Glossary · Reading the business
In short
The lender's criteria for assessing the borrower's ability and willingness to repay the loan. Your personal and business financial health will be scrutinized against these standards.
Lenders look at your FICO score, personal credit report, and the target business's cash flow and financial ratios. They need to see a track record of responsible debt management and sufficient business earnings to cover all loan payments. Your lender will guide you on meeting these benchmarks.
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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