SBA Goes Virtual: Forums Debate Cash Limits for 'Small' Businesses
Published Date: 9/5/2025
Notice
Summary
The SBA is hosting two online meetings to talk about changing the rules that decide how big a business can be to still count as 'small.' These changes could affect many businesses by using money-based size limits instead of just employee counts. If you run a small business, this is your chance to share your thoughts before the final decision is made!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Proposal to use money-based size limits
The SBA is proposing to change how a business is counted as 'small' by using money-based size limits instead of just counting employees. This change could affect many businesses because eligibility would be determined by monetary thresholds rather than employee headcount.
Two virtual forums to collect testimony
The SBA will hold two online public forums to discuss the proposed monetary-based size standards. If you run a small business, you can give testimony at these meetings and that testimony will become part of the administrative record the SBA will use when making the final rule.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2025-02741, HUBZone Program Updates and Clarifications, and Clarifications to Other Small Business Programs; Correction
The SBA fixed some small but important mistakes in its recent HUBZone and small business program rules to make things clearer and fairer. These corrections affect small businesses using HUBZone and other SBA programs, especially around size protests and financial reporting. The fixes take effect on February 18, 2025, helping businesses avoid confusion and unnecessary paperwork.
2026-20080, Interest Rates
The Small Business Administration set the Optional Peg Rate at 5.00% for October to December 2026, which affects SBA direct and guaranteed fluctuating interest rate loans. Third Party Lenders funding 504 projects must keep their commercial loan rates within legal limits, capped at 6% above the New York Prime rate or state law limits. These changes help small businesses plan their loan costs for the upcoming quarter.
2026-19941, Presidential Declaration Amendment of a Major Disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Indiana
The President has updated the disaster declaration for Indiana after severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in August 2026. This change adds more counties to the list eligible for public assistance, helping more communities get support. If you’re affected, you can apply for disaster loans by October 25, 2026, for physical damage, or by May 25, 2027, for economic injury.
2026-19942, Presidential Declaration Amendment of a Major Disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Texas
Texas is getting extra help after severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding hit from July 12 to August 4, 2026. The government added four more counties to the disaster assistance list, so more communities can apply for aid. If you’re affected, you have until November 2, 2026, to apply for physical damage loans and until June 1, 2027, for economic injury loans.
2026-19943, Presidential Declaration Amendment of a Major Disaster for the State of Indiana
Indiana’s disaster declaration just got bigger! Three more counties—Cass, Pike, and Putnam—can now apply for physical and economic disaster loans, while five nearby counties get access to economic injury loans. If you’re affected, act fast: physical loan applications close October 25, 2026, and economic injury loans are open until May 25, 2027.
2026-19851, Administrative Declaration of a Disaster for the State of NEW YORK
New York got hit by big storms and flooding from July 28-29, 2026, and now the government says it’s an official disaster. People and businesses in certain counties can apply for low-interest loans to fix damage or cover lost income. You’ve got until November 23, 2026, for physical damage loans and June 24, 2027, for economic injury loans—so don’t wait!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-17072, Sunshine Act Meetings
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission will hold an open meeting on September 16, 2025, to discuss a safety case involving Cactus Canyon Quarries. This affects miners, companies, and safety regulators by clarifying rules and deadlines around mine safety penalties. No new costs are announced, but the meeting sets important legal and safety decisions in motion.
Next: 2025-17074, Specially Designated Global Terrorist Designations of Los Choneros and Los Lobos
The U.S. government has officially labeled two dangerous groups, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as global terrorists. This means their assets in the U.S. will be frozen, and Americans are banned from doing business with them. These actions start immediately to protect national security and stop their harmful activities.