{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/passive-ownership","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/passive-ownership","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":"passive-ownership","term":"Passive ownership","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This means you own part of a business but aren't actively involved in its daily operations or management. The SBA has specific rules about who can be a passive owner in a 7(a) deal.","what_it_means":"For an SBA loan, all owners with 20% or more equity must personally guarantee the loan, even if they're passive. If you're buying a business with partners who won't be active, ensure they understand their guaranty obligations. The SBA generally wants active management for 7(a) businesses.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/passive-ownership","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":"personal-guarantee","term":"Personal guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantee"},{"slug":"key-principal","term":"Key principal","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/key-principal"},{"slug":"co-borrower","term":"Co-borrower","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/co-borrower"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What if the acquired business primarily generates revenue from passive rental income?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-acquired-business-primarily-generates-revenue-from-passive-rental-income"},{"question":"What constitutes \"passive income\" disqualifying a business from 7(a) loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-constitutes-passive-income-disqualifying-a-business-from-7-a-loan-eligibility"},{"question":"Can the personal guaranty be limited for certain passive investors or minority owners?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-the-personal-guaranty-be-limited-for-certain-passive-investors-or-minority-owners"},{"question":"Do businesses that primarily generate passive income qualify for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/do-businesses-that-primarily-generate-passive-income-qualify-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan be used to buy stock or passive investments?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-be-used-to-buy-stock-or-passive-investments"},{"question":"Will acquiring a business in a restricted industry (e.g., gambling, passive investing) kill approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/will-acquiring-a-business-in-a-restricted-industry-e-g-gambling-passive-investing-kill-app"}]},"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 — Passive ownership","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/passive-ownership","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}