Sources and Research: Where Our Facts Come From
GoHarvest relies on primary sources wherever they exist. These are the ones we use most, what each is good for, and what to watch out for. All links open the original source.
Government programs and rules
| Source | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| SBA: 7(a) loans | Program overview, rate caps, working capital pilot | Lender-facing details live elsewhere on SBA.gov |
| SBA: Types of 7(a) loans | Maximums, guaranty percentages, maturities by loan type | Written for lenders |
| SBA: 504 loans | Real estate and equipment program, eligible uses | Some pages show different maximums; confirm with a CDC |
| SBA: Microloans | Loans up to $50,000 via intermediaries | Terms are set by each intermediary |
| SBA news, July 2026: $10 million combined limit | 7(a) + 504 cumulative limit | Announcements precede SOP text |
| eCFR Title 13, Part 120 | SBA regulations, including guarantees | Day-to-day rules are in SBA's SOPs and notices |
| CFPB: Regulation B | Fair lending and notice rules for business credit | Interpretations and commentary matter |
| CFPB: Small business lending rule (Section 1071) | Data collection rule status | Dates have changed; check the current page |
| IRS: EINs | Getting a free EIN | Third-party sites that charge for it |
| California DFPI: commercial financing disclosures | State APR disclosure rules for business financing | Each state's law differs |
Data on small-business credit
| Source | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Reserve Banks: 2026 Report on Employer Firms | Application rates, approval outcomes, reasons for borrowing (2025 survey, 6,525 responses) | Convenience sample, not random |
| FRED: Small Business Credit Survey series | Survey series over time | Definitions change between survey years |
Credit bureaus
| Source | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Dun & Bradstreet: business credit scores and ratings | PAYDEX, Delinquency Predictor and Failure Score basics | Product pages also sell services |
| Dun & Bradstreet: D-U-N-S Number | Free D-U-N-S requests and timing | Paid expedite options are optional |
| Dun & Bradstreet documentation: PAYDEX definition | The 80 = prompt payment anchor | Technical documentation |
| Experian: business credit scores | Intelliscore Plus range and factors | Marketing alongside facts |
| SCORE: the three major business credit bureaus | Equifax and Experian scale summaries | Secondary source; check bureau pages for changes |
Free counseling
SBA's resource partners, such as Small Business Development Centers, SCORE and Women's Business Centers, offer free or low-cost counseling. They are a better next step than any website, including this one, for decisions specific to your business.
How we handle uncertainty
When sources conflict (for example, SBA's 504 page lists both $5 million and $5.5 million maximums), we say so and point to who can confirm. When we couldn't verify a commonly repeated figure at its source, such as a full table mapping each PAYDEX value to days late, we leave it out. Spotted something we should update? Email contact@goharvest.io.