Partner with established contractors for growth and success
Last reviewed on May 12, 2026.
What the program does
The Small Business Administration's All Small Mentor-Protégé Program lets an established business (the mentor) provide developmental support to a small business (the protégé) under an SBA-approved agreement. The pair can then form a joint venture and pursue contracts that would normally be reserved for small businesses alone, including set-asides under any small business socioeconomic category for which the protégé qualifies.
The program replaced separate mentor-protégé tracks the SBA previously ran for 8(a) firms only. The current iteration is open to any small business — 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB, or simply small for size purposes.
Program benefits
For protégés
Technical assistance and capability transfer
Business development guidance
Joint venture opportunities on larger contracts
Past performance credit from JV work
For mentors
Subcontracting credit on certain plans
Joint venture eligibility on small-business set-asides
Access to set-aside markets through the JV
Long-term supplier and partner relationships
Joint ventures under the program
JV competes as a small business when the protégé is small
Up to three contracts under the JV within two years
Combined capabilities and past performance
Protégé must perform at least 40% of the JV's work
Eligibility
Protégé
Qualifies as small under the SBA size standard for its primary NAICS code
Has a documented developmental need the mentor can address
Has no more than two mentor-protégé agreements during its lifetime
Generally has no more than one active mentor at a time
Mentor
Is capable of providing developmental assistance
Demonstrates good character and federal regulatory compliance
Has no more than three protégés at one time
Is not debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible
What the mentor-protégé agreement should cover
The protégé's developmental needs and the assistance the mentor will provide (management, technical, financial, business development, or contract administration)
Specific milestones and metrics the protégé will use to measure progress
Term of the agreement (initial term up to three years, extendable to six)
Termination provisions, including conditions under which either party may exit
How the SBA's required annual reporting will be produced
The SBA reviews each agreement before approval. Common rejection reasons include vague developmental plans and overly broad mentor authority that would compromise the protégé's independence.
Common pitfalls
Treating the JV as a vehicle for the mentor to do the work while the protégé exists mainly on paper — SBA enforces the 40% protégé work share strictly.
Failing to keep the JV agreement, accounting, and bank accounts separate from either parent firm.
Operating without a documented developmental plan, which makes annual reporting weak and can lead to termination.
Not updating the agreement when the protégé's NAICS scope or capabilities change.