{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/interest-accrual","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/interest-accrual","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":"interest-accrual","term":"Interest accrual","group":"The loan itself","definition":"The process of interest building up on your loan balance over time, even before payments start. It determines the total interest owed on your debt.","what_it_means":"Interest on your SBA loan starts accruing as soon as funds are disbursed, even if you have an initial deferment period for principal payments. You should understand your loan's interest rate (variable or fixed) and how often interest is calculated to accurately project your debt service. Accrued interest not paid can be added to the principal, increasing your total debt.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/interest-accrual","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":"variable-rate","term":"Variable rate","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/variable-rate"},{"slug":"fixed-interest-rate","term":"Fixed interest rate","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fixed-interest-rate"},{"slug":"debt-service","term":"Debt service","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/debt-service"},{"slug":"amortization","term":"Amortization","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortization"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What happens to the interest rate on an SBA 7(a) loan if general market interest rates go down significantly?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-happens-to-the-interest-rate-on-an-sba-7-a-loan-if-general-market-interest-rates-go-d"},{"question":"Can a full standby seller note be interest-bearing if interest is deferred until after the SBA loan is repaid?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-full-standby-seller-note-be-interest-bearing-if-interest-is-deferred-until-after-the"},{"question":"What is the difference between a fixed interest rate and a variable interest rate on an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-difference-between-a-fixed-interest-rate-and-a-variable-interest-rate-on-an-sb"},{"question":"How are SBA 7(a) loan interest rates determined?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-are-sba-7-a-loan-interest-rates-determined"},{"question":"What defines 'insurable interest' for a business life insurance policy?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-defines-insurable-interest-for-a-business-life-insurance-policy"},{"question":"Are SBA 7(a) loan interest rates fixed or variable?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-sba-7-a-loan-interest-rates-fixed-or-variable"}]},"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 — Interest accrual","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/interest-accrual","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}