How it Works

The Approval Process - Why does your Business SBSS Matter?

The SBSS score is a key initial underwriting step used by SBA Lenders and the SBA to approve or deny SBA financing. When initially pre-screening an SBA loan application, the first step is for the bank to obtain an SBSS for the business. Each bank has their own minimum allowable SBSS to obtain an SBA loan and these minimums aren’t disclosed to the business owner prior to applying.

Some Key Points to Understand about SBSS

The SBA Lender Match Platform will not provide you with an SBSS score.

Each SBA Lender has different minimum allowable SBSS scores.

Not knowing your score may lead to not securing financing, unnecessary denials, wasted time and money.

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.

Maximize your chance of SBA funding

The pathway to getting an SBA loan doesn't have to be complex or time consuming. Follow these steps to maximize your chances of getting SBA funding.

1. Know your SBSS & SBA Likelihood Scores

Use SBAscore.com to get access to your SBSS (Small Business Scoring Service) score within seconds. Your SBSS matters because without knowing your score, you won’t know what bank to submit an application with. If you know your score upfront, this will maximize your chances of receiving funds.

2. Understand your options or Increase SBSS & SBA Likelihood Scores using our proven method.

Now that you have your score, you can have confidence in your decision to apply. 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.

3. Make an informed decision about where to apply based on your qualifications

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

Payment History (35%)

Credit Utilization (30%)

Length of Credit History (15%)

New Credit/Inquiries (10%)

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.

Try Our SBA 7(a) Loan Calculator

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Loan Amount

$30K $500K

Loan Term

10 years (fixed)

Interest Rate

10.25%

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:

Term loans and lines of credit up to $1 million
Equipment leasing transactions up to $250,000

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.

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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.
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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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