Glossary · Reading the business
In short
An intangible asset is a non-physical asset that has economic value, such as goodwill, patents, trademarks, customer lists, or brand recognition. These are often crucial to a business's long-term value.
In an SBA 7(a) acquisition, you're often paying for more than just physical assets; you're buying the "goodwill" and other intangible assets that drive the business's earnings. While not directly collateral for the loan in the same way as tangible assets, their value underpins the business's cash flow capacity and overall purchase price.
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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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.
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