{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-maturity","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/term-maturity","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-maturity","term":"Term / maturity","group":"The loan itself","definition":"How long you have to repay. Business purchases get 10 years, or up to 25 if real estate is most of the deal.","what_it_means":"The SBA sets maximum maturities: ten years for a straight business acquisition, up to twenty-five if real property makes up the majority of the deal. Longer terms mean lower monthly payments, which improves your DSCR on paper — but you pay more interest over the life of the loan. When you're sizing a deal, run the payment both ways to see how the term choice affects your cash flow after debt service.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-maturity","official_sources":[{"slug":"terms-conditions-eligibility","title":"7(a) Loan Program — Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/partners/lenders/7a-loan-program/terms-conditions-eligibility","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":5,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/terms-conditions-eligibility"}],"related":[{"slug":"7a-loan","term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"slug":"dscr","term":"DSCR","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/dscr"},{"slug":"amortization","term":"Amortization","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/amortization"},{"slug":"business-acquisition-loan","term":"Business acquisition loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/business-acquisition-loan"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What steps should a lender take if a borrower with a 7(a) loan requests an extension of the loan maturity date?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-steps-should-a-lender-take-if-a-borrower-with-a-7-a-loan-requests-an-extension-of-the"},{"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 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":"Should a business choose term or permanent life insurance for key person protection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/should-a-business-choose-term-or-permanent-life-insurance-for-key-person-protection"},{"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"}],"related_tool":{"label":"SBA 7(a) payment calculator","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/calculator"}},"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 / maturity","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/term-maturity","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}