SBA feasibility study checklist generator.

This generator maps your inputs to the documentary requirements of SBA SOP 50 10 8 (effective June 1, 2025). SBA does not mandate a feasibility study by dollar threshold. The requirement is triggered by risk factors — special-purpose property classification, startup status, new construction, change of ownership with limited operating history, or market saturation concerns. The checklist reflects those triggers and the specific scope expectations credit committees apply at the program and asset-class level.

SBA 504 transactions follow a tiered equity injection framework under SOP 50 10 8. Standard borrower equity is 10% of total project cost. If the property is classified as Limited or Special Purpose — a list that includes hotels, car washes, gas stations, assisted living facilities, marinas, and bowling alleys, among others — equity increases to 15%. If the project is also a new business (operating two years or less), equity increases to 20%. These thresholds affect capital stack design before a feasibility study is ordered.

USDA B&I, REAP, and Community Facilities programs operate under 7 CFR Part 5001, which mandates a feasibility study prepared by an independent qualified consultant for most new business applications. The regulation defines five required components: economic, market, technical, financial, and management feasibility. SBA feasibility requirements derive from lender and CDC credit policy rather than statute, and vary by transaction risk profile. Both programs require third-party independence and documented analytical methodology.