{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/federal-debt-limits","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/federal-debt-limits","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":"federal-debt-limits","term":"Federal debt limits","group":"The loan itself","definition":"The maximum total amount of SBA loan debt a single borrower or affiliated group can have outstanding. This applies across all SBA programs, not just a single loan.","what_it_means":"The SBA has a hard cap of $5 million per borrower (or affiliated group) for 7(a) loans. If you already have existing SBA debt, or if you're acquiring a business that does, factor this into your total financing strategy. It can limit the amount you are eligible to borrow for the acquisition.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/federal-debt-limits","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"}],"related":[{"slug":"affiliation","term":"Affiliation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/affiliation"},{"slug":"7a-loan","term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"slug":"eligibility","term":"Eligibility","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/eligibility"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can a business owner with delinquent federal debt still be eligible for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-business-owner-with-delinquent-federal-debt-still-be-eligible-for-a-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can I get an SBA 7(a) loan if I have defaulted on a previous federal debt?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-i-get-an-sba-7-a-loan-if-i-have-defaulted-on-a-previous-federal-debt"},{"question":"What happens if my business has outstanding federal taxes, like IRS debt, when applying for an SBA loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-happens-if-my-business-has-outstanding-federal-taxes-like-irs-debt-when-applying-for-"},{"question":"What happens if a buyer has defaulted on a previous federal debt, like a student loan or a prior SBA loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-happens-if-a-buyer-has-defaulted-on-a-previous-federal-debt-like-a-student-loan-or-a-"},{"question":"How does a borrower's prior federal debt delinquency or default (e.g., tax lien) impact their 7(a) loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-borrower-s-prior-federal-debt-delinquency-or-default-e-g-tax-lien-impact-their-"},{"question":"How does the lender determine if a prior federal debt delinquency or default (e.g., student loan, tax lien) impacts 7(a) loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-lender-determine-if-a-prior-federal-debt-delinquency-or-default-e-g-student-l"}]},"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 — Federal debt limits","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/federal-debt-limits","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}