The FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) score combines consumer and commercial credit bureau data, and sometimes financial and application details, into a single number. Scores run from 0 to 300, and a higher score means lower risk. FICO says the score is validated for term loans, lines of credit and commercial cards up to $1 million.
For years the SBA required lenders to prescreen 7(a) Small Loans with it. That changed on March 1, 2026: the SBA discontinued the SBSS score and now requires lenders to analyze credit history and show a debt service coverage ratio of at least 1.1 on those loans. Lenders may still use SBSS or other scoring models, as long as they do not rely solely on consumer credit scores.
FICO does not sell the SBSS score directly to business owners, though some third-party services show it.
Sources
- FICO Small Business Scoring Service — FICO (checked 2026-09-30)
- Procedural Notice 5000-875701: Sunset of SBSS Score for 7(a) Small Loans (Jan. 16, 2026; effective Mar. 1, 2026) — U.S. Small Business Administration (checked 2026-09-30)
- Procedural Notice 5000-876777: Sunset of SBSS Score, Supplemental Guidance — U.S. Small Business Administration (checked 2026-09-30)
- FICO SBSS Score in 2026: SBA Loan Credit Score Explained — Nav (checked 2026-09-30)