{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/loan-default","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/loan-default","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":"loan-default","term":"Loan default","group":"The loan itself","definition":"When a borrower fails to meet the terms of their loan agreement, like missing payments. A default can lead to serious consequences, including losing the business or personal assets.","what_it_means":"If your business struggles post-acquisition and you can't pay your SBA loan, you're in default. Lenders will first try to work with you, but if the situation isn't resolved, they'll move to liquidate collateral or pursue personal guarantees. Understand your cash flow and repayment capacity thoroughly before closing.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/loan-default","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":"servicing","term":"Servicing","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/servicing"},{"slug":"liquidation","term":"Liquidation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/liquidation"},{"slug":"personal-guarantee","term":"Personal guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantee"},{"slug":"loan-agreement","term":"Loan agreement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/loan-agreement"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What happens if I default on an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-happens-if-i-default-on-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"How does a lender request an SBA guaranty purchase after loan default?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-request-an-sba-guaranty-purchase-after-loan-default"},{"question":"Will a past federal student loan default, now rehabilitated, affect my SBA 7(a) loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/will-a-past-federal-student-loan-default-now-rehabilitated-affect-my-sba-7-a-loan-approval"},{"question":"What constitutes 'prudent liquidation' for a 7(a) loan to protect the SBA guaranty during default?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-constitutes-prudent-liquidation-for-a-7-a-loan-to-protect-the-sba-guaranty-during-def"},{"question":"What are a lender's primary responsibilities once a 7(a) loan enters liquidation after default?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-a-lender-s-primary-responsibilities-once-a-7-a-loan-enters-liquidation-after-defa"},{"question":"What are the specific consequences if I default on my personal guaranty for an SBA loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-are-the-specific-consequences-if-i-default-on-my-personal-guaranty-for-an-sba-loan"}]},"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 — Loan default","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/loan-default","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}