On August 20, 2026 the SBA published proposed rules that would consolidate nearly 1,000 industry size standards down to 338 and raise many thresholds, some for professional services and IT by tenfold or more. The agency estimates about 114,541 additional firms would newly qualify as small. Public comments are due September 21, 2026.
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SBA proposes to reclassify 114,000+ firms as small under new size standards
Why this matters for founders
If your startup sells to the government or wants set-aside eligibility, check the proposed NAICS thresholds now and file a comment before September 21 if a higher cap would open contracts to you.
Source: U.S. SBA Office of Advocacy
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