Glossary · Reading the business
In short
This is the total income a business generates from its sales of goods or services before any expenses are deducted. Buyers use it as a top-line indicator of business size and activity.
While gross revenue shows the scale of a business, it doesn't tell the whole story about profitability. You'll use it to understand market share and growth trends, but always pair it with an analysis of expenses to determine net income. Don't rely solely on gross revenue for valuation; focus on cash flow metrics like SDE and EBITDA.
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