# Do affiliates count against SBA loan limits?

**Short answer:** Yes. SBA applies its loan maximums to you and all affiliates as if they were one business. The SBA guaranty cap is generally $3,750,000 for a borrower and its affiliates. Source: 13 CFR § 120.151.

Canonical page: https://www.sbaexpress.loans/answers/do-affiliates-count-against-sba-loan-limits/
Last checked: 2026-11-08

Yes. Affiliation affects how much you can borrow as well as whether you are small. SBA's maximums apply to the applicant and all affiliates as if they were a single business. That is SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 1, Para. B.1.

## The limits it touches

- The SBA guaranty cap is generally $3,750,000 for a borrower and its affiliates (13 CFR § 120.151).
- The SBA Express maximum of $500,000 is an aggregate across the applicant and its affiliates (Sec. B, Ch. 2, Para. B.1, p. 126).
- The 504 debenture limit of $5,000,000 is an outstanding balance limit that counts affiliates (Sec. C, Ch. 1, Para. D.1, p. 241).

## What lenders must do

Lenders must determine whether the applicant has affiliates and document the results in their credit analysis. A loan to an Eligible Passive Company also applies to the limit of both that company and the Operating Company (§ 120.151).

An SBA official may request a determination of whether affiliation exists for these limits (Sec. A, Ch. 1, Para. D.3).

## What Form 1919 asks

Question 3 asks whether the applicant or any owner owns any other business. If yes, you list each one with its tax ID and percentage of ownership.

## Sources

- [13 CFR § 120.151](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-120.151)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 1, Para. B.1 (p. 117)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 2, Para. B.1 (p. 126)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. C, Ch. 1, Para. D.1 (p. 241)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. A, Ch. 1, Para. D.3 (about p. 15)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)
- [SBA Form 1919 (02/2025)](https://legacy.sba.gov/document/sba-form-1919-borrower-information-form)