Glossary · Reading the business
In short
The presence of hazardous substances in soil, water, or air at levels that could harm human health or the environment. This is a major red flag during due diligence.
Contamination can lead to regulatory fines, costly cleanup efforts, and legal battles. If an Environmental Investigation reveals contamination, you need to understand the full scope of the problem, estimated remediation costs, and who will bear those costs before proceeding with the deal.
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.
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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