SBA Form 1919 - What the Borrower Information Form Is and How to Fill It Out

SBA Form 1919 is the borrower information form and includes personal identifying information as well as responses to 22 questions. Questions range from citizenship status to the number of jobs that will be created or retained because of the SBA financing. Follow this step by step guide to filling out SBA Form 1919 to prevent delays in your application.

If you are applying for an SBA loan, you should check out SmartBiz . They partner with top SBA lenders to streamline the application and lending process. You fill out one online application, SmartBiz reviews it, and then matches you with the SBA lender most likely to approve you. It’s fast, easy, prequalifying online for up to $350K takes just minutes, and you don’t have to mess with annoying SBA forms.

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Before you get too far, check here for free to make sure you have a credit score of 680+. If you are under 680, your chances of approval are low and you probably want to improve your score before you apply.

More SBA Loan Application Forms:

Who Completes SBA Form 1919

Any applicant for the standard 7a, SBA Express, Export Express, Community Advantage, and CAPLines loan programs has to fill out SBA Form 1919. Generally, anyone who owns 20%+ of the business, or anyone managing the day to day operations of the business will need to fill out the SBA Borrower Information form.

Read our guide to learn more about each type of SBA loan.

Depending on how your business is structured, different people will need to complete the SBA Form 1919. Below is how each business structure requires different individuals to fill out Form 1919:

Sole proprietorships: The sole proprietor of the business.
General partnerships: All general partners and all limited partners owning 20% or more equity of the business.
Corporations: All owners of at least 20% equity of the corporation, and each officer and director.
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs): All members owning 20% or more of the company and each officer, director, and managing member.
All Companies: Any person hired by the business to manage day-to-day operations, and any other person who is guaranteeing the loan, if that guaranty is required by the SBA.

If you don’t want to mess with all the paperwork an SBA loan brings, then we suggest partnering with a loan provider like SmartBiz, who will take care of it for you. To qualify, you must be in business for 2+ years, have a credit score of 680+ (check your score for free), and are profitable. You can get prequalified in just a few minutes with SmartBiz, and funded in as quick as 30 days.

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What Each Question in SBA Form 1919 Means

The SBA forms can make it difficult for you to know what to disclose, or what to fill in for each question that’s asked. It’s important that you get all of the information correct on each form, however, because if you don’t then your loan process can be denied or delayed. Below we identify what each section is asking you, and show you how you should answer them.

Identifying Information

Under “Name of Business Applying for Loan” enter the legal name of your business as it is written on your most recent tax return. Also provide your full legal name and date of birth. You are not legally required to provide your social security number, but include it if you’re comfortable providing this information as it can only help speed up the process. You’re also not legally required to provide demographic data, such as your gender and ethnicity, but you may provide it if you choose.

Question 1: Current Legal Proceedings

The SBA does not back loans to people currently under indictment, on parole, or probation. All criminal activity must be finished, and all parole and probations lifted before you can be considered for the SBA’s guarantee. If you have to answer “yes” to this question, you are ineligible for an SBA loan at this time.

Questions 2 and 3: Past Criminal Activity

These questions deal with past legal offenses. If you answer “yes” to these questions, you may still be eligible for an SBA loan, but you will need to complete SBA Form 912 in addition to Form 1919. That will give the lender the information it needs to conduct a background check and character determination to see if you’re still eligible for an SBA loan.

You must report all of your convicted felonies in these sections, regardless of how long ago they took place. Do not lie or leave off information in this section, even if it was a felony from 20 years ago. If you leave off this information then not only will you not get a loan, but you’ll actually be committing a crime when you knowingly sign the SBA Form 1919, stating that all information is correct.

Question 4-6: Past SBA Loan Applications & Restrictions

These questions address whether you have previously applied for this SBA loan, and whether you are currently prohibited from applying for this loan. If this applies to you, your application may not be submitted through the SBA Express Loan program. This does not necessarily mean that can’t get any loan, only that your lender will need to use the standard 7a procedure to process the loan.

Question 7: U.S. Citizenship

This question determines whether you are a legal U.S. citizen. If you’re not a U.S. citizen, provide your Alien Registration Number. Legal permanent residents are eligible for loans like U.S. citizens. Non-U.S. citizens are also eligible for SBA loans but may have to meet additional requirements to qualify. Having US-based real estate as collateral, a management team made up of U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or an established business with more than 1 year of operational history can all help a non-U.C. citizen qualify.

Question 8: Export Activities

This question evaluates your export activities. If you’re using this loan to expand your exports or begin exporting for the first time, try to estimate the total export sales that you will have if you’re approved for this loan. There is no defined methodology for this calculation, but try to provide a reasonable dollar amount the best you can.

Question 9: Franchise Businesses

This question determines whether your business is a franchise as defined by the SBA. It’s often easier for a franchise to qualify for SBA financing than a non-franchise business because there’s a proven business model to analyze.

According to the SBA definition, there are two forms of franchises:

Product/trade Name Franchising:
The franchisor owns the trade name, which is sold or licensed to the franchisee. Most gas stations, for example are product/trade name franchises.
Business Format Franchising:
The franchisor and franchisee have an ongoing relationship, in which the franchisor might provide a full range of services, such as site selection, training, product supply, marketing plans, etc. McDonald’s and Subway are good examples of business format franchises.

Question 10: Business Affiliates

This question determines whether your business has any official affiliates. According to the SBA, an “affiliate” includes:

A parent company
Subsidiaries and other companies that are owned or controlled by the Applicant
Companies in which an officer, director, general partner, managing member or party owning 20% or more of the business is also an officer, director, general partner, managing member or 20% or greater owner of
Companies or individuals with unexercised options owning 50% or more of the business’s stock
Companies that have entered into agreements to merge with the business.

If you do have any affiliates, provide the legal names of the entities as written on the most recent tax forms. For more information about affiliates from the SBA, click here.

Question 11: Past Government Loans

This section requires you to detail whether you have previously taken any other government loans. This includes, for instance, other SBA loans, FHA home loans, veterans loans, student loans, and disaster loans. Sections A and B also require you to indicate whether either of these loans were ever delinquent or in default.

Question 12: Number of Employees

This question requires you to put down the number of employees that your business currently has. You should include part time and full time employees, but you don’t have to include independent contractors.

Question 13: Job Creation

Estimate the number of jobs that your business will create or preserve as a result of this loan. There is no defined methodology for calculating this number, but try to provide a reasonable estimate that you feel good about achieving.

Question 14: Help With Your Application

This question determines whether you have received any outside help with your SBA loan application. If you hired a packager, broker, accountant, lawyer, etc., who has specifically helped you with the loan application answer “yes”. If “yes”, the person you hired will have to fill out SBA Form 159.

Question 15: Using Loan for Construction

If you plan to use more than $10,000 of your loan on construction, you must answer “yes” and fill out SBA Form 601.

Question 16: Business Revenue From Gambling

This question determines whether any of your revenues are derived from activities related to gambling or displays that are overtly sexual. If your business falls into these categories then you won’t be approved by the SBA.

Question 17: Community Advantage Program

Answer “yes” to this question if you are applying for a loan under the Community Advantage 7a loan program. These are loans of up to $250,000 to underserved communities with an expedited application process. If you answer “yes,” you will need to complete SBA Form 2449.

Questions 18-22: Conflicts of Interest

These questions are true or false questions that determine whether there is a conflict of interest between any member of your company and the SBA or any other government agency. If you answer “False” to any questions, this does not mean that your loan will be denied, only that you will have to use different SBA procedures. You may have to answer “False” if:

You, your spouse, or another member of your household work for the SBA
Any employee, owner, partner, attorney, agent, owner of stock, officer, director, creditor or debtor of the applicant has worked for the SBA within the past year.
A member of Congress, an appointed official of the judicial or legislative branch, or family member of such individual is a sole proprietor, general partner, officer, director, or stockholder with a 10 percent or more interest in the business.
A government employee with a grade GS-13 or household member of such individual is a sole proprietor, general partner, officer, director, or stockholder with a 10 percent or more interest.
A member or employee of the Small Business Advisory Council, a SCORE volunteer, or household member of such individual is a sole proprietor, general partner, officer, director, or stockholder with a 10 percent or more interest.

Don’t Forget to Sign

Once you have completed the form and truthfully answered all the questions, you must sign, date, and print your name. For more about the application process, read our guide on how to apply for an SBA loan.

If you have a credit score above 680 (check here for free), have been in business for 2+ years, are profitable, and looking to borrow up to $350k, you my qualify for a streamlined SBA loan with SmartBiz. They can prequalify you in minutes and get you funded faster than any other SBA lender we know.

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SBA Form 1919 Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s a few of the most common questions borrowers typically have when filling out From 1919:

What Past Legal Offenses Do I Have to Report on the SBA Borrower Information Form?

According to Lola Kress, Regional Communications Director at the SBA, “If the conviction was a felony conviction it must be disclosed. Any convictions, felony or not, within six months of the date of application must be disclosed. Convictions older than six months with the exception of felonies does not require disclosure.”

If you plan on not disclosing a past misdemeanor, then make sure it was fully adjudicated. Also keep in mind that while they are not necessarily required to be disclosed under SBA Form 1919, your lender may require you to disclose them for their own underwriting purposes.

Do Directors, Officers, and Investors Have to Fill out the SBA Borrower Information Form?

Directors and officers of the entity borrowing the money must fill out the form as individuals. However, investors only need to fill out the form if they own a minimum of 20% of the equity in the business.

The SBA is mainly interested in parties with a significant say in how the business is run, which includes large percentage (20%+) equity holders, officers, directors, and those running the day to day operations.

Do Loan Cosigners Have to Complete SBA Form 1919 if They Have No Other Ties to the Business?

Yes, they do. Anyone who is guaranteeing the loan, regardless of their ties to the business, must fill out the form. This is due to the SBA wanting to know who they are guaranteeing the loan to the lender on behalf of.

Typically, a cosigner has the best credit profile of all borrowers on the loan application, so their information is important to the approval decision.The only exception to this rule is if the SBA doesn’t require the cosigner to guarantee the loan, then they don’t have to fill out the form. If you’re unsure whether or not the cosigner should fill it out, we suggest having them fill one out to prevent a delay in the lending process.

Do I Have to Fill out Form 1919 if I Filled Out a Personal Information Sheet With My Lender?

Yes, you must fill out Form 1919 regardless of what information your lender requires. The SBA has their own approval processes to agree to guarantee your loan. Neither the approval of the lender or the SBA guarantees the approval of the other party.

Bottom Line: SBA Form 1919

While the amount of paperwork required to get an SBA loan can seem overwhelming, taking the time to answer all questions as truthfully and completely as possible on SBA Form 1919 should help you secure your SBA loan as soon as possible. False information, or failing to disclose everything that is required, can cause your application to be delayed or outright denied.

If you don’t want to deal with all the SBA loan paperwork, then we suggest partnering with a broker like SmartBiz. SmartBiz requires only one application although they work with multiple SBA lenders. Once you have applied, they review your info and match you with the lender most likely to approve your loan. Prequalify online for up to $350K in minutes.

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Download SBA Form 1919

Need other SBA loan forms? We’ve got you covered:

SBA Form 1919 – What the Borrower Information Form Is and How to Fill It Out

Who Completes SBA Form 1919