{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/eligibility-requirements","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/eligibility-requirements","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":"eligibility-requirements","term":"Eligibility Requirements","group":"The loan itself","definition":"The criteria set by the SBA and lenders that a business and its owners must meet to qualify for a 7(a) loan. Failing to meet these means no loan.","what_it_means":"Before investing significant time, ensure both the target business and you as the borrower meet all SBA and lender eligibility requirements. This includes factors like business type, size, owner character, and where the business operates. An early check saves you from wasted effort.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/eligibility-requirements","official_sources":[{"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"},{"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":"ineligible-borrower","term":"Ineligible Borrower","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ineligible-borrower"},{"slug":"7a-loan","term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","term":"SOP 50 10","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sop-50-10"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What specific requirements apply to a franchise system for SBA 7(a) loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-specific-requirements-apply-to-a-franchise-system-for-sba-7-a-loan-eligibility"},{"question":"What specific residency requirements must a non-citizen owner meet for 7(a) loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-residency-requirements-must-a-non-citizen-owner-meet-for-7-a-loan-eligibilit"},{"question":"What are the basic eligibility requirements for a business to get an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-are-the-basic-eligibility-requirements-for-a-business-to-get-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What are the eligibility requirements for a franchise business not listed on the SBA Franchise Directory?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-eligibility-requirements-for-a-franchise-business-not-listed-on-the-sba-franc"},{"question":"What are the specific eligibility requirements for a franchise to be listed on the SBA Franchise Directory?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-are-the-specific-eligibility-requirements-for-a-franchise-to-be-listed-on-the-sba-fra"},{"question":"What are the eligibility requirements for funds borrowed from a third party to count as equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-are-the-eligibility-requirements-for-funds-borrowed-from-a-third-party-to-count-as-eq"}]},"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 — Eligibility Requirements","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/eligibility-requirements","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}