The SBA Franchise Directory listed 3,590 entries in its edition dated October 28, 2026. Lenders in the Small Business Administration’s 7(a) and 504 programs use it to check whether a franchise brand is eligible for SBA financing. This guide covers what the directory is, how brands get listed, how to read a listing, and what a listing does not mean.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) does not lend directly in its main programs: it guarantees part of loans made by approved banks and lenders. When the borrower runs a franchise, SBA lending adds a question about the brand itself, on top of the usual credit review. The SBA Franchise Directory answers that question in one place. Many searchers still call it the SBA franchise registry, after the tool it replaced in 2018.
What Is the SBA Franchise Directory?
The SBA Franchise Directory is the agency’s list of franchise and other brands eligible for SBA financial assistance. According to the SBA, it only includes business models that the agency has reviewed and found eligible. Lenders can rely on a listing instead of reviewing each brand’s documents themselves.
That review focuses on two points. The first is eligibility under SBA rules. The second is affiliation: whether the franchisor’s control over the franchisee is strong enough for SBA to treat the two businesses as one. This matters because SBA eligibility depends on the size of the applicant together with its affiliates.
Three kinds of brands appear on the directory:
- Brands that meet the FTC definition of a franchise : under SBA rules, these brands must be listed on the directory to obtain SBA financing.
- Brands that look like franchises but do not meet the FTC definition : the SBA lists them on request, if they are otherwise eligible.
- License, dealer, jobber or similar relationships : listed when the SBA determines that the arrangement meets the FTC definition of a franchise.
Is a listing an SBA endorsement?
No. The SBA states that placing a brand in the directory is not an endorsement or approval of the brand and does not ensure the success of the business. A listing concerns the brand’s eligibility, not the quality of the franchise opportunity.
The SBA directory also differs from commercial franchise directories. Portals and association directories present franchise opportunities to prospective buyers. The SBA list is a lending tool: it contains no investment figures, no descriptions of business models and no ranking.
From the SBA Franchise Registry to Today’s Directory
Before 2018, lenders checked franchise brands through the Franchise Registry, maintained by the private firm FRANdata, and through an SBA list of franchise findings. The SBA Franchise Directory took over on January 1, 2018.
The directory has not existed without interruption since then:
- May 2023 : the SBA announced it would stop maintaining the directory. Its removal took effect with SOP 50 10 7 in August 2023, and lenders reviewed franchise documents on their own.
- June 1, 2025 : the directory returned under SOP 50 10 8, the SBA’s Standard Operating Procedure for its lender loan programs.
- July 31, 2025 : the initial deadline for brands listed before 2023 to sign a one-time franchisor certification. The SBA later extended it to December 31, 2025, according to Franchise Times. Brands that did not certify were to be removed.
- October 1, 2026 : SOP 50 10 8.1 took effect, with new rules on franchise acquisitions. The directory remains in place.
For most brands, the certification takes the place of the franchise addendum (SBA Form 2462) that franchisors and franchisees used to sign loan by loan. Individual listings can still carry notes on specific documents, as described below.
How the SBA Franchise Directory Works
A brand is not listed automatically. The process starts with a submission and ends with an identifier code.
Submission of the brand’s documents
The SBA Franchise Team receives submissions by email at franchise@sba.gov. A complete file contains:
- complete copies of the franchise, license, dealer, jobber or similar agreements for the brand;
- the Franchise Disclosure Document, where one exists;
- any other document an SBA applicant would be required to sign.
A franchisee or lender can send the file, but only the franchisor, licensor or supplier can confirm that the copies are complete. New brands are reviewed in the order received.
The SBA’s determination
The SBA determines whether the brand meets the FTC definition of a franchise and whether its franchise agreements raise eligibility or affiliation issues. When the brand meets the FTC definition, the franchisor, or the distributor where applicable, signs the Franchisor Certification to complete the listing.
The SBA Franchise Identifier Code
Each listed brand receives an SBA Franchise Identifier Code, a letter followed by digits. The code identifies the brand in loan processing, and lenders follow any notes attached to the listing. The details sit in the franchise sections of SBA SOP 50 10.
How to Search the SBA Franchise Directory
The directory is not an online search engine. It is a spreadsheet, and a lookup typically follows these steps:
- Download the file : the SBA Franchise Directory page on SBA.gov offers an Excel file, dated on the page;
- Find the brand : brands are sorted alphabetically, and the spreadsheet’s search function finds a name or part of one;
- Check every matching row : one brand can appear several times, for example once for its standard franchise agreement and once for a master franchise or purchase agreement;
- Read the columns and the notes : they show the brand’s status and any conditions attached to it.
The October 28, 2026 file has eight columns:
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| SBA Franchise Identifier Code | The brand’s code, used in loan processing |
| Brand | The brand name, sometimes with the type of agreement |
| Meets FTC definition of a franchise? | Y (yes), N (no), or E for a few brands limited to SBA disaster loans |
| Franchisor/Distributor Certification Received? | Whether the certification has been signed |
| Identifier Code Start Date | When the code was assigned |
| Recertified Date | When the brand was recertified, if applicable |
| Notes | Conditions, name changes or program limits |
| Reference Number | The SBA’s internal reference |
Source: SBA Franchise Directory, edition of October 28, 2026
Entries marked as meeting the FTC definition of a franchise, out of 3,590 in the SBA Franchise Directory dated October 28, 2026. Another 1,009 are marked N. (Source: SBA)
The notes column is filled in for 1,680 entries. Many concern lease documents: some notes state that a lease addendum or rider may not be signed when the business’s real estate secures the SBA-guaranteed loan. Others record a change of brand name or a limit to SBA disaster loans.
Does Being Listed in the SBA Franchise Directory Guarantee an SBA Loan?
No. A listing settles one question, whether the brand is eligible, and leaves the borrower’s own file untouched. Lenders make their own credit decisions under the SBA’s rules. Factors commonly reviewed include:
- the applicant’s credit history and personal finances;
- the equity the applicant puts into the project;
- management and industry experience;
- the business plan and projected cash flow, including the ability to cover debt payments;
- the requirements of the specific program, such as 7(a) or 504.
Some of these thresholds moved on October 1, 2026, notably for the purchase of an existing franchise. Loan amounts, terms and other funding routes are covered in our guide to franchise financing.
What If a Franchise Is Not in the SBA Franchise Directory?
An absence from the directory says nothing about a brand’s legitimacy or performance. Several situations explain it:
- the brand has never been submitted, often because its franchisees do not use SBA financing;
- a review is pending, since new brands are handled in the order received;
- the brand was listed before 2023 and did not sign the certification by the deadline;
- the brand’s agreements have changed and are under new review.
Good to know
The SBA states that the directory is updated weekly. A brand missing from one edition of the file can appear in a later one, and a listing can also be removed or changed between two editions.
For a brand that meets the FTC definition, a listing is a precondition for SBA financing. Questions about a brand’s status typically go to the franchisor, to SBA lenders or to the SBA at franchise@sba.gov. Financing outside SBA programs follows the lender’s own rules, with no link to the directory.
The Bottom Line
The SBA Franchise Directory is a lending tool. It tells lenders whether a brand is eligible for SBA financing, based on the SBA’s review of its agreements and the franchisor’s certification. It replaced the old Franchise Registry in 2018, disappeared in 2023 and returned in June 2025. A listing does not mean the SBA endorses the brand, and it does not decide whether a given borrower gets a loan. That decision stays with the lender. More on the wider process is in our guide on how to start a franchise.
Frequently asked questions about the SBA Franchise Directory
The directory is an Excel file published on SBA.gov. Brands are listed alphabetically, and a search in the spreadsheet finds the brand name. Each matching row shows the identifier code, the FTC status, the certification status and any notes.
No. The SBA reviews a brand’s eligibility for its loan programs, but it states that a listing is not an endorsement or approval of the brand and does not ensure the success of the business.
Under SBA rules, a brand that meets the FTC definition of a franchise must be on the directory to obtain SBA financing. A brand can be submitted for review at any time. Financing outside SBA programs does not depend on the directory.
The SBA states that the directory is updated weekly. Each file is dated on the SBA.gov download page; the edition available on November 2, 2026 was dated October 28, 2026.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or professional advice. Laws and regulations vary by state and individual circumstances and may change over time. Readers should consult a qualified attorney, tax professional, or other licensed professional regarding their specific situation. Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship.
