{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/existing-line-of-credit","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/existing-line-of-credit","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":"existing-line-of-credit","term":"Existing Line of Credit","group":"The loan itself","definition":"A revolving credit facility already in place for the business. As a buyer, you need to understand if this will be paid off at closing or if you're taking it over, impacting your working capital.","what_it_means":"With an SBA 7(a) acquisition, existing business debt, including lines of credit, must typically be paid off with loan proceeds or refinanced. Ensure the seller fully discloses all existing credit lines and confirm the closing statement addresses their payoff. Don't assume you can keep the existing line unless explicitly agreed with the lender.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/existing-line-of-credit","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"},{"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"}],"related":[{"slug":"line-of-credit","term":"Line of credit","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/line-of-credit"},{"slug":"working-capital","term":"Working capital","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/working-capital"},{"slug":"business-debt-refinancing","term":"Business debt refinancing","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-debt-refinancing"},{"slug":"total-project-costs","term":"Total project costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/total-project-costs"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can I use a secured personal line of credit as part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-a-secured-personal-line-of-credit-as-part-of-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can I use funds from a personal line of credit as part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-funds-from-a-personal-line-of-credit-as-part-of-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can funds from an unsecured personal line of credit be considered part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-funds-from-an-unsecured-personal-line-of-credit-be-considered-part-of-my-equity-inject"},{"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":"How does using funds from a home equity line of credit affect my down payment?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-using-funds-from-a-home-equity-line-of-credit-affect-my-down-payment"},{"question":"Can funds from a home equity line of credit be used for the down payment?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-funds-from-a-home-equity-line-of-credit-be-used-for-the-down-payment"}]},"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 — Existing Line of Credit","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/existing-line-of-credit","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}