For SBA lenders
Short answer
Yes, funds from a personal investment account can count towards the equity injection, provided they are fully liquid, unencumbered, and available for immediate use at closing.
The equity injection must be from unencumbered personal funds. Funds from a brokerage account are acceptable if they are not pledged as collateral for other debts and can be liquidated without significant penalty or delay. Lenders will require proof of liquidation and deposit into the business's operating account.
A borrower needs a $100,000 equity injection. They have $150,000 in a brokerage account. They liquidate $100,000 of stocks, transfer the cash to their personal bank account, and then to the business operating account before closing. This is acceptable. Funds held in an illiquid asset like an alternative investment fund would not be.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
7(a) Loan Program — Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility
U.S. Small Business Administration · Official SBA source
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
Last checked 2026-06-13. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-13. DealRoom analysis of public SBA 7(a) lending records (FY2020–present). Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against the official sources above before relying on it for a live deal. Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision.
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