{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/creditor","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/creditor","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":"creditor","term":"Creditor","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This is an individual or entity to whom money is owed. As a buyer, you need to identify all business creditors during due diligence to understand existing liabilities.","what_it_means":"When buying a business, a thorough lien search will identify all secured creditors. Any existing business debt not being paid off at closing will require a subordination agreement with your SBA lender, or it must be accounted for in your global cash flow analysis.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/creditor","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":"subordination-agreement","term":"Subordination agreement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/subordination-agreement"},{"slug":"lien","term":"Lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lien"},{"slug":"liability","term":"Liability","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/liability"},{"slug":"ucc-lien","term":"UCC lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ucc-lien"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"When is an intercreditor agreement required between a 7(a) lender and another secured creditor for an SBA loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-is-an-intercreditor-agreement-required-between-a-7-a-lender-and-another-secured-credi"},{"question":"What are the SBA's requirements for subordinating its lien position to another creditor on a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-sba-s-requirements-for-subordinating-its-lien-position-to-another-creditor-on"}]},"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 — Creditor","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/creditor","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}