{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/erisa","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/erisa","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":"erisa","term":"ERISA","aka":"Employee Retirement Income Security Act","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A federal law setting minimum standards for most private industry retirement and health plans to protect participants. As a buyer, you need to understand existing plans to ensure compliance and avoid inherited liabilities.","what_it_means":"During due diligence, review any retirement plans offered by the business to confirm they are ERISA-compliant. Non-compliance can lead to significant penalties. This is especially critical if you are acquiring a business with an existing 401(k) or similar employee benefit plan, requiring careful legal review.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/erisa","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"compliance","term":"Compliance","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/compliance"},{"slug":"due-diligence","term":"Due diligence","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/due-diligence"}],"related_questions":[]},"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 — ERISA","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/erisa","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}