{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/acquisition-loan","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/acquisition-loan","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"acquisition-loan","term":"Acquisition Loan","group":"The loan itself","definition":"A loan specifically used to finance the purchase of an existing business, including goodwill and assets. This is the primary use for SBA 7(a) loans in a business purchase.","what_it_means":"The SBA 7(a) program is widely used for business \"acquisition loans\" because it allows financing of intangible assets like goodwill, which conventional banks often shy away from. As a buyer, you'll structure your deal to include the business purchase price, working capital, and closing costs, all financed through this type of loan. This is what you're getting.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/acquisition-loan","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"7a-loan","term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"slug":"business-acquisition-loan","term":"Business acquisition loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-acquisition-loan"},{"slug":"goodwill","term":"Goodwill","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/goodwill"},{"slug":"total-project-costs","term":"Total project costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/total-project-costs"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does the SBA verify my management experience for an acquisition loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-the-sba-verify-my-management-experience-for-an-acquisition-loan"},{"question":"Is a separate business valuation required for an SBA 7(a) acquisition loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-a-separate-business-valuation-required-for-an-sba-7-a-acquisition-loan"},{"question":"Is the SBA guaranty fee negotiable with the lender for my acquisition loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-the-sba-guaranty-fee-negotiable-with-the-lender-for-my-acquisition-loan"},{"question":"How does the SBA define 'goodwill' in a business acquisition for loan purposes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-the-sba-define-goodwill-in-a-business-acquisition-for-loan-purposes"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance inventory immediately after a business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-finance-inventory-immediately-after-a-business-acquisition"},{"question":"What is the fastest a typical SBA 7(a) business acquisition loan can close?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-fastest-a-typical-sba-7-a-business-acquisition-loan-can-close"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Acquisition Loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/acquisition-loan","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}