13 CFR § 103.1 - Key definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t13/s103.1"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "13 CFR § 103.1 - Key definitions."
title_number: 13
title_name: "Business Credit and Assistance"
section_number: "103.1"
section_name: "Key definitions."
chapter_name: "SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION"
part_number: "103"
part_name: "STANDARDS FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS WITH SBA"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "15 U.S.C. 634, 642."
regulatory_source: "61 FR 2681, Jan. 29, 1996, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "103"
---


# 103.1 Key definitions.

(a) *Agent* means an authorized representative, including an attorney, accountant, consultant, packager, lender service provider, or any other person representing an Applicant or Participant by conducting business with SBA.

(b) The term *conduct business with SBA* means:

(1) Preparing or submitting on behalf of an applicant an application for financial assistance of any kind, assistance from the Investment Division of SBA, or assistance in procurement and technical matters;

(2) Preparing or processing on behalf of a lender or a participant in any of SBA's programs an application for federal financial assistance;

(3) Participating with or communicating in any way with officers or employees of SBA on an applicant's, participant's, or lender's behalf;

(4) Acting as a lender service provider; and

(5) Such other activity as SBA reasonably shall determine.

(c) *Applicant* means any person, firm, concern, corporation, partnership, cooperative or other business enterprise applying for any type of assistance from SBA.

(d) *Lender Service Provider* means an Agent who carries out lender functions in originating, disbursing, servicing, or liquidating a specific SBA business loan or loan portfolio for compensation from the lender. SBA determines whether or not one is a “Lender Service Provider” on a loan-by-loan basis.

(e) *Packager* means an Agent who is employed and compensated by an Applicant or lender to prepare the Applicant's application for financial assistance from SBA. SBA determines whether or not one is a “Packager” on a loan-by-loan basis.

(f) *Referral Agent* means a person or entity who identifies and refers an Applicant to a lender or a lender to an Applicant. The Referral Agent may be employed and compensated by either an Applicant or a lender.

(g) *Participant* means a person or entity that is participating in any of the financial, investment, or business development programs authorized by the Small Business Act or Small Business Investment Act of 1958.

[61 FR 2681, Jan. 29, 1996, as amended at 85 FR 7647, Feb. 10, 2020; 85 FR 80587, Dec. 14, 2020]