{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/general-overhead","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/general-overhead","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-overhead","term":"General overhead","group":"Reading the business","definition":"These are ongoing business expenses not directly tied to producing goods or services, like rent, administrative salaries, and office supplies. They are fixed costs essential for operations.","what_it_means":"Analyze overhead for efficiency and potential cost savings post-acquisition. Be wary of unusually low overhead, which might indicate deferred expenses the seller isn't disclosing, or unusually high overhead that could be trimmed.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/general-overhead","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"business-expense","term":"Business expense","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-expense"},{"slug":"utilities","term":"Utilities","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/utilities"},{"slug":"profit-and-loss-statement","term":"Profit and Loss Statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/profit-and-loss-statement"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does business overhead expense insurance differ from key-person life insurance?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-business-overhead-expense-insurance-differ-from-key-person-life-insurance"},{"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":"What are the general credit score expectations for an SBA 7(a) loan applicant?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-are-the-general-credit-score-expectations-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-applicant"},{"question":"For general business protection, should the business or individual owners own the life insurance policy?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/for-general-business-protection-should-the-business-or-individual-owners-own-the-life-insu"}]},"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 overhead","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/general-overhead","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}