{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortization-period","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/amortization-period","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":"amortization-period","term":"Amortization Period","group":"The loan itself","definition":"This is the total length of time over which a loan is scheduled to be repaid through regular principal and interest payments. Buyers need to know this period as it dictates the size of monthly payments and the total interest paid.","what_it_means":"For SBA 7(a) business acquisitions, the maximum amortization period is typically 10 years, though it can extend to 25 years if real estate is included. A longer amortization period means lower monthly payments but more total interest paid over the life of the loan. Balance payment affordability with total cost.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortization-period","official_sources":[{"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"},{"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"}],"related":[{"slug":"term-maturity","term":"Term / maturity","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-maturity"},{"slug":"principal-and-interest","term":"Principal and interest","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/principal-and-interest"},{"slug":"loan-amount","term":"Loan Amount","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/loan-amount"},{"slug":"accrue-interest","term":"Accrue Interest","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/accrue-interest"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can a lender approve a deferment period without prior SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-lender-approve-a-deferment-period-without-prior-sba-approval"},{"question":"What is the typical repayment period for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-typical-repayment-period-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can a full standby seller note accrue interest during the standby period?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-full-standby-seller-note-accrue-interest-during-the-standby-period"},{"question":"What is the usual repayment period for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-usual-repayment-period-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What happens if the acquired business declines significantly during the loan underwriting period?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-happens-if-the-acquired-business-declines-significantly-during-the-loan-underwriting-"},{"question":"What is the maximum repayment period allowed for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-maximum-repayment-period-allowed-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"}]},"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 — Amortization Period","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortization-period","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}