{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-expenses-are-specifically-excluded-from-counting-towards-the-minimum-10-equity-inject","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/what-expenses-are-specifically-excluded-from-counting-towards-the-minimum-10-equity-inject","question":"What expenses are specifically excluded from counting towards the minimum 10% equity injection?","topic":"What counts toward the 10%","audience":"borrower","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"Funds that are borrowed, encumbered, or represent future services, as well as typical closing costs and broker fees, are generally excluded from counting towards the minimum 10% equity injection.","rule":"The SBA requires the equity injection to be unencumbered cash or assets clearly at risk. Funds obtained through personal loans, credit cards, or lines of credit (unless secured by non-business assets and not repaid from business cash flow), along with intangible \"sweat equity\" and standard transaction costs, are explicitly disallowed.","example":"If a buyer borrows $30,000 from a personal line of credit to contribute to a $50,000 equity injection, that $30,000 portion will not count. Similarly, a $5,000 appraisal fee or $10,000 attorney fees cannot be part of the injection.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders are tasked with ensuring the equity is genuine and not creating additional, undisclosed leverage. They meticulously track the source of funds to prevent these ineligible contributions from being counted.","required_facts":[],"source_families":["SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","SBA Form 1919 - Borrower Information Form"],"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":"SBA Form 1919 - Borrower Information Form","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.02.27%20Form%201919%20-%20Updates%20%28FINAL%29_03-12-2025%20%281%29.pdf"}],"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":"Minimum Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/minimum-equity-injection"},{"term":"Minimum cash injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/minimum-cash-injection"},{"term":"Equity injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-injection"},{"term":"Indemnification from the Seller","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/indemnification-from-the-seller"},{"term":"Tangible Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/tangible-equity-injection"},{"term":"Hidden Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/hidden-equity-injection"}],"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":"2026-06-13","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-13"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-expenses-are-specifically-excluded-from-counting-towards-the-minimum-10-equity-inject","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."]}