{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-business-development-officer","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/sba-business-development-officer","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":"sba-business-development-officer","term":"SBA Business Development Officer","aka":"BDO","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This is the lender's employee responsible for finding new loans and working with borrowers. They're your primary contact at the bank, guiding you through the SBA loan application.","what_it_means":"A BDO is your advocate within the bank, helping you navigate the SBA 7(a) loan process. They'll collect your initial documents, answer questions, and present your deal to their credit committee. Choose a BDO who understands small business acquisitions and communicates clearly.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-business-development-officer","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"}],"related":[{"slug":"preferred-lender","term":"Preferred Lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/preferred-lender"},{"slug":"lender-closing-costs","term":"Lender closing costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lender-closing-costs"},{"slug":"loan-agreement","term":"Loan agreement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/loan-agreement"},{"slug":"underwriting","term":"Underwriting","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/underwriting"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What is the role of an SBA Business Development Officer (BDO) in my loan process?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-role-of-an-sba-business-development-officer-bdo-in-my-loan-process"},{"question":"What if the business I'm buying requires significant ongoing research and development?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-business-i-m-buying-requires-significant-ongoing-research-and-development"},{"question":"Can I use a conditional grant from a local economic development agency as equity?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-a-conditional-grant-from-a-local-economic-development-agency-as-equity"},{"question":"How are common officers or shared key employees between businesses evaluated for affiliation under SBA size standards?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-are-common-officers-or-shared-key-employees-between-businesses-evaluated-for-affiliati"},{"question":"Beyond common officers/directors, how does a lender assess affiliation through \"shared key employee functions\" for SBA size standards?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/beyond-common-officers-directors-how-does-a-lender-assess-affiliation-through-shared-key-e"},{"question":"What specific scenarios involving shared directors, officers, or key employees constitute 'common management' triggering affiliation for SBA size determination?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-scenarios-involving-shared-directors-officers-or-key-employees-constitute-co"}]},"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 — SBA Business Development Officer","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-business-development-officer","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}