{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-pre-closing-legal-and-accounting-fees-associated-with-the-acquisition-be-counted-towar","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/can-pre-closing-legal-and-accounting-fees-associated-with-the-acquisition-be-counted-towar","question":"Can pre-closing legal and accounting fees associated with the acquisition be counted towards my equity injection?","topic":"What counts toward the 10%","audience":"borrower","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"Yes, reasonable and customary pre-closing legal and accounting fees directly related to the business acquisition can be counted towards your equity injection.","rule":"The SBA allows certain professional fees paid by the buyer prior to closing to be included as part of the total project costs and thus count towards the required equity injection. These fees must be documented and directly attributable to the acquisition process.","example":"If a buyer incurs $10,000 in legal fees and $5,000 in accounting fees for due diligence and closing, these $15,000 can be added to the project costs. If the total project is $1,000,000, and these fees are included, the buyer's 10% injection would cover $100,000, including these fees.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders verify that the fees are for legitimate services directly related to the acquisition and are commercially reasonable. They require invoices and proof of payment to ensure these expenses are properly documented and incurred by the buyer.","required_facts":["Legal fees","Accounting fees","Due diligence costs","Proof of payment","Directly related to acquisition"],"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 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":"Accounting fees","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/accounting-fees"},{"term":"Legal fees","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/legal-fees"},{"term":"Pre-Closing","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/pre-closing"},{"term":"Lender closing fees","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lender-closing-fees"},{"term":"Pre-closing expenses","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/pre-closing-expenses"},{"term":"Financial accounting","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/financial-accounting"}],"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-pre-closing-legal-and-accounting-fees-associated-with-the-acquisition-be-counted-towar","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."]}