Glossary · People and paperwork
In short
The set of criteria an individual or business must meet to qualify for an SBA loan, covering citizenship, character, and business type. If you don't meet these, you won't get the loan.
To be an eligible borrower, you generally need to be a U.S. citizen or Qualified Alien, have good character, and the business must operate in an eligible industry within the U.S. Lenders will verify your background through Form 1919, credit checks, and criminal history reviews, ensuring you meet all SBA requirements.
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.
Know what you'll need before you apply
Tell us about the deal and who's buying — we'll flag the guaranty, eligibility, and paperwork issues that slow SBA approval before they cost you time.
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