{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lienholder","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/lienholder","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":"lienholder","term":"Lienholder","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"The party, usually a lender, that holds a legal claim (lien) on an asset as collateral for a debt. As a buyer, you need to know who has claims on business assets you're acquiring.","what_it_means":"Before closing, your lender will perform a lien search to identify all existing lienholders on the business assets. Any existing liens must be satisfied or released by the seller at closing, ensuring you receive assets free and clear. Your SBA lender will become the primary lienholder on the business collateral.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lienholder","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":"lien","term":"Lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lien"},{"slug":"priority","term":"Priority","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/priority"},{"slug":"ucc-lien","term":"UCC lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ucc-lien"},{"slug":"collateral","term":"Collateral","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral"}],"related_questions":[]},"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 — Lienholder","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lienholder","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}