# Fort Worth Contractors Assess SBA Size-Rule Proposal

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has proposed consolidating nearly 1,000 industry size categories into 338 and raising many revenue and employee thresholds. The changes could alter which firms qualify for federal small-business contracting preferences and affect subcontracting relationships for Fort Worth-area contractors. The comment deadline was extended to November 20, 2026, five days from November 15; estimates of how many firms could become newly eligible vary depending on whether they count all businesses or only current federal contractors.

- Contractors should compare the proposed thresholds with their current size classifications and assess potential effects on eligibility for small-business preferences and existing subcontracting arrangements.
- Firms affected by the proposal can submit comments to the SBA by November 20, 2026; the short remaining window makes prompt review of the draft relevant to business planning.
- Because estimates differ by population counted, contractors should evaluate the proposed changes against their own industry category and federal contracting status rather than relying on headline estimates.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Policy
**Published:** November 14, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- SBA Office of Advocacy
- Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

### Sources
- [Fort Worth Small Business Owners Wary of SBA Size Rule](https://hoodline.com/2026/11/fort-worth-businesses-fear-federal-overhaul-could-let-bigger-firms-crowd-out-small-ones) - Hoodline