Glossary · Your money in the deal
In short
This is the portion of your equity injection into the business that cannot be withdrawn or paid back to you for a period, typically two years. It's the buyer's true cash commitment to the deal.
The SBA requires a minimum equity injection, and a significant portion must be "at-risk." This means you can't fund it with a loan that isn't on full standby or immediately take it back out. Your lender will verify these funds are unencumbered and committed to the business.
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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