Make Sure You Meet SBA Size Standards

Learn about the definition of – and qualifications for – a small business and why it's important to know your status.

SBA has established numerical definitions of small businesses, or "size standards," for all for-profit industries. Size standards represent the largest size that a business (including its subsidiaries and affiliates) may be to remain classified as a small business concern. In determining what constitutes a small business, the definition will vary to reflect industry differences. These size standards are used to determine eligibility for SBA’s financial assistance and to its other programs, as well as to Federal government procurement programs designed to help small businesses. Also, the Small Business Act states that unless specifically authorized by statute, no other Federal department or agency may prescribe a size standard for categorizing a business concern as a small business concern, unless such proposed size standard meets certain criteria and is approved by the Administrator of SBA.

  • What's New with Size Standards

    Get updates on small business size standards news.

  • Small Business Size Regulations

    The Small Business Act was created, in part, to help small businesses compete in our economic market. The act has made it necessary to establish standards of identifying small businesses.

  • Size Standards Methodology

    For its ongoing comprehensive size standards review and future regulatory actions relating to size standards, SBA has developed a “Size Standards Methodology White Paper".

  • Table of Small Business Size Standards

    To help small business owners assess their small business status, SBA has established a Table of Small Business Size Standards.

  • Summary of Size Standards by Industry Sector

    Size guidelines define the maximum size that a firm (including its affiliates) can be to qualify as a small business for most SBA programs. Learn about the common standards for a small business.

  • What are the Small Business Size Standards?

    Your business might be eligible for programs reserved for small business concerns. To qualify, your business must satisfy SBA's definition of a business concern and small business size standards.

  • Size Protests, Size Determinations & Appeals

    Learn about size protests, size determinations and appeals.

  • Guide to Size Standards

    This guide can help you understand how SBA defines a small business and how it establishes its small business size standards.

  • Affiliation

    When you calculate the size of your business, you must include the annual receipts and the employees of your affiliates. Learn more with these resources.

  • Primer on Size Standards

    This training module describes what size standards are, how they are established, why they are important, how they are used, where to find them and how to determine if a specific business concern...

  • Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration

    Get information about the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program.