{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/u-s-territories","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/u-s-territories","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":"u-s-territories","term":"U.S. territories","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"These are areas like Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Businesses in these areas are generally eligible for SBA 7(a) loans just like those in the 50 states.","what_it_means":"The SBA 7(a) loan program is available to eligible small businesses operating within any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This expands the geographic scope for potential acquisitions using SBA financing.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/u-s-territories","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":"ineligible-businesses-rule","term":"Ineligible businesses rule","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ineligible-businesses-rule"},{"slug":"small-business","term":"Small business","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/small-business"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does a lender confirm an owner's U.S. citizenship if they were born in a U.S. territory or abroad to U.S. parents?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-confirm-an-owner-s-u-s-citizenship-if-they-were-born-in-a-u-s-territory-"},{"question":"What specific documentation is required for a lender to verify U.S. citizenship if an owner was born in a U.S. territory or abroad to U.S. parents?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-documentation-is-required-for-a-lender-to-verify-u-s-citizenship-if-an-owner"},{"question":"Are there any restrictions on what states or territories a business can be in?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/are-there-any-restrictions-on-what-states-or-territories-a-business-can-be-in"},{"question":"What documentation proves U.S. citizenship or Qualified Alien status for owners?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-documentation-proves-u-s-citizenship-or-qualified-alien-status-for-owners"},{"question":"Are U.S. citizens residing abroad eligible to apply for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/are-u-s-citizens-residing-abroad-eligible-to-apply-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Are funds from a non-U.S. citizen or non-resident investor acceptable for equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-funds-from-a-non-u-s-citizen-or-non-resident-investor-acceptable-for-equity-injection"}]},"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 — U.S. territories","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/u-s-territories","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}