{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/prior-sba-approval","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/prior-sba-approval","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":"prior-sba-approval","term":"Prior SBA approval","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"This means the SBA must review and approve certain aspects of your loan or business structure before the lender can proceed. It's a key step for unusual situations or specific changes.","what_it_means":"While most 7(a) loans are processed by Preferred Lenders under delegated authority, some scenarios, like certain changes in business structure or specific types of collateral, require direct SBA review. Your lender will flag these instances and guide you through the submission process to the SBA for their explicit approval.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/prior-sba-approval","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":"delegated-authority","term":"Delegated authority","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/delegated-authority"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","term":"SOP 50 10","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"sba-loan-authorization","term":"SBA Loan Authorization","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-loan-authorization"},{"slug":"plp-lender","term":"PLP lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/plp-lender"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What servicing actions require prior written SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-servicing-actions-require-prior-written-sba-approval"},{"question":"Can a lender approve a deferment period without prior SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-lender-approve-a-deferment-period-without-prior-sba-approval"},{"question":"Which servicing actions can a 7(a) lender take without prior SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/which-servicing-actions-can-a-7-a-lender-take-without-prior-sba-approval"},{"question":"Can a lender approve a material change to collateral without prior SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-lender-approve-a-material-change-to-collateral-without-prior-sba-approval"},{"question":"What servicing actions can a 7(a) lender take without prior SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-servicing-actions-can-a-7-a-lender-take-without-prior-sba-approval"},{"question":"What specific types of collateral releases can a lender execute without prior SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-types-of-collateral-releases-can-a-lender-execute-without-prior-sba-approval"}]},"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 — Prior SBA approval","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/prior-sba-approval","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}