{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/small-business-administration","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/small-business-administration","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":"small-business-administration","term":"Small Business Administration","aka":"SBA","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a U.S. government agency that guarantees a portion of loans made by private lenders to small businesses. Its guarantee makes it easier for lenders to provide financing for acquisitions like yours.","what_it_means":"The SBA sets the rules and guidelines (SOP 50 10) that lenders must follow for 7(a) loans. While you don't directly borrow from the SBA, your loan terms, eligibility, and closing process are all dictated by their regulations. Understand that the SBA's involvement adds layers of compliance and paperwork to the deal.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/small-business-administration","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":"sba-guaranty","term":"SBA guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-guaranty"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","term":"SOP 50 10","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"delegated-authority","term":"Delegated authority","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/delegated-authority"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What is the Small Business Administration (SBA)?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-small-business-administration-sba"},{"question":"Who is the Small Business Administration (SBA)?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/who-is-the-small-business-administration-sba"},{"question":"What does the \"Small Business Administration\" (SBA) actually do?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-does-the-small-business-administration-sba-actually-do"},{"question":"Does the Small Business Administration (SBA) ever directly lend money to small businesses?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-the-small-business-administration-sba-ever-directly-lend-money-to-small-businesses"},{"question":"What is the core function of the Small Business Administration?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-core-function-of-the-small-business-administration"},{"question":"Is the Small Business Administration directly involved in reviewing my loan application?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/is-the-small-business-administration-directly-involved-in-reviewing-my-loan-application"}]},"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 — Small Business Administration","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/small-business-administration","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}