The Small Business Administration (SBA), which provides approximately $5.6 billion per year in franchise loans, has reinstated key oversight mechanisms — including the Franchise Directory — and made updates to its standard operating procedures (SOP) for franchise lending. The Franchise Directory is back after a 2023 phase-outFranchisors, take note: Beginning on August 1, 2025, your brand must be listed in the SBA Franchise Directory for your franchisees to qualify for SBA-backed loans. The Franchise Directory is the official list the SBA uses to determine if a franchise brand meets the agency's eligibility criteria. Brands must submit a new documentIf your franchise was previously listed in the SBA Franchise Directory, you're not automatically in the clear. Franchisors that fail to submit the signed certification by the July 31 deadline will be removed from the SBA Franchise Directory.