{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-loan","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/sba-loan","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-loan","term":"SBA Loan","group":"The loan itself","definition":"A loan partially guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, reducing risk for lenders. This guarantee makes it easier for small businesses to get funding they might not otherwise qualify for.","what_it_means":"For an acquisition, an SBA 7(a) loan is often the best way to finance a small business purchase because it offers favorable terms like longer repayment periods and lower down payments. Understand the specific requirements for eligibility and use of proceeds early in your deal.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-loan","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":"7a-loan","term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"slug":"guaranty","term":"Guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/guaranty"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","term":"SOP 50 10","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"business-acquisition-loan","term":"Business acquisition loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-acquisition-loan"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Are SBA 7(a) loans only for businesses unable to get traditional bank loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/are-sba-7-a-loans-only-for-businesses-unable-to-get-traditional-bank-loans"},{"question":"Does the SBA check for past defaults on federal debts, like student loans or prior SBA loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-the-sba-check-for-past-defaults-on-federal-debts-like-student-loans-or-prior-sba-loan"},{"question":"What exactly is an SBA 7(a) loan, and who offers these loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-exactly-is-an-sba-7-a-loan-and-who-offers-these-loans"},{"question":"How do SBA 7(a) loan interest rates compare to standard commercial loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-do-sba-7-a-loan-interest-rates-compare-to-standard-commercial-loans"},{"question":"What makes an SBA 7(a) loan 'government-backed' compared to other loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-makes-an-sba-7-a-loan-government-backed-compared-to-other-loans"},{"question":"How do SBA loan guaranty fees for FY2026 apply to loans below $500,000?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-do-sba-loan-guaranty-fees-for-fy2026-apply-to-loans-below-500-000"}]},"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 Loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-loan","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}