SBA Form 1919 explained: the borrower information form for 7(a) loans

Why the SBA requires Form 1919

The 7(a) program carries a government guarantee, so eligibility is a legal condition, not a preference. Form 1919 is where eligibility is established on the record: the business type, the use of proceeds category, franchise status, and whether any affiliate relationships push the applicant over the size standard.

It is also the character screen. Questions about arrests, indictments, convictions, delinquent federal debt, and prior loss to the government determine whether additional review is needed. Answering yes does not automatically disqualify an applicant, but answering inaccurately can void the guarantee and is a false statement to a federal agency.

Because the form drives eligibility, an error here does not just slow the file. It can cause a loan to be pulled after approval when the discrepancy surfaces in the SBA review.

What it tells a lender about the business or borrower

How to complete it

1. 1

   Confirm the legal entity details

   Use the exact legal name, EIN, formation date, and address from your filed entity documents and tax returns. Trade names go in the DBA field.

2. 2

   Map ownership to the twenty percent line

   List every owner with the exact percentage. Anyone at twenty percent or more triggers a personal financial statement and generally a personal guarantee.

3. 3

   Disclose affiliates

   Include any other business you own or control, and any entity that owns or controls the applicant. Affiliation is measured by control, not only by percentage.

4. 4

   Answer the eligibility questions literally

   Read each question as written and answer for the exact person and period it covers. If the answer is yes, attach the explanation rather than leaving it to a follow-up.

5. 5

   Address franchise status

   If you operate under a franchise, license, or dealer agreement, identify it so the lender can check the SBA directory and review the agreement.

6. 6

   Sign as required

   The applicant business signs, and each twenty percent owner signs the individual certification section.

Mistakes that send a file back

• Rounding ownership percentages so the roster does not total one hundred.
• Omitting a small side business, which is still an affiliate for size purposes.
• Answering the criminal history questions from memory rather than checking the record.
• Failing to disclose an unresolved federal tax lien or a defaulted federal student loan.
• Leaving explanations for yes answers out of the package, which guarantees a follow-up round.

When Form 1919 is required

It is required on all SBA 7(a) applications, including Express and Working Capital variants, and on Community Advantage files. SBA 504 applications use a different set of forms but ask for the same eligibility and character information.

Conventional bank loans do not use Form 1919, though most banks collect equivalent ownership and disclosure data on their own application.