SBA size standards

Definition

The limits, by industry, a business must be under to use SBA money.

Why It Matters

A target above its industry's size standard is ineligible for 7(a) money, which quietly rules out some larger deals before you even model them. The standard runs on revenue or employee count and counts affiliates too, so a searcher who controls other businesses checks it early rather than finding the ceiling after an LOI.

In numbers: Most searcher targets clear the bar easily; the alternative size standard caps at about $20M tangible net worth and $6.5M average net income, well above a typical Main Street deal.