{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wage","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/wage","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":"wage","term":"Wage","group":"Reading the business","definition":"Payment to employees, typically calculated hourly or by piecework, for work performed. Buyers care because wages are a variable operating expense tied to business activity, impacting profitability.","what_it_means":"Wages are a key operational cost on the P&L. Unlike salaries, wages often fluctuate with sales volume or project load. Understand the business's historical wage expenses, especially if it relies heavily on hourly workers, to project future profitability. Be alert for under-the-table payments.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wage","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"salary","term":"Salary","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/salary"},{"slug":"expense","term":"Expense","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/expense"},{"slug":"p-l","term":"P&L","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/p-l"},{"slug":"cash-flow-statement","term":"Cash flow statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/cash-flow-statement"}],"related_questions":[]},"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 — Wage","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/wage","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}