{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/microloan-program","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/microloan-program","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":"microloan-program","term":"Microloan Program","group":"The loan itself","definition":"This SBA program provides small loans, up to $50,000, primarily for working capital or inventory to small businesses, often startups. It's not structured for typical business acquisitions.","what_it_means":"Microloans are too small for most business acquisitions you'll consider, which often run into the hundreds of thousands or millions. Your focus should be on the standard SBA 7(a) loan for buying an established business, which offers much higher loan amounts.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/microloan-program","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":"7a-loan","term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"slug":"business-acquisition-loan","term":"Business acquisition loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-acquisition-loan"},{"slug":"working-capital","term":"Working capital","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/working-capital"},{"slug":"small-business","term":"Small business","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/small-business"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Is the SBA 7(a) program widely used by small businesses?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/is-the-sba-7-a-program-widely-used-by-small-businesses"},{"question":"What does 'Preferred Lender Program' (PLP) status mean for a bank?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-does-preferred-lender-program-plp-status-mean-for-a-bank"},{"question":"Does the SBA 7(a) program have a minimum loan size?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-the-sba-7-a-program-have-a-minimum-loan-size"},{"question":"What is the main purpose of an SBA 7(a) loan program?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-main-purpose-of-an-sba-7-a-loan-program"},{"question":"What does the '7(a)' in an SBA loan program name signify?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-does-the-7-a-in-an-sba-loan-program-name-signify"},{"question":"What is the basic purpose of the SBA 7(a) loan program?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-basic-purpose-of-the-sba-7-a-loan-program"}]},"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 — Microloan Program","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/microloan-program","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}