# Are SBA size standards changing?

**Short answer:** Not yet. SBA proposed new size standards for 338 industry groups and industries on August 20, 2026; the change is proposed only (91 FR 53741). Until SBA issues a final rule, the current table in 13 CFR § 121.201 governs.

Canonical page: https://www.sbaexpress.loans/answers/are-sba-size-standards-changing/
Last checked: 2026-11-08

Not yet. SBA proposed new size standards for 338 industry groups and industries on August 20, 2026; the change is proposed only. The current table in 13 CFR § 121.201 still controls SBA loan eligibility.

## What SBA proposed

The notice at 91 FR 53741 would replace 978 size standards at the 6-digit NAICS level. In their place would be 276 at the 4-digit level and 62 at the 5-digit level. It would also:

- Put receipt-based and employee-based standards under one rule.
- Convert many receipt-based industries to employee-based standards.
- Remove size standard exceptions.
- Add a productivity adjustment to receipt-based standards.

SBA says it does not propose to reduce any size standard that keeps the same measure. It estimates a net increase of about 114,541 firms classified as small.

## Status

SBA took comments through September 21, 2026. The eCFR text we read on November 8, 2026 still shows the existing table. We found no final rule in that text, so its effective date is not known.

## What to do now

Measure your business against the current table. If you are close to a limit, ask your lender how a final rule could change the analysis.

Both the current table and the proposal measure industries by NAICS code, so know yours (13 CFR § 121.107).

## Sources

- [91 FR 53741 (Aug. 20, 2026), proposed rule](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-20/pdf/2026-17042.pdf)
- [13 CFR § 121.201](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-121.201)
- [13 CFR § 121.107](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-121.107)