{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/broker-fee","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/broker-fee","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":"broker-fee","term":"Broker fee","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"This is the compensation paid to a business broker or M&A advisor for facilitating the sale of a business. It's typically a percentage of the sale price.","what_it_means":"Broker fees are usually paid by the seller, but sometimes they can be structured into the overall deal costs, which might impact your total project costs. Ensure clarity on who pays what and that the fee structure is transparent before signing any agreements.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/broker-fee","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"}],"related":[{"slug":"third-party-agent","term":"Third-party agent","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/third-party-agent"},{"slug":"ma-advisor","term":"M&A advisor","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ma-advisor"},{"slug":"total-project-costs","term":"Total project costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/total-project-costs"},{"slug":"packaging-fee","term":"Packaging fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/packaging-fee"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can I use pre-closing expenses, like a business broker's fee, as part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-pre-closing-expenses-like-a-business-broker-s-fee-as-part-of-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Are there any other lender-specific fees beyond the SBA guaranty fee and ongoing servicing fee?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-there-any-other-lender-specific-fees-beyond-the-sba-guaranty-fee-and-ongoing-servicing"},{"question":"Can the lender charge application fees or underwriting fees in addition to the SBA guaranty fee?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-the-lender-charge-application-fees-or-underwriting-fees-in-addition-to-the-sba-guarant"},{"question":"What is the primary role of my business broker or M&A advisor in the SBA 7(a) loan process?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-primary-role-of-my-business-broker-or-m-a-advisor-in-the-sba-7-a-loan-process"},{"question":"Are there annual servicing fees or other recurring charges beyond the SBA servicing fee?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-there-annual-servicing-fees-or-other-recurring-charges-beyond-the-sba-servicing-fee"},{"question":"Can the lender charge an additional \"packaging fee\" on top of the SBA fees?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-the-lender-charge-an-additional-packaging-fee-on-top-of-the-sba-fees"}]},"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 — Broker fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/broker-fee","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}