{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-my-business-s-industry-affect-its-eligibility-for-an-sba-7-a-loan","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/how-does-my-business-s-industry-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?","topic":"Eligibility & industry","audience":"new","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"Your business's industry affects eligibility because the SBA has specific size standards for different industries and a list of certain types of businesses that are ineligible.","rule":"The SBA's 'small business' definition varies by industry (NAICS code), impacting whether a business meets the size standard. Additionally, certain industries are explicitly ineligible, such as those engaged in speculative activities, gambling, lending, or businesses deriving more than one-third of gross revenue from legal gambling.","example":"A consulting firm might have a revenue-based size standard of $20 million, while an agricultural producer might have an employee-based standard of 500 employees. However, a business primarily engaged in pyramid sales would be ineligible regardless of size.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders must accurately determine the business's primary NAICS code and verify it meets the specific size standard. They also screen against the SBA's list of ineligible businesses to prevent issues with the loan guarantee.","required_facts":["NAICS code specific","Size standards vary","Certain industries ineligible","For-profit mandate","Not speculative"],"source_families":["SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","13 CFR Part 121 - Small Business Size Regulations","SBA Table of Size Standards","7(a) Loan Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility"],"official_sources":[{"title":"SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/SOP%2050%2010%208%20Technical%20Updates%20effective%206.1.2025.docx"},{"title":"13 CFR Part 121 - Small Business Size Regulations","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-121"},{"title":"SBA Table of Size Standards","url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards"},{"title":"7(a) Loan Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility","url":"https://www.sba.gov/partners/lenders/7a-loan-program/terms-conditions-eligibility"}],"related_questions":[],"related_terms":[{"term":"Aggregate SBA 7(a) Loan Eligibility","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/aggregate-sba-7-a-loan-eligibility"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan"},{"term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) Loan Program","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan-program"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) loan guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan-guaranty"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) program","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-program"}],"related_tools":[{"name":"SBA 7(a) payment & fee calculator","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/calculator"},{"name":"Find an active SBA 7(a) lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/lenders"}],"data_freshness":{"last_reviewed":"2026-06-14","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-14"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-my-business-s-industry-affect-its-eligibility-for-an-sba-7-a-loan","source_type":"DealRoom Q&A"},"caveats":["Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against official sources before relying on it for a live deal.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice and not an approval decision."]}