its NAICS code. You must confirm the target business, including any affiliates, falls within these limits. This is a critical eligibility requirement for any 7(a) loan.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/small-business-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":"eligibility-requirement","term":"Eligibility requirement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/eligibility-requirement"},{"slug":"naics-code","term":"NAICS code","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/naics-code"},{"slug":"affiliation","term":"Affiliation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/affiliation"},{"slug":"size-standard","term":"Size standard","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/size-standard"}],"related_questions":[{"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":"What specific documentation is required for a business to qualify as 'small' under the alternative size standard?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-documentation-is-required-for-a-business-to-qualify-as-small-under-the-alter"},{"question":"What are the financial criteria for a business to qualify as 'small' under the alternative size standard?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-financial-criteria-for-a-business-to-qualify-as-small-under-the-alternative-s"},{"question":"What specific documentation is required for a business to be considered 'small' under the alternative size standard?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-documentation-is-required-for-a-business-to-be-considered-small-under-the-al"},{"question":"What if a business exceeds the SBA size standard at application but projects to be small post-acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-if-a-business-exceeds-the-sba-size-standard-at-application-but-projects-to-be-small-p"},{"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"}]},"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 — Small business size standard","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/small-business-size-standard","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}