{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/financial-impropriety","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/financial-impropriety","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":"financial-impropriety","term":"Financial Impropriety","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This refers to dishonest or unethical financial conduct, like fraud, embezzlement, or misrepresentation, which can disqualify a borrower or business from an SBA loan. It indicates a lack of good character.","what_it_means":"The SBA requires all owners of 20% or more to have \"good character.\" Any past financial impropriety by you, the seller, or the business itself can halt a 7(a) loan. Thoroughly vet the seller's and business's financial history during due diligence, including IRS transcripts.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/financial-impropriety","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":"sba-form-1919","title":"SBA Form 1919 — Borrower Information Form","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sba-form-1919-borrower-information-form","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":4,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sba-form-1919"}],"related":[{"slug":"fraud","term":"Fraud","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fraud"},{"slug":"embezzlement","term":"Embezzlement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/embezzlement"},{"slug":"good-character","term":"Good character","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/good-character"},{"slug":"irs-transcripts","term":"IRS transcripts (4506-T)","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/irs-transcripts"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What if my personal financial statement shows low liquid assets?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-if-my-personal-financial-statement-shows-low-liquid-assets"},{"question":"Are SBA 7(a) loans exclusively for businesses with financial difficulties?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/are-sba-7-a-loans-exclusively-for-businesses-with-financial-difficulties"},{"question":"What if my business is new and has no financial history?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-if-my-business-is-new-and-has-no-financial-history"},{"question":"Does misrepresenting financial information on the SBA application automatically kill approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/does-misrepresenting-financial-information-on-the-sba-application-automatically-kill-appro"},{"question":"How does my personal financial history affect SBA 7(a) loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-my-personal-financial-history-affect-sba-7-a-loan-approval"},{"question":"What specific financial documentation will I need to provide for my personal finances?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-specific-financial-documentation-will-i-need-to-provide-for-my-personal-finances"}]},"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 — Financial Impropriety","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/financial-impropriety","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}