{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/asset-sale","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/asset-sale","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":"asset-sale","term":"Asset sale","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"In an asset sale, you buy specific assets (equipment, inventory, goodwill) of a business, not the legal entity itself. This is the most common structure for small business acquisitions.","what_it_means":"With an SBA 7(a) loan, nearly all small business acquisitions are structured as asset sales. This protects you from inheriting the seller's past liabilities, as you're not buying their legal entity. You'll specify exactly which assets you're acquiring in the purchase agreement.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/asset-sale","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"asset-purchase","term":"Asset purchase","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/asset-purchase"},{"slug":"goodwill","term":"Goodwill","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/goodwill"},{"slug":"inventory","term":"Inventory","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/inventory"},{"slug":"collateral","term":"Collateral","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What specific documentation is required for a lender to verify equity injection from the sale of a personal asset?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-documentation-is-required-for-a-lender-to-verify-equity-injection-from-the-s"},{"question":"What if my equity injection funds are from the sale of a personal asset like a boat or RV?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-my-equity-injection-funds-are-from-the-sale-of-a-personal-asset-like-a-boat-or-rv"},{"question":"What is the difference between an asset and stock purchase in a buyout?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-difference-between-an-asset-and-stock-purchase-in-a-buyout"},{"question":"How does a recent significant personal asset purchase affect my SBA 7(a) loan application?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-a-recent-significant-personal-asset-purchase-affect-my-sba-7-a-loan-application"},{"question":"What if the business for sale uses proprietary software or a unique technology?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-business-for-sale-uses-proprietary-software-or-a-unique-technology"},{"question":"How does a lender verify equity injection from the sale of a cryptocurrency portfolio?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-verify-equity-injection-from-the-sale-of-a-cryptocurrency-portfolio"}]},"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 — Asset sale","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/asset-sale","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}