About SFSB
Establishing the Standard for Seller Finance Excellence
The Seller Finance Standards Board is a professional trade association dedicated to elevating the quality, transparency, and professionalism of seller-financed transactions in the small business marketplace.
Our Mission
Why the SFSB Exists
The Seller Finance Standards Board exists to bring institutional rigor and professional accountability to one of the most important — and historically underregulated — segments of small business finance. Seller financing powers billions of dollars in business transfers each year, yet until now there has been no authoritative body setting professional standards, form agreements, or competency benchmarks for the practitioners who facilitate these transactions.
SFSB fills that void. We develop and publish the industry's definitive form agreements, best practice guidelines, and professional standards. We certify practitioners through the rigorous SFA® credential. We advocate for clear, fair regulatory frameworks that protect both parties in a seller-financed transaction. And we build the professional community that connects note brokers, note investors, business brokers, attorneys, servicers, and lenders around shared values.
A stronger, more professional seller finance industry produces better outcomes — for business buyers who access more flexible capital, for sellers who achieve better transaction terms, for investors who deploy capital in well-documented, fairly priced instruments, and for the communities that depend on the successful transfer of small businesses.
Core Values
What We Stand For
These four principles guide everything SFSB does — from standards development to member relations.
Integrity
We hold ourselves and our members to the highest ethical standards in every transaction and professional interaction.
Transparency
We advance an industry where all parties have access to clear disclosures, fair terms, and honest information.
Education
We believe a more knowledgeable profession produces better outcomes for buyers, sellers, investors, and communities.
Industry Advancement
We actively work to expand the professionalism, regulatory clarity, and public trust that seller finance deserves.
Governance
How SFSB is Governed
The Seller Finance Standards Board is governed by an elected Board of Directors composed of active industry practitioners. The Board sets policy, approves standards, and oversees the SFA® certification program.
Day-to-day operations are managed by the Executive Committee, which reports to the full Board. Substantive work — from standards drafting to ethics adjudication — is carried out by six standing committees, each open to qualified member participation.
Standing Committees
Standards Committee
Oversees the development, review, and publication of SFSB form agreements and best practice documents.
Education Committee
Develops and maintains the SFA® curriculum, exam, and continuing education requirements.
Legal & Regulatory Committee
Monitors state and federal regulatory developments affecting seller-financed transactions.
Ethics Committee
Receives and adjudicates member ethics complaints; maintains the SFSB Code of Ethics.
Membership Committee
Sets membership policy, reviews applications, and manages member communications.
Editorial Committee
Publishes the SFSB newsletter, white papers, and industry research.
Professional Standards
SFSB Code of Ethics
All SFSB members are bound by this Code of Ethics as a condition of membership. Violations are subject to review by the Ethics Committee.
Act in the best interests of clients and counterparties; avoid conflicts of interest or disclose them promptly.
Provide only accurate, verifiable representations regarding deal terms, note performance, and property condition.
Maintain strict confidentiality of non-public transaction and financial information.
Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing seller-financed transactions.
Use only SFSB-approved or attorney-reviewed form agreements in relevant transactions.
Disclose all compensation, fees, and beneficial interests received in connection with a transaction.
Refrain from misrepresenting credentials, certifications, or professional designations.
Treat all parties — buyers, sellers, borrowers, and investors — with fairness and respect.
Cooperate fully with any SFSB Ethics Committee investigation or inquiry.
Commit to ongoing professional education and maintain currency with evolving best practices.
Our History
Founded in 2026 to Fill a Critical Gap
The Seller Finance Standards Board was founded in 2026 in response to a clear and longstanding gap: seller financing, which powers the transfer of thousands of small businesses each year, had no authoritative professional organization, no enforceable standards, and no recognized credential for practitioners.
For decades, note brokers, business brokers, note investors, and attorneys working in seller finance operated from informal networks and inconsistent documentation. Form agreements varied by practitioner and jurisdiction. There was no nationally recognized definition of what a qualified seller finance professional looked like — no curriculum, no exam, no credential that a buyer, seller, or investor could rely on as a signal of competency.
A group of experienced note brokers, note investors, business brokers, and industry attorneys came together in 2026 with a shared conviction: seller finance deserves the same institutional infrastructure that supports commercial real estate finance, securities markets, and other areas of professional finance. That conviction became the Seller Finance Standards Board.
2026 — Founding
Organization Established
The Seller Finance Standards Board is formally established as a professional trade association for the seller finance industry. Governance structure — including a Board of Directors and six standing committees — is put in place.
2026 — Standards
Six Foundational Standards Published
SFSB publishes SFSB-1 through SFSB-6 — the first industry-wide set of form agreements and best practice guidelines covering the complete lifecycle of a seller-financed transaction, from purchase agreement through note servicing.
2026 — Education
SFA® Certification Program Launched
The Certified Seller Finance Advisor (SFA®) designation is announced — the industry's first rigorous, proctored credential for seller finance professionals. The 100-hour, 10-module curriculum covers deal structuring, note underwriting, legal frameworks, servicing, and ethics.
“SFSB is building the professional community that this industry has long deserved — and that its continued growth demands.”