{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/variable-spread","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/variable-spread","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":"variable-spread","term":"Variable Spread","group":"The loan itself","definition":"This is the fixed percentage added to a fluctuating base rate (like WSJ Prime or Term SOFR) to determine your loan's variable interest rate. Your actual interest rate will change over time.","what_it_means":"Most SBA 7(a) loans have a Variable Interest Rate. The Variable Spread remains constant, but the underlying base rate moves, meaning your monthly principal and interest payments can fluctuate. Understand the maximum possible interest rate and how changes could impact your Cash Flow After Debt Service.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/variable-spread","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":"variable-interest-rate","term":"Variable interest rate","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/variable-interest-rate"},{"slug":"wsj-prime","term":"WSJ Prime","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wsj-prime"},{"slug":"sofr","term":"SOFR","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sofr"},{"slug":"spread","term":"Spread","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/spread"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What are the maximum allowable interest rates for variable rate 7(a) loans, including the permissible spread?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-maximum-allowable-interest-rates-for-variable-rate-7-a-loans-including-the-pe"},{"question":"What is the difference between the base rate and the spread on an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-difference-between-the-base-rate-and-the-spread-on-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What is the maximum interest rate spread a lender can add over the base rate for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-maximum-interest-rate-spread-a-lender-can-add-over-the-base-rate-for-an-sba-7-"},{"question":"Are SBA 7(a) loan interest rates fixed or variable?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-sba-7-a-loan-interest-rates-fixed-or-variable"},{"question":"Are SBA 7(a) loan interest rates typically fixed or variable?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/are-sba-7-a-loan-interest-rates-typically-fixed-or-variable"},{"question":"Are interest rates on SBA 7(a) loans fixed or variable?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/are-interest-rates-on-sba-7-a-loans-fixed-or-variable"}]},"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 — Variable Spread","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/variable-spread","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}