{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/appraisal","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/appraisal","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":"appraisal","term":"Appraisal","group":"Reading the business","definition":"An appraisal is an expert's opinion on the value of an asset or business. For a buyer, it confirms the purchase price is reasonable and helps the lender assess collateral.","what_it_means":"For an SBA 7(a) loan, an appraisal is often required for real estate or business assets being purchased, ensuring the loan amount aligns with the collateral's fair market value. You'll rely on a third-party appraiser to give an unbiased view, which the lender uses for underwriting.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/appraisal","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":"business-valuation","term":"Business valuation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-valuation"},{"slug":"collateral","term":"Collateral","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral"},{"slug":"collateral-analysis","term":"Collateral analysis","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral-analysis"},{"slug":"fair-market-value","term":"Fair market value","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fair-market-value"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Is an independent appraisal always required when an acquisition includes significant goodwill?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-an-independent-appraisal-always-required-when-an-acquisition-includes-significant-goodw"},{"question":"When is an independent appraisal required for non-real estate business assets being acquired?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/when-is-an-independent-appraisal-required-for-non-real-estate-business-assets-being-acquir"},{"question":"Does the SBA require an independent business appraisal for a business acquisition costing $400,000?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/does-the-sba-require-an-independent-business-appraisal-for-a-business-acquisition-costing-"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan cover the cost of a business valuation or appraisal?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-cover-the-cost-of-a-business-valuation-or-appraisal"},{"question":"When is a business appraisal required for a change of ownership transaction exceeding $500,000?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-is-a-business-appraisal-required-for-a-change-of-ownership-transaction-exceeding-500-"},{"question":"When is a separate goodwill appraisal necessary for a business acquisition loan exceeding $1,000,000?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/when-is-a-separate-goodwill-appraisal-necessary-for-a-business-acquisition-loan-exceeding-"}]},"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 — Appraisal","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/appraisal","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}