Calculator
Am I eligible for an SBA loan?
These are the things that actually stop applications. Nothing is submitted anywhere — it runs in your browser and we store none of it.
Answer the questions below
Your result updates as you go.
A screening tool, not a decision. Lenders apply their own overlays on top of SBA's rules, and two banks can reach opposite conclusions on the same file.
Which version of the rules is this?
check before you rely on itEligibility rules are revised regularly and the version in effect on the day you apply governs your file. The criminal history rules were rewritten in 2024, so anything written before then is wrong.
Common questions
What disqualifies you from an SBA loan?
Common blockers: not being a for-profit business physically in the US, exceeding SBA size standards, a prior default on federal debt, or operating in an ineligible field (passive/speculative businesses, lending, gambling, and a few others). Being turned down for ordinary credit reasons is different from being ineligible.
What credit score do I need for an SBA loan?
The SBA sets no universal minimum. For smaller 7(a) loans it uses an internal SBSS score; most lenders look for a personal score in the mid-600s or better, but cash flow and equity matter alongside it.
Can I get an SBA loan for a startup?
Yes. Startups are eligible but face a higher bar — typically a larger equity injection (around 10%+) and a credible projection — because they have no track record. Startups also default more often than established businesses, which lenders price in.
Read the guide
Want the rules behind this calculator? SBA loan requirements walks through it in plain English — the SBA requirements, the data, and what lenders actually look for.