Three gates and three dials to an honest read on SBA eligibility.
SBA eligibility is two tests wearing one name. Gates are pass or fail — set by SBA rules. Dials are graded — set by the lender reading your file.
A lender checks the gates before the meeting starts. The dials get the rest of the hour.
No dial can reopen a closed gate. That’s what makes them gates.
SBA programs now require 100% of ownership to be US citizens or nationals. If any owner holds a green card or other status, the citizenship gate is closed for now — alternatives below.
Count every owner, at any percentage.
SBA loans are backed by a federal guarantee, and the guarantee follows the ownership.
Pick the closest match. What the business does matters more than what it’s called.
The exclusion list is about the program’s charter — federal money stays out of certain businesses — not about how sound yours is.
Delinquent federal debt or open federal legal issues, for the business or any owner.
A borrower already behind with the federal government can’t take on new federally backed debt.
SBA sets the floor. The lender sets the bar. Dials are how the lender reads your file.
Your personal score. Most SBA lenders read from here first.
The score is the lender’s shorthand for how you’ve handled payments before — the pattern, not the number, is what they’re buying.
Months or years — count from first revenue.
Two years of history means two tax returns to underwrite. Under that, the lender is guessing, and lenders don’t like guessing.
Last twelve months, roughly. Estimates are fine.
The payment has to come from somewhere every month. Revenue is the lender’s first look at where.
Business or personal assets you could pledge.
SBA lenders take collateral when it exists, but a lack of it isn’t a refusal — it’s a note on the file.
Answer the three gates to get a read — a closed gate ends the SBA question in thirty seconds.
This tool is an educational estimate built on common SBA requirements — not financial advice, and not a decision. Eligibility is set by SBA rules; approval is set by a lender reading your full file.
SBA rules change. Figures and requirements here reflect our latest review — confirm current terms at sba.gov before applying.