{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-closing-costs-such-as-legal-and-accounting-fees-be-included-in-the-total-project-cost-","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/can-closing-costs-such-as-legal-and-accounting-fees-be-included-in-the-total-project-cost-","question":"Can closing costs such as legal and accounting fees be included in the total project cost for the 10% calculation?","topic":"What counts toward the 10%","audience":"borrower","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"Yes, reasonable and customary closing costs, including legal and accounting fees related to the acquisition, can be included in the total project cost when calculating the required 10% equity injection.","rule":"The total project cost for SBA purposes includes the purchase price of the business, working capital, inventory, real estate (if applicable), and reasonable professional fees associated with the acquisition. The 10% equity injection is then calculated on this comprehensive total.","example":"If the business purchase price is $900,000 and closing costs (legal, accounting, SBA fees) are $50,000, the total project cost is $950,000. Your minimum equity injection would then be $95,000 (10% of $950,000).","what_lenders_check":"Lenders ensure that the included closing costs are reasonable, directly attributable to the acquisition, and properly documented. They will not allow inflated or non-eligible costs to increase the project total and thus dilute the true equity percentage.","required_facts":["Closing costs","Legal fees","Accounting fees","Project cost calculation","Reasonable expenses"],"source_families":["SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","7(a) Loan Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility"],"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"},{"title":"7(a) Loan Program Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility","url":"https://www.sba.gov/partners/lenders/7a-loan-program/terms-conditions-eligibility"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can renovation costs for an acquired business premises count towards my required 10% equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-renovation-costs-for-an-acquired-business-premises-count-towards-my-required-10-equity"},{"question":"Can the fair market value of equipment I already own and contribute to the acquired business count towards my equity?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-the-fair-market-value-of-equipment-i-already-own-and-contribute-to-the-acquired-busine"},{"question":"Can sweat equity or future services I provide to the business count towards the required equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-sweat-equity-or-future-services-i-provide-to-the-business-count-towards-the-required-e"},{"question":"Are pre-closing legal and accounting fees eligible to be counted towards my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/are-pre-closing-legal-and-accounting-fees-eligible-to-be-counted-towards-my-equity-injecti"},{"question":"Besides cash, what non-cash assets can I contribute to meet the 10% equity injection for an $800,000 acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/besides-cash-what-non-cash-assets-can-i-contribute-to-meet-the-10-equity-injection-for-an-"},{"question":"Can a substantial pre-paid rent deposit on a commercial lease count towards the equity injection for a business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-substantial-pre-paid-rent-deposit-on-a-commercial-lease-count-towards-the-equity-inj"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"Total project costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/total-project-costs"},{"term":"Total project cost","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/total-project-cost"},{"term":"Accounting fees","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/accounting-fees"},{"term":"Project costs","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/project-costs"},{"term":"Project cost","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/project-cost"},{"term":"Legal fees","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/legal-fees"}],"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-closing-costs-such-as-legal-and-accounting-fees-be-included-in-the-total-project-cost-","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."]}