SBA Form 159 Compliance: What Brokers Must Disclose, and How to Stay Out of Trouble — 12/10

Every year, dozens of SBA loan brokers unknowingly step over the compliance line. The biggest tripwire? SBA Form 159 — the Fee Disclosure and Compensation Agreement. This form seems simple, but it governs one of the most sensitive areas of SBA lending: how you get paid. The problem isn’t bad intent — it’s misunderstanding what counts as a compensable service, who pays it, and how it must be disclosed to the SBA and lender. Failing to complete the form properly can result in penalties, loan denials, or even suspension from participating in SBA programs.

The issue is especially tricky when it comes to lender referral fees. Brokers connect borrowers to lenders and receive a referral payment, but if that fee isn’t disclosed correctly — or if it’s tied to loan approval — it violates SBA policy. 

The SBA doesn’t prohibit legitimate referral compensation, but it demands total transparency: who paid whom, how much, and for what. Any fee that flows through a broker, consultant, or intermediary must appear on Form 159. There are no “side deals,” no off-the-books consulting arrangements, and no undisclosed commissions.

This NASLB webinar will walk you through exactly how to stay compliant — from proper disclosure of lender referral fees to understanding which fees require reporting. You’ll learn what’s permissible under SBA rules and the SOP 50 10 8 , including how to separate legitimate consulting income from loan-related work, how to draft ethical engagement letters, and how to defend your fee structure if questioned by a lender or SBA reviewer. You’ll see how to build a clean, auditable paper trail that keeps your practice above board.

At the end of this 60-minute training, you’ll walk away with a compliance toolkit: plain-English explanations of the rules, model disclosure language, and tested templates that have passed SBA scrutiny. You’ll know what to charge, what to disclose, and what to avoid — so you can grow your business without crossing ethical lines.

Benefits of Attending

• Learn how to properly disclose referral and consulting fees
  
• Understand the difference between permissible consulting and prohibited brokerage compensation
  
• Strengthen your relationships with lenders through transparent practices
  
• Protect your credibility and maintain SBA eligibility
  
• Gain model templates you can immediately implement
  
• Stay ahead of the SOP 50 10 8 updates effective June 1, 2025
  

10 Things You’ll Learn

1. The exact purpose of SBA Form 159 and when it’s required
   
2. How to disclose lender referral fees without violating SBA rules
   
3. Which consulting and advisory services must be reported
   
4. The difference between borrower-paid vs. lender-paid compensation
   
5. What makes a fee “unreasonable” under SBA scrutiny
   
6. How to itemize and document fees over $2,500
   
7. Why contingent or success-based fees are prohibited
   
8. How to structure side consulting agreements ethically
   
9. The red flags that trigger SBA audits or lender pushback
   
10.  How to use SBA Form 159 to protect your practice — not punish it
    

Don’t wait until a lender questions your fee disclosure. Learn how to protect yourself and your clients with clear, compliant compensation structures.

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Registration

NASLB Members –$149
Special discounted rate for NASLB members.

Non-Members — $249
Includes access to this live training and replay.

Best Value: Webinar + NASLB Membership — $395
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