{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral-gap","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/collateral-gap","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-gap","term":"Collateral gap","group":"The loan itself","definition":"This occurs when the liquidation value of the business assets is less than the loan amount. The SBA requires lenders to seek additional collateral to cover this shortfall.","what_it_means":"Lenders perform a collateral analysis to determine the liquidation value of the business assets. If this value is insufficient to cover the loan, you have a collateral gap. The SBA requires lenders to take available equity from personal real estate or other assets to fill this gap. Be ready to offer up personal assets or negotiate a deal restructuring if the gap is too large.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral-gap","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-analysis","term":"Collateral analysis","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral-analysis"},{"slug":"additional-collateral","term":"Additional collateral","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/additional-collateral"},{"slug":"liquidation-value","term":"Liquidation Value","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/liquidation-value"}],"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 gap","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral-gap","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}