{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/benchmark","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/benchmark","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":"benchmark","term":"Benchmark","group":"Reading the business","definition":"A benchmark is a standard or point of reference against which something can be measured or compared. In business, it helps assess performance relative to industry peers.","what_it_means":"When evaluating a business, you'll compare its financial performance (like revenue growth or profit margins) to industry benchmarks to see if it's performing well or poorly. For SBA loan interest rates, the benchmark is the base rate (like WSJ Prime or Term SOFR) that the lender's spread is added to.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/benchmark","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"wsj-prime","term":"WSJ Prime","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wsj-prime"},{"slug":"prime-rate","term":"Prime Rate","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/prime-rate"},{"slug":"sde","term":"SDE","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sde"},{"slug":"ebitda","term":"EBITDA","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ebitda"}],"related_questions":[]},"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 — Benchmark","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/benchmark","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}