Glossary · Reading the business
In short
Government contracts reserved exclusively for small businesses, typically under specific SBA programs like 8(a) or WOSB. These contracts are a significant revenue source for many small businesses.
If your target business relies heavily on set-aside contracts, you must ensure it (and you, post-acquisition) will continue to qualify as a small business under the relevant size standards. Affiliation rules are critical here. Losing this status means losing access to these contracts.
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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