{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/debt-to-income","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/debt-to-income","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":"debt-to-income","term":"Debt-to-Income","aka":"DTI, Debt-to-Income Ratio","group":"Reading the business","definition":"This ratio compares your total monthly debt payments to your gross monthly income. Lenders use it to gauge your ability to manage additional debt.","what_it_means":"Your personal debt-to-income ratio is a key factor in your global cash flow analysis for an SBA loan. If your personal DTI is too high, it can negatively impact the lender's assessment of your ability to support the business's debt, especially if the business is borderline.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/debt-to-income","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":"global-cash-flow","term":"Global cash flow","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/global-cash-flow"},{"slug":"personal-financial-statement","term":"Personal financial statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-financial-statement"},{"slug":"credit-check","term":"Credit Check","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-check"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What if my personal debt-to-income ratio is high, even with a good credit score?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-my-personal-debt-to-income-ratio-is-high-even-with-a-good-credit-score"},{"question":"What if I have a high debt-to-income ratio personally, even with a good credit score?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-i-have-a-high-debt-to-income-ratio-personally-even-with-a-good-credit-score"},{"question":"What if my personal credit score is strong (720+), but I have high personal debt-to-income (DTI)?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-my-personal-credit-score-is-strong-720-but-i-have-high-personal-debt-to-income-dti"},{"question":"Is there an income limit for my business to be \"small\" by SBA rules?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/is-there-an-income-limit-for-my-business-to-be-small-by-sba-rules"},{"question":"What is the maximum percentage of passive income a business can generate to remain 7(a) eligible?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-is-the-maximum-percentage-of-passive-income-a-business-can-generate-to-remain-7-a-eli"},{"question":"How is prior owner debt converted to equity treated for injection purposes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-is-prior-owner-debt-converted-to-equity-treated-for-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 — Debt-to-Income","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/debt-to-income","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}