Glossary · Reading the business
In short
The nominal or stated value of a financial instrument, asset, or debt, without considering market fluctuations or present value. As a buyer, understand that face value doesn't always reflect true market value or your actual liability.
For items like promissory notes or insurance policies, face value is the amount printed on the document. When evaluating assets or liabilities, you need to look beyond the face value and consider their actual market worth, collectibility, or current repayment obligations, especially during due diligence.
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.
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