Glossary · Reading the business
In short
This ratio compares your total monthly debt payments to your gross monthly income. Lenders use it to gauge your ability to manage monthly payments, including the new business debt.
Your personal DTI is a key factor in assessing your creditworthiness and repayment capacity. Lenders want to see a manageable ratio, often below 43%, to ensure you can comfortably handle both personal and business loan obligations. A high DTI can make a loan difficult to get.
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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