SBA 8(a) Narratives

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Proven 8(a) Content

The example documents we offer were submitted in 8(a) applications that were approved by the SBA; data specific to our clients' identities has been altered to protect their privacy.

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SBA 8(a) Application Social and Economic Narratives

The Small Business Administration (SBA) requires every 8(a) program applicant to submit a written narrative that describes specific instances of economic disadvantage they have encountered in their lifetime. Only one substantive, autobiographical economic narrative is required from members of social groups that the SBA classifies as "presumed" socially disadvantaged.

Individuals that are not presumed socially disadvantaged by the SBA may still qualify for the 8(a) program, however, a preponderance of evidence that proves systemic social discrimination has occurred throughout the applicant's lifetime and a separate social narrative must also be provided.

Who does the SBA presume to be socially disadvantaged?

Generally speaking, if you belong to any of the following four social groups, then the Small Business Administration automatically presumes that you are a “socially disadvantaged” individual, and thus your narrative will concentrate more on examples of economic disadvantage:

  • Black Americans

     

  • Hispanic Americans (According to its Small Business Development Program Standard Operating Procedure, the SBA has defined “Hispanic American” as an individual whose ancestry and culture are rooted in South America, Central America, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, or the Iberian Peninsula, including Spain and Portugal.)
  • Native Americans (American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians)
  • Asian Pacific Americans (persons with origins from Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Samoa, Guam, U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands [Republic of Palau], Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Laos, Cambodia [Kampuchea], Taiwan; Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Macao, Hong Kong, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, or Nauru;

     

  • Subcontinent Asian Americans (persons with origins from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands or Nepal).     


What if I'm not in a "presumed" socially disadvantaged group?

If you are not a Hispanic, Asian, Black or Native American business owner, you may still qualify for the 8(a) program but you will have to prove to the SBA through a “preponderance of the evidence” that you are socially disadvantaged based upon a distinguishing feature such as your gender, disability, culture, ethnicity, or some other specific factor. Please see our Questions and Answers page for more information.

How does the SBA evaluate Economic Disadvantage?

The Small Business Administration (SBA) evaluates the following core factors when assessing an 8(a) applicant’s economic disadvantage:
  • The applicant’s personal net worth must be below $250K excluding the equity value of your home, retirement accounts and the value of your business.
  • The total fair market value of all of the applicant’s assets must be under $4M.

  • The applicant’s average personal annual income over the past 3 tax years (called the adjusted gross income) must be below $250K.
     
                       


         		  
     
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673 Potomac Station Drive, Suite 128 Leesburg, VA 20176 US
Phone: 703-350-8381 Website: http://www.get8acertified.com
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