The Small Business Administration has formally announced that the FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) Score will no longer be used for 7(a) Small Loans beginning March 1, 2026. This policy change has significant SBA SBSS sunset franchise financing implications for franchisors as lenders shift toward new underwriting requirements. For franchisors, the end of SBSS […]
During the most recent SBA Quarterly Call—attended by over 3,700 lending and franchise partners—U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler and Associate Administrator Thomas Kimsey outlined the policy rationale and urgency behind SOP 50 10 8. SBA’s 7(a) program, now in its 70th year, is experiencing a rapid transformation. For the first time in over a decade, the […]
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is finalizing major policy updates that will have a direct impact on franchise financing. These changes — taking effect with the release of the new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on June 1st — will reshape the eligibility process, how brands are listed, and what franchisors must provide to maintain SBA […]
The overall message we received was that franchise lenders have robust volume and are looking for more deals. Below are four key questions and answers from the lender’s conference with over 450 of the most active lenders will help you understand how lenders are thinking. Q: How loose are SBA lender’s credit boxes? A: Deferments […]
We clearly are seeing the impact of inflation as it increases operating costs across supply and labor inputs in 2022. Is there relief coming from this profit-eroding upward pressure? Small-business owners began signaling inflation concerns in the summer of 2021 and now it’s become a major concern. The most recent NFIB Small Business Economic Trends […]