For SBA lenders
Short answer
No, merely sharing common administrative services does not automatically trigger affiliation; it depends on the extent of control or common ownership.
Affiliation rules are designed to prevent larger businesses from segmenting operations to appear small. While shared services might be a factor, affiliation typically arises from ownership, management, or contractual relationships where one entity controls another, or a third party controls both. Shared administrative services alone usually do not establish control.
Two separate businesses, a bakery and a coffee shop, contract with the same third-party HR and accounting firm. As long as there's no common ownership or common control over management between the bakery and coffee shop, they are not affiliated.
13 CFR Part 121 - Small Business Size Regulations
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
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.
More on affiliation & size
Terms in this answer
Pre-qualify your SBA 7(a) deal
Tell us the business, the price, and where you are — we'll point you to the lenders most likely to fund a deal like yours and flag anything that trips up approval.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day