{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral-adequacy","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/collateral-adequacy","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":"collateral-adequacy","term":"Collateral adequacy","group":"Reading the business","definition":"This refers to whether the value of the business's assets is sufficient to secure the SBA loan. As a buyer, you care because the SBA wants assurance that if the business fails, there are assets to cover the loan.","what_it_means":"The SBA requires lenders to take all available collateral up to the loan amount. If the business assets don't fully cover the loan, the lender will look to personal assets, like your home, to make up the collateral shortfall. Understand what assets are being pledged and their liquidation value before closing.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral-adequacy","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":"collateral","term":"Collateral","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral"},{"slug":"collateral-shortfall","term":"Collateral shortfall","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral-shortfall"},{"slug":"liquidation-value","term":"Liquidation Value","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/liquidation-value"},{"slug":"personal-guarantee","term":"Personal guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantee"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can a 7(a) lender release a portion of the collateral without prior SBA approval if the remaining collateral is sufficient?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-7-a-lender-release-a-portion-of-the-collateral-without-prior-sba-approval-if-the-rem"},{"question":"When can a 7(a) lender release a portion of the collateral without prior SBA approval if the remaining collateral is sufficient?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-can-a-7-a-lender-release-a-portion-of-the-collateral-without-prior-sba-approval-if-th"},{"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":"What happens if my business does not have enough collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-happens-if-my-business-does-not-have-enough-collateral"},{"question":"Can my business's accounts receivable be used as collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-my-business-s-accounts-receivable-be-used-as-collateral"},{"question":"Is collateral always required for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/is-collateral-always-required-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"}]},"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 — Collateral adequacy","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral-adequacy","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}