Glossary · Reading the business
In short
This is a broad legal term for certain non-physical assets of a business that have value, like customer lists, trademarks, or software. They are often part of collateral for an SBA loan.
While not physical, general intangibles like customer relationships or intellectual property are often vital to a business's value and can serve as collateral. The SBA lender will typically take a lien on these, so ensure they are properly identified and transferred in the asset purchase.
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.
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.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day