On Aug 20, 2026 the SBA published two proposed rules that would consolidate size standards from roughly 1,000 categories to 338 at the 4-5 digit NAICS level, raise most thresholds, and shift 367 industries to employee-based measures. SBA estimates about 114,541 more firms would newly qualify as small (6,344,967 to 6,459,508); public comments are due Sept 21, 2026.
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SBA proposes biggest small-business size-standard overhaul in decades
Why this matters for founders
Founders bidding on federal set-asides should map their NAICS codes to the proposed groupings, model whether they gain or lose small status, and file a comment before the Sept 21 deadline.
Source: Maynard Nexsen
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