The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has increased small business size standards in Wholesale Trade and in Retail Trade.

This change affects 46 industries within the Wholesale Trade business sector.

The revised size standards define the maximum number of employees a firm in these industries can have and still be considered a small business. The revisions primarily affect the eligibility for SBA’s financial assistance programs. Nearly 4,000 more firms will now become eligible for SBA’s loan programs under the revised size standards.

While reviewing size standards, SBA takes into account the structural characteristics of individual industries, including average firm size, startup cost and entry barriers, the degree of competition, and small business’ share of federal government contracting dollars. This ensures that small business size definitions reflect current economic conditions and federal marketplace in those industries.  

The final rule was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 25 and will become effective Feb. 26. Under the JOBS Act, the SBA is required to review all size standards at least every five years.
For more information about SBA’s revisions to its small business size standards for various industry sectors, click on “What’s New with Size Standards” on SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/size.