{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/unencumbered-funds","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/unencumbered-funds","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":"unencumbered-funds","term":"Unencumbered Funds","group":"Your money in the deal","definition":"Cash you contribute to the deal that is free from any liens, pledges, or other claims by third parties. The SBA requires your equity injection to come from these funds.","what_it_means":"Your equity injection must be \"unencumbered\" and \"seasoned\" for the SBA to accept it. This means the funds cannot be borrowed against or have any strings attached. Lenders will verify the source and seasoning of these funds through bank statements and other documentation to ensure they are genuinely yours.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/unencumbered-funds","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":"equity-injection","term":"Equity injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-injection"},{"slug":"seasoned-funds","term":"Seasoned funds","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/seasoned-funds"},{"slug":"proof-of-funds","term":"Proof of funds","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/proof-of-funds"},{"slug":"out-of-pocket","term":"Out of pocket","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/out-of-pocket"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What if my equity injection includes funds from a personal loan secured by my unencumbered investment property?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-my-equity-injection-includes-funds-from-a-personal-loan-secured-by-my-unencumbered"},{"question":"How does a lender verify equity injection funds originating from a personal loan secured by the borrower's unencumbered investment property?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-verify-equity-injection-funds-originating-from-a-personal-loan-secured-b"},{"question":"How does the SBA define 'unencumbered cash' for equity injection purposes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-does-the-sba-define-unencumbered-cash-for-equity-injection-purposes"},{"question":"What exactly constitutes \"unencumbered liquid assets\" as a source for the required equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-exactly-constitutes-unencumbered-liquid-assets-as-a-source-for-the-required-equity-in"},{"question":"What percentage of the equity injection must be unencumbered liquid assets for a $1,000,000 business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-percentage-of-the-equity-injection-must-be-unencumbered-liquid-assets-for-a-1-000-000"},{"question":"Can an equity injection be comprised of unencumbered business assets already owned by the borrower prior to the acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-an-equity-injection-be-comprised-of-unencumbered-business-assets-already-owned-by-the-"}]},"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 — Unencumbered Funds","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/unencumbered-funds","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}