{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantor","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/personal-guarantor","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-guarantor","term":"Personal Guarantor","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This is an individual who promises to repay a business loan if the business defaults. All owners with 20% or more equity are typically required to be one.","what_it_means":"As the buyer of a small business with an SBA loan, you will be required to sign a personal guarantee. This means your personal assets are at risk if the business fails to repay the loan, making you personally responsible. The SBA requires this for all owners with significant equity stakes.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantor","official_sources":[{"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"},{"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-guarantee","term":"Personal guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantee"},{"slug":"recourse","term":"Recourse","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/recourse"},{"slug":"equity-contribution","term":"Equity Contribution","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-contribution"},{"slug":"co-borrower","term":"Co-borrower","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/co-borrower"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What happens if a required personal guarantor lacks sufficient personal assets for an effective guaranty?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-happens-if-a-required-personal-guarantor-lacks-sufficient-personal-assets-for-an-effe"},{"question":"When is an SBA Form 912 (Statement of Personal History) required for a non-owner guarantor?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-is-an-sba-form-912-statement-of-personal-history-required-for-a-non-owner-guarantor"},{"question":"Can a lender release a personal guarantor without SBA approval if collateral fully covers the loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-lender-release-a-personal-guarantor-without-sba-approval-if-collateral-fully-covers-"},{"question":"What criteria justify a lender waiving a lien on readily marketable personal assets from a guarantor?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-criteria-justify-a-lender-waiving-a-lien-on-readily-marketable-personal-assets-from-a"},{"question":"Can a trust or estate be an eligible personal guarantor for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-trust-or-estate-be-an-eligible-personal-guarantor-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What happens if a major co-owner or guarantor has a recent bankruptcy on their personal credit?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-happens-if-a-major-co-owner-or-guarantor-has-a-recent-bankruptcy-on-their-personal-cr"}]},"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 Guarantor","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantor","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}