Glossary · Reading the business
In short
Your lender's evaluation of your and the business's ability to repay the loan. This determines if you qualify and on what terms.
Your lender will conduct a thorough credit assessment, reviewing your personal credit history, financial statements, tax returns, and the business's historical performance. This determines your creditworthiness and repayment capacity. Be prepared to provide all requested financial documents promptly and address any red flags early in the process.
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
SBA Form 1919 — Borrower Information Form
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA form
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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