Glossary · Reading the business
In short
What's left for you each year after loan payments. The first number to check on any listing.
Cash flow after debt service is the buyer's real return on the deal — it's what you take home after the loan payment clears. On a business with $200K SDE and a $120K annual loan payment, you're left with $80K before taxes. That's your number to live on and build from. Run this calculation before you fall in love with any listing, and remember to factor in a market-rate salary if SDE already includes your compensation.
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 2026-06-14 · 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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