{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/leasehold-acquisition","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/leasehold-acquisition","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":"leasehold-acquisition","term":"Leasehold Acquisition","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"The process of acquiring the rights to use a property under an existing lease agreement, rather than purchasing the property outright. This is common when the business operates from leased premises.","what_it_means":"When buying a business that leases its space, you'll acquire the leasehold interest. The SBA lender will require a new lease or an assignment of the existing lease in your name, often with a landlord subordination agreement to protect their collateral interests in leasehold improvements.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/leasehold-acquisition","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":"lease-agreement","term":"Lease agreement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lease-agreement"},{"slug":"leasehold-improvement","term":"Leasehold improvement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/leasehold-improvement"},{"slug":"collateral","term":"Collateral","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral"},{"slug":"lien","term":"Lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lien"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can I finance a significant leasehold improvement project with my SBA 7(a) acquisition loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-finance-a-significant-leasehold-improvement-project-with-my-sba-7-a-acquisition-loan"},{"question":"What level of environmental due diligence is required for leasehold improvements only, without real estate acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-level-of-environmental-due-diligence-is-required-for-leasehold-improvements-only-with"},{"question":"Can SBA 7(a) working capital funds be used for post-acquisition renovations or minor leasehold improvements?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-sba-7-a-working-capital-funds-be-used-for-post-acquisition-renovations-or-minor-leaseh"},{"question":"Can a tenant improvement allowance from a new landlord count towards my equity injection for a leasehold acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-tenant-improvement-allowance-from-a-new-landlord-count-towards-my-equity-injection-f"},{"question":"When is a leasehold mortgage acceptable as collateral for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-is-a-leasehold-mortgage-acceptable-as-collateral-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can an SBA loan finance leasehold improvements for a business operating in leased premises?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-loan-finance-leasehold-improvements-for-a-business-operating-in-leased-premises"}]},"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 — Leasehold Acquisition","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/leasehold-acquisition","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}