{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fully-amortizing-term","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/fully-amortizing-term","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":"fully-amortizing-term","term":"Fully amortizing term","group":"The loan itself","definition":"A loan with a fully amortizing term means your regular payments of principal and interest will pay off the entire loan balance by the end of the term. There's no large \"balloon payment\" at the end.","what_it_means":"Most SBA 7(a) loans are fully amortizing, which is good for buyers because it provides predictable payments and a clear path to debt freedom. Confirm your loan structure doesn't include any balloon payments, which are rare but can create a significant financial surprise at maturity.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fully-amortizing-term","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":"amortization","term":"Amortization","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortization"},{"slug":"balloon-payment","term":"Balloon payment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/balloon-payment"},{"slug":"principal-and-interest","term":"Principal and interest","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/principal-and-interest"},{"slug":"term-maturity","term":"Term / maturity","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-maturity"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can the seller receive interest payments on a fully subordinated seller note during the SBA loan term?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-the-seller-receive-interest-payments-on-a-fully-subordinated-seller-note-during-the-sb"},{"question":"When can a lender approve a short-term deferment or modification of a 7(a) loan's payment terms without prior SBA consent?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-can-a-lender-approve-a-short-term-deferment-or-modification-of-a-7-a-loan-s-payment-t"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance tenant improvements on leased property if the lease term matches the loan term?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-finance-tenant-improvements-on-leased-property-if-the-lease-term-match"},{"question":"What are the consequences if a fully standby seller note is prematurely repaid?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-consequences-if-a-fully-standby-seller-note-is-prematurely-repaid"},{"question":"If I am buying a business that leases its property, can I get a longer loan term if the lease is long-term?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/if-i-am-buying-a-business-that-leases-its-property-can-i-get-a-longer-loan-term-if-the-lea"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan fully finance the goodwill component of a business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-fully-finance-the-goodwill-component-of-a-business-acquisition"}]},"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 — Fully amortizing term","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fully-amortizing-term","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}