Glossary · Reading the business
In short
A debt instrument where an investor loans money to an entity (corporate or government) for a defined period at a fixed interest rate. In small business acquisitions, bonds are rarely a primary asset or liability you'd encounter.
If the target business holds bonds as an investment, they would be listed on the balance sheet as assets. You'd evaluate their market value and liquidity during due diligence. It's uncommon for a small business to issue its own bonds.
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.
Pressure-test the numbers before you make an offer
Send us the asking price and the seller's cash flow — we'll show whether the deal services SBA debt and where the add-backs are likely to hold up.
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