{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/partial-acquisition","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/partial-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":"partial-acquisition","term":"Partial Acquisition","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"This is when a buyer only purchases a portion of a business, rather than the entire entity. The SBA 7(a) loan program generally requires a complete acquisition of an existing business.","what_it_means":"SBA 7(a) loans are primarily for acquiring 100% of an existing eligible business. While there are limited exceptions for certain partner buyouts, generally a Partial Acquisition is not eligible. You must acquire the entire operational entity to qualify for an acquisition loan.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/partial-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":"partner-buyout","term":"Partner buyout","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/partner-buyout"},{"slug":"bona-fide-change-of-ownership","term":"Bona Fide Change of Ownership","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/bona-fide-change-of-ownership"},{"slug":"asset-purchase","term":"Asset purchase","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/asset-purchase"},{"slug":"stock-purchase","term":"Stock purchase","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/stock-purchase"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does a seller note on *partial* standby affect my required equity injection for an acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-a-seller-note-on-partial-standby-affect-my-required-equity-injection-for-an-acqui"},{"question":"What are the requirements for a seller note to be structured with partial standby for a business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-are-the-requirements-for-a-seller-note-to-be-structured-with-partial-standby-for-a-bu"},{"question":"Can a seller note for a $1,000,000 acquisition be on partial standby for the SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-seller-note-for-a-1-000-000-acquisition-be-on-partial-standby-for-the-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can a seller note for a $1,000,000 business acquisition be on partial standby for the SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-seller-note-for-a-1-000-000-business-acquisition-be-on-partial-standby-for-the-sba-7"},{"question":"How does partial standby treatment affect a seller's note for eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-partial-standby-treatment-affect-a-seller-s-note-for-eligibility"},{"question":"Can a seller note on partial standby count towards the required equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-seller-note-on-partial-standby-count-towards-the-required-equity-injection"}]},"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 — Partial Acquisition","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/partial-acquisition","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}