The SBA Wants to Rewrite Who Counts as "Small" — and You Have Until September 21 to Weigh In
SBA's proposed rule cuts 995 size standards to 338, raises some thresholds tenfold and makes ~114,000 more firms 'small'; comments close September 21, 2026.
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SBA loan programs, applications, and small business resources
Business Casualty and Theft Losses: Deducting a Disaster on Form 4684
Business casualty and theft losses skip the $100 and 10%-of-AGI floors, but are capped at adjusted basis, not replacement cost. How to measure the loss, handle insurance timing, and use the Section 165(i) prior-year election.
The HUBZone Program, Explained: How Your Address Can Win You Federal Contracts
HUBZone certification unlocks set-aside contracts, sole-source awards up to $5.5M, and a 10% price preference — if 35% of your staff live in a zone. Here are the four rules and the records examiners ask for.
What Happens When You Cannot Pay Your SBA Loan: Default, Workout, Offer in Compromise, and Treasury Collection
SBA loans typically enter default after three to four missed payments; past 60 days past due with long-term problems, servicing rules push lenders toward liquidation over deferment. The sequence runs lender collateral seizure and personal-guarantee enforcement, SBA guarantee purchase with a 60-day demand letter, a lump-sum offer in compromise on Forms 1150 and 770 after collateral is liquidated, and finally Treasury Offset Program collection via tax refund offset and administrative wage garnishment.
Embedded Business Lending for Freelancers: How to Compare Offers Before You Borrow
Embedded lending marketplaces like Lili's Lendio integration put loan applications inside your banking dashboard, but the lender—not the platform—sets your terms. A practical framework for freelancers to compare net proceeds, total repayment, factor rates, and payment burden, stress-test a slow month, and record the debt properly before accepting an offer.
SBA VetCert in 2026: How VOSB and SDVOSB Certification Works After the VA Handoff
SBA's VetCert program took over veteran business certification from the VA on January 1, 2023. This guide explains the VOSB vs SDVOSB distinction, the 51% direct ownership and control tests, the documents to prepare before applying through MySBA Certifications, SBA's 30-day average review target, the three-year certification term with a 120-day recertification window, and the bookkeeping records that make an eligibility review easier to pass.
Build a Business Disaster Inventory Before You Need It: Photos, Fixed-Asset Registers, and the IRS Workbook That Speed Insurance Claims and Tax Relief
How to build a business disaster inventory that proves existence, identity, value, and timing of what you own — fixed-asset registers, dated inventory reports, photo walkthroughs, and offsite records — plus a first-72-hours checklist and how IRS Publication 584-B and Form 4684 handle casualty losses and insurance reimbursements.
SBA Is Ending the 8(a) Social Disadvantage Presumption: What the New Test Means for Your Federal Contracting Plans
SBA's June 11 proposed rule and August 11 final rule eliminate the rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage for 8(a) applicants. Learn the new three-actor test, who it affects, the September 10 effective date for pending applications, and the DCAA-ready bookkeeping controls you need before your first set-aside award.
The 10-Year PPP Fraud Clock: Why Forgiven Loans Stay Enforceable Until 2030
Congress set a 10-year statute of limitations for PPP fraud, so a loan funded in 2020 can be charged until 2030 and forgiveness is not a defense. This guide covers False Claims Act liability, the five eligibility tripwires still generating cases, and the six-year record-retention rule borrowers must meet.
The $350,000 Reality: How the 2026 SBA 7(a) Rule Changes Decide Your Loan Approval
In April 2025 the SBA 7(a) small loan cap fell from $500,000 to $350,000, the SBSS minimum rose to 165, guaranty fees returned, and MCA debt can no longer be refinanced with SBA proceeds — seven hard-filter changes that decide approval before a human reads your file.
The Silver Tsunami Is Here: How to Buy or Sell a Business in the $5 Trillion Great Ownership Transfer
About 6 million U.S. small and mid-sized businesses will change hands by 2035 as baby boomer owners retire, and McKinsey estimates more than 1 million of those are sellable, representing up to $5 trillion in enterprise value — yet only about 35% of owners have a succession plan. This guide covers the three-year seller timeline, how valuation multiples of 2x to 4x SDE are earned, SBA 7(a) and seller-financing structures for buyers, due diligence, and the bookkeeping habits that separate a sellable business from one that quietly closes.
A Fed Rate Hike Is Back on the Table: What Small Business Owners Should Do About Variable-Rate Loans and SBA Financing Before the Next FOMC Meeting
A potential 2026 Fed hike would lift prime and SOFR within days, raising payments on variable-rate lines, cards, and SBA 7(a) loans. Learn which loans reprice first, how to stress-test at +50 bps, and what to lock before the next FOMC meeting.