SBA Franchise Directory Update

As of June 30th, the SBA's deadline for franchise re-certification has passed. Brands that did not complete the new SBA Franchisor Certification have been removed from the SBA Franchise Directory version dated July 1st and are not currently eligible for SBA loans. This was the final deadline after two extensions from the original July 31, 2025 date (extended first to December 31, 2025, then to June 30, 2026). Details are in SBA Information Notice 5000-866746.

What this means in SPARK

SPARK has not made any product changes in connection with this deadline, and we have not removed brands from the SPARK franchise listing. Because the Directory is expected to keep changing as certifications are completed for brands on the legacy Directory, we are keeping the SPARK listing intact rather than mirroring the removals.

The E-Tran team has informed us that loans will be validated against SBA's approved franchise list at the point of origination. A franchise that is not on the Directory is expected to return an error at that point.

What you should know

If you are originating a franchise loan, confirm the brand's current status on the latest version of the SBA Franchise Directory before proceeding. A brand appearing in the SPARK listing does not guarantee it remains on the Directory.

Questions?

Reach out to your Customer Success Manager or submit a ticket to the SPARK Support Team.