{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-loan","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/term-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":"term-loan","term":"Term loan","group":"The loan itself","definition":"A term loan is a lump sum of money lent for a specific period (the \"term\"), repaid in regular installments with interest. Most SBA 7(a) acquisition loans are structured as term loans.","what_it_means":"Your SBA 7(a) acquisition loan will be a term loan, usually with a 10-year term for business-only acquisitions or 25 years if real estate is included. Understand the fixed repayment schedule and how it impacts your cash flow and loan obligation.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-loan","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"loan-obligation","term":"Loan obligation","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/loan-obligation"},{"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":"standard-7-a-loan","term":"Standard 7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/standard-7-a-loan"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance tenant improvements on leased property if the lease term matches the loan term?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-finance-tenant-improvements-on-leased-property-if-the-lease-term-match"},{"question":"If I am buying a business that leases its property, can I get a longer loan term if the lease is long-term?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/if-i-am-buying-a-business-that-leases-its-property-can-i-get-a-longer-loan-term-if-the-lea"},{"question":"What is the average repayment term length for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-average-repayment-term-length-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What is the typical repayment term for working capital only?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-typical-repayment-term-for-working-capital-only"},{"question":"What happens if a guarantor moves out of the country during the loan term?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-happens-if-a-guarantor-moves-out-of-the-country-during-the-loan-term"},{"question":"When can a standby seller note accrue or pay interest during the loan term?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-can-a-standby-seller-note-accrue-or-pay-interest-during-the-loan-term"}]},"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 — Term loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-loan","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}