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Calculate Your SBSS Score
The SBSS score ranges from 0 to 300, with higher scores indicating lower credit risk. A score closer to 300 reflects stronger creditworthiness.
For SBA 7(a) Small Loans (loans of $350,000 or less)  lenders are required to pre-screen applications using the SBSS score. The current minimum score required for automatic prescreening approval is 155.
If your score is below this threshold, it doesn’t automatically disqualify your application. Instead, your loan may be considered through a manual underwriting process, where additional factors—such as business financials or collateral—can be evaluated to determine eligibility.
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SBA 7(a) Simplified

Loan Amount
$50K – $350K
Loan Term
10 years
SBSS Score
160+
Best For
Small Businesses
Checking your SBSS score gives key insight into SBA Eligibility. INSTANT ACCESS.
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SBSS Score: a deciding factor for SBA Approvals
FICO doesn’t collect credit data itself—it builds the scoring models used to analyze data provided by credit bureaus, lenders, and other sources. The FICO Small Business Scoring Service  (SBSS) model can draw on up to four key types of information:
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Personal credit reports for up to five business owners/guarantors
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Business credit reports from major business credit bureaus
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Business financial statements or other financial data
Customizable Scoring by Lenders
Lenders have flexibility in how they use the SBSS model. They can choose which data sources to prioritize—for example, giving more weight to business credit reports or personal credit history. The model is also designed to be adaptive. If insufficient data is available from one source (e.g., Experian), it can automatically retrieve data from another (e.g., Dun & Bradstreet).
Consumer credit data may come from Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion, while business credit data may be pulled from Dun & Bradstreet, Experian Business, or Equifax SBFE. Application inputs might include cash flow, business checking balances, time in operation, and the owner’s combined net worth.
Because lenders can pull from different data sets and customize the scoring model, your business doesn’t have a single fixed SBSS score. Your score can also change over time as your personal or business credit profiles are updated.
According to FICO, the personal credit history of the business owners is typically the most influential factor, followed by business credit data, financials, and application information.
Even if your business has limited credit history or is relatively new, a strong personal credit profile may still result in a qualifying SBSS score. That said, robust business credit and financial data can improve your score and increase your approval odds.
Key Facts About the FICO SBSS Score
Prescreening Threshold: A minimum score of 155 is required to pass the SBA’s mandatory prescreen for 7(a) Small Loans
Lender Cutoffs: Most lenders set their own minimum thresholds, often between 160–165
Credit Profile Impact: Timely payments and a well-established credit history—both personal and business—can improve your score
Time to Build: If your credit profile contains negative marks or is limited, it may take several months (or longer) of consistent positive activity to meaningfully raise your score
Disclosure Limitations: Since business credit scores are not protected under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, lenders are not required to notify you if your SBSS score was used in a financing decision, nor must they disclose the score itself
Score Range: 0–300 (higher scores indicate lower risk)
What are the 5 Categories of the FICO Score?
FICO credit scores are based on five main categories of information from your credit report
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Payment History (35%)
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Credit Utilization (30%)
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Length of Credit History (15%)
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New Credit/Inquiries (10%)
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Credit Mix (10%)
Payment history carries the most weight in determining your credit score. This includes your record of on-time payments on accounts like credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages, as well as any negative marks such as late payments, collections, or bankruptcies. If your credit report includes late payments or other derogatory information, keep in mind that the impact of these items generally lessens over time. Most negative entries eventually fall off your credit report—typically after seven years.
Credit utilization is another major factor. This refers to how much of your available credit you're currently using, particularly on revolving accounts like credit cards. High utilization ratios can lower your score, but the good news is that this factor is relatively easy to improve. Paying down your balances, requesting credit limit increases, or strategically shifting balances between accounts can quickly reduce your utilization and positively affect your score.
Payment history carries the most weight in determining your credit score. This includes your record of on-time payments on accounts like credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages, as well as any negative marks such as late payments, collections, or bankruptcies. If your credit report includes late payments or other derogatory information, keep in mind that the impact of these items generally lessens over time. Most negative entries eventually fall off your credit report—typically after seven years.
Credit utilization is another major factor. This refers to how much of your available credit you're currently using, particularly on revolving accounts like credit cards. High utilization ratios can lower your score, but the good news is that this factor is relatively easy to improve. Paying down your balances, requesting credit limit increases, or strategically shifting balances between accounts can quickly reduce your utilization and positively affect your score.
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10 years (fixed)
Interest Rate
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APR
11.50%
Monthly Payment
$1,670
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Who Uses the FICO SBSS Score?
The SBSS score is used by over 7,500 lenders across the U.S. to assess the credit risk of small businesses. It is particularly critical in the SBA loan process—SBA 7(a) lenders are required to use the SBSS score to prescreen Small Loan applications (loans of $350,00 or less, excluding SBA Express and similar programs).
The latest version, SBSS 7.0, supports loan assessments for:
Although the SBA sets a minimum score of 155 for prescreening, banks often use stricter criteria, setting their internal minimum scores between 160 and 165 for automatic approval consideration.



How Do I Improve my SBSS Score?
Gain visibility on what you score is currently at with SBAscore.com.
Understand your current options and what factors are contributing to your score.
Follow our guide to improving your SBSS score and financial qualifications. Read more here.
Do I Qualify? 
Much like your personal FICO score affects your ability to get approved for credit, your business’s FICO SBSS score plays a critical role in determining your eligibility for small business financing.

Qualification for an SBA loan isn't complicated — but there are some restrictions based on industry and credit history. Find out if you're eligible for an SBA loan, and prepare your business for the best chance of approval.
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