{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/customer-lists","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/customer-lists","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":"customer-lists","term":"Customer Lists","group":"Reading the business","definition":"These are records of a business's current and past customers, often including contact information and purchase history. They are a valuable intangible asset representing future revenue potential.","what_it_means":"As part of due diligence, you'll want to review the business's customer lists to understand its customer base, concentration risk, and recurring revenue potential. These lists are often considered a general intangible and can serve as collateral for an SBA loan. Ensure you understand how the seller maintains and transfers this asset.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/customer-lists","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"general-intangible","term":"General intangible","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/general-intangible"},{"slug":"due-diligence","term":"Due diligence","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/due-diligence"},{"slug":"intangible-asset","term":"Intangible asset","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/intangible-asset"},{"slug":"goodwill","term":"Goodwill","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/goodwill"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does the SBA typically value intangible assets like customer lists or software for collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-the-sba-typically-value-intangible-assets-like-customer-lists-or-software-for-col"},{"question":"Can a 7(a) loan finance the purchase of intangible assets like customer lists or trade secrets in a business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-7-a-loan-finance-the-purchase-of-intangible-assets-like-customer-lists-or-trade-secr"},{"question":"How does a lender perfect a lien on intangible assets such as customer lists or proprietary software for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-perfect-a-lien-on-intangible-assets-such-as-customer-lists-or-proprietar"},{"question":"Is it possible to finance a business with an SBA 7(a) loan where most of its value is intangible assets like customer lists and brand reputation?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-it-possible-to-finance-a-business-with-an-sba-7-a-loan-where-most-of-its-value-is-intan"},{"question":"Can a high customer concentration (e.g., one customer is 50% of revenue) jeopardize my SBA 7(a) loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-high-customer-concentration-e-g-one-customer-is-50-of-revenue-jeopardize-my-sba-7-a-"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance the intangible assets of a service business, such as client lists or recurring contracts?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-finance-the-intangible-assets-of-a-service-business-such-as-client-lis"}]},"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 — Customer Lists","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/customer-lists","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}