SBA The SBA 7(a) Playbook for Buying a Closely Held Business: What SOP 50-10 8 Changed and How to Close the Deal Buying a closely held business on SBA 7(a) means working against a rulebook that changed on June 1, 2025. The playbook: personal guarantees, affiliation rules, Form 155 seller-note standby, SOP 50-10 8 change-of-ownership rules, and the diligence checklist that stops closings.