Glossary · Your money in the deal
In short
This is the difference between the total acquisition cost and the maximum loan amount you can secure. It's the portion of the deal you need to cover with your own funds or other non-loan sources.
If your total project costs exceed what the SBA 7(a) loan will cover, you have an equity gap. This gap must be filled by your equity injection, a seller note on full standby, or other approved capital contributions. Lenders need to see this gap fully covered before approving the loan.
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.
Figure out your down payment and equity injection
Tell us your purchase price and how you're funding the down payment — we'll sanity-check the equity injection and show what lenders will actually accept.
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