{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-gap","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/equity-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":"equity-gap","term":"Equity Gap","group":"Your money in the deal","definition":"This is the difference between the total acquisition cost and the maximum loan amount you can secure. It's the portion of the deal you need to cover with your own funds or other non-loan sources.","what_it_means":"If your total project costs exceed what the SBA 7(a) loan will cover, you have an equity gap. This gap must be filled by your equity injection, a seller note on full standby, or other approved capital contributions. Lenders need to see this gap fully covered before approving the loan.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-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"}],"related":[{"slug":"equity-injection","term":"Equity injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-injection"},{"slug":"total-project-costs","term":"Total project costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/total-project-costs"},{"slug":"seller-note","term":"Seller note","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/seller-note"},{"slug":"standby","term":"Standby","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/standby"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can funds from a home equity line of credit be used for my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-funds-from-a-home-equity-line-of-credit-be-used-for-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can I use funds from a home equity line of credit for my 10% equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-funds-from-a-home-equity-line-of-credit-for-my-10-equity-injection"},{"question":"How is 'sweat equity' or future services treated for an SBA 7(a) loan equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-is-sweat-equity-or-future-services-treated-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can sweat equity or future services I provide to the business count towards the required equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-sweat-equity-or-future-services-i-provide-to-the-business-count-towards-the-required-e"},{"question":"Can funds from a private equity firm count as equity injection for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-funds-from-a-private-equity-firm-count-as-equity-injection-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can a borrower's sweat equity count towards the required equity injection for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-borrower-s-sweat-equity-count-towards-the-required-equity-injection-for-a-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 — Equity Gap","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-gap","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}