{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/acquisition-target","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/acquisition-target","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-target","term":"Acquisition Target","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"The specific business you are looking to buy. Identifying the right target is the first step in the acquisition process.","what_it_means":"Your acquisition target should align with your investment criteria, skills, and financial capacity. Thorough due diligence on the target is paramount to uncover any risks or opportunities. Evaluate its financials, operations, and market position before making an offer.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/acquisition-target","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"due-diligence","term":"Due diligence","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/due-diligence"},{"slug":"business-valuation","term":"Business valuation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-valuation"},{"slug":"loi","term":"LOI","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/loi"},{"slug":"business-broker","term":"Business broker","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-broker"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does high customer concentration in a target business affect SBA 7(a) acquisition loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-high-customer-concentration-in-a-target-business-affect-sba-7-a-acquisition-loan-"},{"question":"What specific due diligence does the lender perform on the target business's financial statements for an acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-specific-due-diligence-does-the-lender-perform-on-the-target-business-s-financial-sta"},{"question":"What common financial red flags in a target business can kill an SBA 7(a) acquisition loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-common-financial-red-flags-in-a-target-business-can-kill-an-sba-7-a-acquisition-loan-"},{"question":"Can I apply for an SBA 7(a) loan without having a specific business acquisition target identified yet?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-apply-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-without-having-a-specific-business-acquisition-target-iden"},{"question":"What specific due diligence does a lender perform on the target business's contracts and key customer relationships?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-specific-due-diligence-does-a-lender-perform-on-the-target-business-s-contracts-and-k"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance the inventory of a target business as part of the purchase price?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-finance-the-inventory-of-a-target-business-as-part-of-the-purchase-pri"}]},"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 Target","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/acquisition-target","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}