Glossary · People and paperwork
In short
This is the legal paperwork filed with a state to officially create a business entity, like Articles of Incorporation for a corporation or Articles of Organization for an LLC. It establishes the business's legal existence.
Your lender will require these documents for the target business to verify its legal structure and ownership. If you're forming a new entity to acquire the business, you'll need to provide its formation documents as well. Ensure they are current and accurately reflect ownership.
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.
Know what you'll need before you apply
Tell us about the deal and who's buying — we'll flag the guaranty, eligibility, and paperwork issues that slow SBA approval before they cost you time.
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