Glossary · People and paperwork
In short
An individual holding management positions or ownership stakes in two or more businesses. This matters because it can trigger "affiliation" rules for SBA loans, meaning the businesses are treated as one for size standard purposes.
When a lender reviews your SBA loan application, they look for any common officers between your target business and other businesses you own or manage. If affiliation is found, all businesses' revenues and employees are combined to determine if the target business still qualifies as "small." Always disclose such relationships early.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Defined by DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
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