Glossary · Your money in the deal
In short
This is the portion of your equity injection that must be in cash or easily convertible assets, readily available and unencumbered. As a buyer, you care because it's a non-negotiable part of your required down payment.
The SBA typically requires a minimum of 5% of the total project costs to come from the buyer as a liquid contribution. These funds must be seasoned (held for at least 90 days) in a bank or brokerage account, or the source of funds must be clearly documented if more recent. This ensures you have real skin in the game.
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.
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Tell us your purchase price and how you're funding the down payment — we'll sanity-check the equity injection and show what lenders will actually accept.
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