{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/repayment-period","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/repayment-period","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":"repayment-period","term":"Repayment period","group":"The loan itself","definition":"This is the total length of time, or term, over which you are scheduled to pay back your SBA loan, including both principal and interest.","what_it_means":"For an SBA 7(a) business acquisition loan, the maximum repayment period is 10 years. A longer repayment period typically means lower monthly payments, which improves the business's cash flow after debt service and enhances your DSCR. Negotiate the longest term possible.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/repayment-period","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":"term-maturity","term":"Term / maturity","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-maturity"},{"slug":"amortization","term":"Amortization","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortization"},{"slug":"principal-and-interest","term":"Principal and interest","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/principal-and-interest"},{"slug":"debt-service","term":"Debt service","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/debt-service"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What is the typical repayment period for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-typical-repayment-period-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What is the usual repayment period for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-usual-repayment-period-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What is the maximum repayment period allowed for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-maximum-repayment-period-allowed-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"How long is the typical repayment period for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-long-is-the-typical-repayment-period-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What is the maximum repayment period available for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-maximum-repayment-period-available-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can a personal guaranty be released after a certain period of successful loan repayment?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-personal-guaranty-be-released-after-a-certain-period-of-successful-loan-repayment"}]},"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 — Repayment period","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/repayment-period","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}