{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/principal-payment","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/principal-payment","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":"principal-payment","term":"Principal payment","group":"The loan itself","definition":"The portion of your loan payment that reduces the actual amount of money you borrowed, separate from the interest. Each principal payment directly decreases your outstanding loan balance.","what_it_means":"Your monthly loan payment consists of both principal and interest. Early in the loan term, a larger portion typically goes towards interest, gradually shifting to more principal as the loan amortizes. Understanding your principal payments helps you track debt reduction and overall financial health of the business post-acquisition.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/principal-payment","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":"repayment-plan","term":"Repayment plan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/repayment-plan"},{"slug":"interest-only-payment","term":"Interest-Only Payment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/interest-only-payment"},{"slug":"amortization","term":"Amortization","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortization"},{"slug":"debt-service","term":"Debt service","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/debt-service"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does the SBA handle a short-term deferral of principal payments at the start?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-the-sba-handle-a-short-term-deferral-of-principal-payments-at-the-start"},{"question":"Can a seller note be subordinate to the SBA loan but still receive principal payments?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-seller-note-be-subordinate-to-the-sba-loan-but-still-receive-principal-payments"},{"question":"If a seller note is structured with deferred principal payments but immediate interest payments, does it still qualify as full standby?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/if-a-seller-note-is-structured-with-deferred-principal-payments-but-immediate-interest-pay"},{"question":"If a seller note is on full standby, when can the seller start receiving principal payments?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/if-a-seller-note-is-on-full-standby-when-can-the-seller-start-receiving-principal-payments"},{"question":"Can a 7(a) lender approve a deferment of principal and interest payments without prior SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-7-a-lender-approve-a-deferment-of-principal-and-interest-payments-without-prior-sba-"},{"question":"If a seller note includes principal payments during the first year, can it still be used as equity?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/if-a-seller-note-includes-principal-payments-during-the-first-year-can-it-still-be-used-as"}]},"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 — Principal payment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/principal-payment","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}