{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/season","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/season","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":"season","term":"Season","group":"The loan itself","definition":"To \"season\" funds means to hold them in a bank account for a period (typically 60-90 days) to prove they are truly yours and not newly acquired debt.","what_it_means":"For your equity injection, the SBA often requires funds to be \"seasoned\" to demonstrate they are not borrowed or round-tripped. Provide bank statements showing the funds have been in your account for the required duration. Unseasoned funds may require additional documentation or be deemed ineligible.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/season","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"},{"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":"seasoning-of-funds","term":"Seasoning of Funds","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/seasoning-of-funds"},{"slug":"unencumbered-cash","term":"Unencumbered Cash","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/unencumbered-cash"},{"slug":"proof-of-funds","term":"Proof of funds","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/proof-of-funds"},{"slug":"equity-injection","term":"Equity injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-injection"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What if my business is seasonal, and revenue fluctuates throughout the year?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-if-my-business-is-seasonal-and-revenue-fluctuates-throughout-the-year"},{"question":"How does an SBA 7(a) loan typically handle seasonal businesses for repayment capacity?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-an-sba-7-a-loan-typically-handle-seasonal-businesses-for-repayment-capacity"},{"question":"Can I use an SBA 7(a) loan to purchase a business that is seasonal?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-i-use-an-sba-7-a-loan-to-purchase-a-business-that-is-seasonal"},{"question":"Can seasonal fluctuations in the acquired business affect the SBA 7(a) loan approval timeline?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-seasonal-fluctuations-in-the-acquired-business-affect-the-sba-7-a-loan-approval-timeli"},{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan be used for working capital specifically for seasonal business cycles?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-be-used-for-working-capital-specifically-for-seasonal-business-cycles"},{"question":"Can I use an SBA 7(a) loan to finance a business that is seasonal in nature?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-an-sba-7-a-loan-to-finance-a-business-that-is-seasonal-in-nature"}]},"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 — Season","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/season","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}