Glossary · Your money in the deal
In short
The portion of your investment in a business that is not protected by guarantees or collateral, meaning you could lose it if the business fails.
The SBA requires borrowers to have "at-risk" equity in the deal, meaning your equity injection cannot be repaid or protected by a standby agreement that acts like a debt. This ensures you have skin in the game. Your personal guarantee also represents significant at-risk capital.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Defined by DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
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