SBA 8(a) Narratives
SBA 8(a) 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.
Resources (Documents and Links to 8(a) program related sites)
SBA 8(a) Narrative Questions and Answers
8a Narrative examples and expert advice
Industry Leading 8(a) Narrative Kit with instructions and SBA approved examples - Only $59.
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8(a) Narrative Kit
Updated 2012 Edition
Kit Includes:
1. 57 pages of Expert advice and tips that you won't find anywhere else
2. Step-by-step narrative writing Instructions
3. Disadvantage and discrimination lists to help you recall personal incidents to write about
4. Five (5) SBA Approved Example Narratives to use as models
5. Immediate Download
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