What are the current ownership and control requirements for 8(a) certification in late 2026?

For 8(a) certification, the individual owner must demonstrate economic disadvantage, which includes specific thresholds for net worth, adjusted gross income, and total assets. To be economically disadvantaged for 8(a), the individual net worth must be less than $850,000, excluding the ownership interest in the applicant firm and the equity in the primary personal residence (13 CFR 124.104(c)(2)). The SBA presumes an individual is not economically disadvantaged if adjusted gross income averaged over the three preceding years exceeds $400,000 (13 CFR 124.104(c)(3)). Additionally, an individual will generally not be considered economically disadvantaged if the fair market value of all assets exceeds $6.5 million (13 CFR 124.104(c)(4)). These thresholds are current for late 2026 based on the regulations. You will also need to meet the other ownership and control requirements outlined in 13 CFR 124 to ensure your firm qualifies for the 8(a) Business Development Program.