{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/professional-fee","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/professional-fee","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":"professional-fee","term":"Professional Fee","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"Costs incurred for services from advisors like attorneys, accountants, and brokers during the acquisition process. These are part of your total project costs for an SBA loan.","what_it_means":"Professional fees are an expected and necessary part of buying a business. They cover legal review, financial due diligence, and broker commissions. Ensure these fees are clearly itemized in your commitment letter and purchase agreement, as many can be financed as part of your SBA loan.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/professional-fee","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"lender-closing-costs","term":"Lender closing costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lender-closing-costs"},{"slug":"packaging-fee","term":"Packaging fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/packaging-fee"},{"slug":"legal-fee","term":"Legal fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/legal-fee"},{"slug":"total-project-costs","term":"Total project costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/total-project-costs"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can professional fees incurred during the due diligence phase, like attorney or accountant fees, count towards my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-professional-fees-incurred-during-the-due-diligence-phase-like-attorney-or-accountant-"},{"question":"Can professional fees I've already paid (e.g., legal, valuation) count towards my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-professional-fees-i-ve-already-paid-e-g-legal-valuation-count-towards-my-equity-inject"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan cover closing costs and professional fees for a business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-cover-closing-costs-and-professional-fees-for-a-business-acquisition"},{"question":"Are there any other lender-specific fees beyond the SBA guaranty fee and ongoing servicing fee?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-there-any-other-lender-specific-fees-beyond-the-sba-guaranty-fee-and-ongoing-servicing"},{"question":"What is the importance of a professional business valuation for an acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-importance-of-a-professional-business-valuation-for-an-acquisition"},{"question":"Can the lender charge application fees or underwriting fees in addition to the SBA guaranty fee?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-the-lender-charge-application-fees-or-underwriting-fees-in-addition-to-the-sba-guarant"}]},"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 — Professional Fee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/professional-fee","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}