Glossary · Reading the business
In short
Your Personal FICO Score is a three-digit number reflecting your personal credit risk, based on your credit history. It's a key indicator of your financial responsibility for any loan.
SBA lenders will pull your personal FICO score, and those of all key principals, as part of the underwriting process. While there's no official minimum, a score generally above 680 is preferred, and significantly higher is better. A strong personal score demonstrates your good character and ability to manage debt, which is crucial for SBA approval.
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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Send us the asking price and the seller's cash flow — we'll show whether the deal services SBA debt and where the add-backs are likely to hold up.
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