{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/profit-motive","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/profit-motive","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":"profit-motive","term":"Profit Motive","group":"Reading the business","definition":"This refers to the primary intention of a business to generate profit. The IRS and SBA require businesses to demonstrate a genuine profit motive to qualify for certain tax deductions and loan programs.","what_it_means":"The SBA requires the acquired business to operate with a profit motive, meaning it can't be a hobby or a non-profit. Lenders assess the business's historical financial performance and your business plan to confirm its viability and intent to generate earnings. This is fundamental to proving the business's ability to repay the SBA loan.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/profit-motive","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"}],"related":[{"slug":"taxable-income","term":"Taxable Income","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/taxable-income"},{"slug":"ebitda","term":"EBITDA","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ebitda"},{"slug":"sde","term":"SDE","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sde"},{"slug":"business-plan","term":"Business plan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-plan"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can a non-profit organization with a for-profit subsidiary be eligible for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-non-profit-organization-with-a-for-profit-subsidiary-be-eligible-for-a-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can a non-profit organization receive an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-non-profit-organization-receive-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Does my business need to be a for-profit company to qualify?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-my-business-need-to-be-a-for-profit-company-to-qualify"},{"question":"Can a non-profit organization qualify for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-non-profit-organization-qualify-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can a non-profit organization receive an SBA 7(a) loan for their activities?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-non-profit-organization-receive-an-sba-7-a-loan-for-their-activities"},{"question":"Can a business that is not for profit receive an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-business-that-is-not-for-profit-receive-an-sba-7-a-loan"}]},"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 — Profit Motive","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/profit-motive","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}