{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/general-intangible","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/general-intangible","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":"general-intangible","term":"General intangible","group":"Reading the business","definition":"A general intangible is a broad category of business assets that lack a physical form but have value, such as intellectual property, goodwill, or customer lists. For an SBA loan, these assets are typically included as collateral, even if hard to value.","what_it_means":"The SBA requires lenders to take a lien on all available business assets, including general intangibles. While these assets don't have a clear liquidation value, they are important for the overall value of the business. Understand which of these are critical to the business's ongoing operation.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/general-intangible","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"}],"related":[{"slug":"intangible-asset","term":"Intangible asset","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/intangible-asset"},{"slug":"goodwill","term":"Goodwill","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/goodwill"},{"slug":"collateral","term":"Collateral","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral"},{"slug":"business-valuation","term":"Business valuation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-valuation"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan be used for general business expansion?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-be-used-for-general-business-expansion"},{"question":"What are the general collateral requirements for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-general-collateral-requirements-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What is the SBA's general requirement for lien position on business collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-is-the-sba-s-general-requirement-for-lien-position-on-business-collateral"},{"question":"How does the SBA typically value intangible assets like customer lists or software for collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-the-sba-typically-value-intangible-assets-like-customer-lists-or-software-for-col"},{"question":"How does an SBA 7(a) loan handle intangible assets like intellectual property as collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-an-sba-7-a-loan-handle-intangible-assets-like-intellectual-property-as-collateral"},{"question":"Does the SBA take a lien on all business assets, even minor fixtures or intangible assets?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/does-the-sba-take-a-lien-on-all-business-assets-even-minor-fixtures-or-intangible-assets"}]},"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 — General intangible","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/general-intangible","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}