Bigger Size Standards Proposed for Real Estate, Education SBA is proposing huge increases in size standards for the real estate industry. In its latest revision of size standards, the agency proposed to increase standards for 20 industries and one sub-industry in NAICS Sector 53, Real Estate and Rental and Leasing. SBA estimates that up to 13,000 additional firms would become eligible for small business programs under the new standards, 5% of the total number of small firms in Sector 53. The new standard would be $7 million in annual gross receipts, up from $2 million, for real estate agents and brokers, residential and non-residential property managers and appraisers. The standards for lessors of residential and non-residential buildings and other real estate property would jump to $25.5 million, from the current $7 million. The standard for building owners that lease space to the federal government would rise to $35.5 million, from the current $20.5 million. Sector 53 also covers rental and leasing of vehicles, construction machinery, office machinery and home health equipment, among other categories. All would see their size standards increase. (See the full list of proposed standards at www.setasidealert.com.) The proposed rule for Sector 53 is RIN 3245-AG28 in the Nov. 15 Federal Register. Comments are due Jan. 17. Sector 61, Educational Services SBA is proposing higher size standards for nine industries in NAICS Sector 61, Educational Services. The standards for computer training, NAICS 611420, and professional and management development training, NAICS 611430, would increase to $10 million, from the current $7 million. The standard for technical and trade schools would double to $14 million. SBA estimates the new standards would make about 1,500 additional companies eligible for small business status, approximately 2% of the total number of small firms in Sector 61. The proposed rule for Sector 61 is RIN 3245-AG29 in the Nov. 15 Federal Register. Comments are due Jan. 17. In setting size standards, SBA gives equal weight to five factors: average firm size; average assets size; concentration of the industry; distribution of firms by size; and small business share of federal contracting dollars. A white paper explaining the methodology is at www.sba.gov/size. SBA is currently in the midst of the first comprehensive review of size standards in more than 25 years. A provision of the 2010 Jobs Act requires that all standards be reviewed every five years from now on.