FICO SBSS Score Explained: What It Is & How to Raise Yours

What Is a FICO SBSS Score?

SBSS stands for Small Business Scoring Service, a credit-scoring model developed by FICO specifically for assessing small business credit risk, especially in the context of SBA lending.

Unlike many business credit scores that only consider company-level data, SBSS combines both business credit information and the personal credit histories of business owners or guarantors. The idea is that for many small businesses, the owner’s financial behavior is a strong indicator of the business’s risk profile.

Score Range & Interpretation

• SBSS scores range from 0 to 300.

• A higher score means lower risk (i.e., lenders see you as a safer borrower).

• Conversely, a low SBSS score suggests higher risk and may trigger more scrutiny or even rejection of your SBA loan application.

Because it’s a proprietary model, FICO does not provide public access to SBSS results for business owners. Only lenders and approved entities can request SBSS when underwriting.

Why SBSS Matters (Especially for SBA Loans)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) uses SBSS as a prescreening tool for many 7(a) loan applications under certain thresholds.

If your application doesn’t pass the SBSS prescreen, the lender must fall back on more manual underwriting methods or reject outright under stricter guidelines.

Because of that, a strong SBSS score can speed approvals, reduce additional documentation burdens, and improve your negotiating position on rates or fees.

SBSS Score & SBA 7(a) – Key Thresholds in 2025

Understanding the “passing score” levels is critical, especially since SBA policies and lender expectations can shift over time.

SBA’s Policy Updates & Minimum Score

In SBA’s Business Loan Program Improvements (2023), for many 7(a) loans $500,000 or less (excluding Express, CAPLines, etc.), one route to simplified underwriting is via an SBSS score of 155 or above.

However, SBA rules are evolving: recent commentary suggests that SBA’s minimum acceptable SBSS score has been raised to 165 for 7(a) “Small Loans.”

Some lenders (or SBA rules) treat loans with an SBSS score below 165 as needing full “standard 7(a)” underwriting.

Also, as of 2025, SBA provides SBSS scoring automatically for 7(a) loans under $500,000 (except some subprograms) to help lenders make faster decisions.

In short: Target SBSS ≥ 165 in 2025 to give yourself the best chances of passing prescreen and getting favorable SBA underwriting.

What Factors Go Into Your SBSS Score?

Because the SBSS algorithm is proprietary and opaque, FICO does not publish exact weightings or formulas. But we know from industry research and analysis which categories matter:

• Personal Credit & Payment History

• Business Credit Profile

• Financial Statements & Cash Flow

• Loan Application Data

• Time in Business / Age / Trends

• Liens, Judgments, Tax Issues

SBSS compares your business against similar peers — meaning even small improvements can make a big difference depending on your industry and performance trend.

Why You Can’t (Directly) “Check” SBSS — But What You Can Monitor

You can’t pull your SBSS score directly — only lenders can. But you can monitor similar indicators through business credit reports (Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, Equifax) and personal credit scores, since these heavily influence SBSS.

Use AMP Advance’s SBA Lender Match tool to connect with SBA-preferred lenders who can run SBSS pre-checks and give feedback on how you rank before submitting your loan application.

How to Raise Your SBSS Score in 2025

Improving your SBSS score requires consistent effort across both personal and business credit.

• Strengthen Your Personal Credit – Pay down credit cards, fix errors, and keep utilization low.

• Build Business Credit – Establish tradelines, pay vendors early, and monitor D&B/Experian reports.

• Improve Financial Ratios – Grow steady cash flow and reduce short-term debt.

• Optimize Loan Requests – Ask for realistic amounts that fit your business revenue.

• Resolve Public Records Issues – Pay off liens, clear tax delinquencies, and stay compliant.

💡 Pro Tip: Before applying, review our How to Get an SBA Loan guide and run your financials through the SBA Loan Calculator to estimate eligibility and interest costs.

How SBSS Fits Into Your SBA Loan Funnel

• Prequalification: Use SBSS and lender match insights to shortlist lenders.

• Application: A strong score reduces underwriting friction.

• Terms Negotiation: Higher SBSS = better rates and faster funding.

• Post-Loan: Timely repayment strengthens future loan potential.

Pro Tips & Common Pitfalls

• Don’t chase perfection — consistency matters more.

• Avoid too many new credit inquiries.

• Use lender feedback to pinpoint weak points.

• Time your loan application when both your business and personal credit metrics align.