{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-debt-service","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/personal-debt-service","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":"personal-debt-service","term":"Personal debt service","group":"Reading the business","definition":"These are the payments you, the buyer, make on your personal debts, such as mortgages, car loans, or credit cards. Lenders factor this into your overall repayment capacity.","what_it_means":"Your personal debt service directly impacts your global cash flow. The SBA lender will assess if you have enough personal income, combined with the business's cash flow, to cover all personal and business debt. High personal debt service can reduce your perceived ability to support the business, especially in its early years.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-debt-service","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":"personal-financial-statement","term":"Personal financial statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-financial-statement"},{"slug":"debt-service","term":"Debt service","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/debt-service"},{"slug":"global-cash-flow","term":"Global cash flow","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/global-cash-flow"},{"slug":"repayment-capacity","term":"Repayment capacity","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/repayment-capacity"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Does the SBA require a specific debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) for approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/does-the-sba-require-a-specific-debt-service-coverage-ratio-dscr-for-approval"},{"question":"When is a debt service coverage ratio waiver or exception possible for an acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-is-a-debt-service-coverage-ratio-waiver-or-exception-possible-for-an-acquisition"},{"question":"How does a seller note on full standby affect the debt service coverage ratio calculation?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-a-seller-note-on-full-standby-affect-the-debt-service-coverage-ratio-calculation"},{"question":"What level of debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) does an SBA 7(a) lender typically look for?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-level-of-debt-service-coverage-ratio-dscr-does-an-sba-7-a-lender-typically-look-for"},{"question":"How does the SBA evaluate 'prudent lending standards' in 7(a) loan underwriting regarding debt service coverage?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-sba-evaluate-prudent-lending-standards-in-7-a-loan-underwriting-regarding-deb"},{"question":"How does a seller note on partial standby affect an SBA 7(a) loan's debt service coverage ratio?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-seller-note-on-partial-standby-affect-an-sba-7-a-loan-s-debt-service-coverage-r"}]},"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 — Personal debt service","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-debt-service","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}