{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-partial-equity-injection-come-from-a-deferred-management-bonus-from-my-current-emplo","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/can-a-partial-equity-injection-come-from-a-deferred-management-bonus-from-my-current-emplo","question":"Can a partial equity injection come from a deferred management bonus from my current employer?","topic":"Down payment & equity injection","audience":"borrower","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"Yes, a deferred management bonus can count as equity if it is irrevocably vested, documented, and verifiable as unencumbered funds available at closing.","rule":"Funds that are legitimately earned and irrevocably vested to the borrower can qualify as equity injection. The key is that the funds must be clearly documented as belonging to the borrower and available for the business acquisition at or before closing, without any repayment obligation.","example":"A buyer has a $25,000 deferred bonus that vests and becomes payable prior to the loan closing. Documentation from the employer confirming the vested bonus and its payment date allows it to count as equity.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders will require official documentation from the employer confirming the bonus amount, its vested status, and the timing of its availability. They need to ensure it's not conditional or a form of compensation that could be clawed back.","required_facts":["Deferred bonus","Irrevocably vested","Employer documentation","Availability at closing","Unencumbered funds"],"source_families":["SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans"],"official_sources":[{"title":"SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/SOP%2050%2010%208%20Technical%20Updates%20effective%206.1.2025.docx"},{"title":"13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can I use retirement funds from a 401(k) as equity injection for a $750,000 business purchase?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-retirement-funds-from-a-401-k-as-equity-injection-for-a-750-000-business-purchas"},{"question":"Can funds from a home equity line of credit (HELOC) be used as my equity injection for a business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-funds-from-a-home-equity-line-of-credit-heloc-be-used-as-my-equity-injection-for-a-bus"},{"question":"Is it possible to use a second mortgage on my personal residence as an equity injection for a $1.5 million business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-it-possible-to-use-a-second-mortgage-on-my-personal-residence-as-an-equity-injection-fo"},{"question":"How much cash must I personally inject for an SBA 7(a) business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-much-cash-must-i-personally-inject-for-an-sba-7-a-business-acquisition"},{"question":"What are the acceptable sources for my cash equity injection beyond personal savings?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-are-the-acceptable-sources-for-my-cash-equity-injection-beyond-personal-savings"},{"question":"What is the SBA's minimum required equity injection percentage for a business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-sba-s-minimum-required-equity-injection-percentage-for-a-business-acquisition"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"Equity injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-injection"},{"term":"Minimum Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/minimum-equity-injection"},{"term":"Tangible Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/tangible-equity-injection"},{"term":"Hidden Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/hidden-equity-injection"},{"term":"Equity injection verification","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-injection-verification"},{"term":"Down payment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/down-payment"}],"related_tools":[{"name":"SBA 7(a) payment & fee calculator","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/calculator"},{"name":"Find an active SBA 7(a) lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/lenders"}],"data_freshness":{"last_reviewed":"2026-06-14","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-14"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-partial-equity-injection-come-from-a-deferred-management-bonus-from-my-current-emplo","source_type":"DealRoom Q&A"},"caveats":["Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against official sources before relying on it for a live deal.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice and not an approval decision."]}