Free Assessment
SBIR Eligibility Quiz
Answer eight yes/no questions to find the most common eligibility gaps before you invest in a proposal.
Is your company a for-profit business organized in the United States?
SBIR/STTR applicants must be U.S.-based for-profit small businesses at the time of award.
Does your company qualify as a small business under SBA size standards?
Most SBIR applicants must have 500 or fewer employees, including affiliates where applicable.
Is the company majority owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents?
Ownership and control rules are a common issue for venture-backed and international teams.
Can the principal investigator be primarily employed by the company at award?
SBIR generally requires the PI to be primarily employed by the applicant small business.
Can the company perform the required share of the research work?
SBIR Phase I usually requires at least two-thirds of the work to be performed by the small business.
Is the project technical R&D rather than routine services or product resale?
SBIR funds research and development with technical uncertainty and commercialization potential.
Can you describe a realistic commercial or government transition path?
Agencies evaluate whether the technology can move beyond the award into real-world use.
Can your company complete SAM.gov and agency portal registration before award?
Registration is not always required at proposal start, but it is required before receiving federal awards.
Answer every question to see your eligibility result.