{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/cash-reserve","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/cash-reserve","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":"cash-reserve","term":"Cash Reserve","group":"Your money in the deal","definition":"A cash reserve is liquid funds held aside for unexpected expenses, working capital needs, or emergencies after an acquisition. It acts as a buffer to ensure business stability.","what_it_means":"SBA lenders often require a certain amount of cash reserve as part of your equity injection, especially for deals with tight cash flow projections or where significant working capital is needed post-closing. This shows you have sufficient funds beyond the purchase price to navigate unforeseen challenges. Plan for this as part of your total project costs.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/cash-reserve","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":"equity-injection","term":"Equity injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-injection"},{"slug":"working-capital","term":"Working capital","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/working-capital"},{"slug":"total-project-costs","term":"Total project costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/total-project-costs"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan include funds for a cash reserve to cover initial operating losses?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-include-funds-for-a-cash-reserve-to-cover-initial-operating-losses"},{"question":"Besides cash, what non-cash assets can I contribute to meet the 10% equity injection for an $800,000 acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/besides-cash-what-non-cash-assets-can-i-contribute-to-meet-the-10-equity-injection-for-an-"},{"question":"Can cash in the business bank account count as collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-cash-in-the-business-bank-account-count-as-collateral"},{"question":"Is there a minimum cash portion for the equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-there-a-minimum-cash-portion-for-the-equity-injection"},{"question":"Is my equity injection (down payment) always required to be cash?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/is-my-equity-injection-down-payment-always-required-to-be-cash"},{"question":"How does the SBA define 'unencumbered cash' for equity injection purposes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-the-sba-define-unencumbered-cash-for-equity-injection-purposes"}]},"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 — Cash Reserve","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/cash-reserve","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}