Glossary · The loan itself
In short
In a variable interest rate loan, this is the constant percentage added to a fluctuating base rate (like WSJ Prime or SOFR) to determine your total interest rate. The margin itself does not change.
Most SBA 7(a) loans have variable interest rates. Your interest rate will be the base rate plus a fixed margin, for example, WSJ Prime + 2.75%. Understand that while the margin is fixed, your actual interest payments will fluctuate with the base rate, impacting your monthly debt service.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
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.
See which SBA lenders would fund your deal
Tell us the business, the price, and where you are — we'll point you to the lenders most likely to approve a 7(a) like yours and flag what trips up approval.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day