For SBA lenders
Short answer
No, shared facilities or equipment alone do not automatically create affiliation; however, they can be indicators of common ownership, management, or contractual relationships that *would* trigger affiliation.
SBA affiliation rules focus on control. While sharing resources like facilities or equipment is not a direct trigger for affiliation, it often suggests a closer relationship. Lenders must investigate if such sharing is indicative of common ownership (e.g., same owner owns both businesses and the shared assets), common management, or a contractual agreement that gives one entity control over the other.
Two separate businesses, 'Restaurant A' and 'Catering Co. B,' operate out of the same commercial kitchen. If they are independently owned and managed, with an arm's length lease agreement, they are not affiliated. However, if the owner of 'Restaurant A' is also the manager of 'Catering Co. B,' they would be affiliated due to common management.
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
13 CFR Part 121 - Small Business Size Regulations
Affiliation and Lending Criteria for SBA Business Loan Programs - Final Rule
Last checked 2026-06-13. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-13. DealRoom analysis of public SBA 7(a) lending records (FY2020–present). Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against the official sources above before relying on it for a live deal. Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision.
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