Glossary · The loan itself
In short
This is the longest allowable repayment period for an SBA loan, set by SBA rules. It dictates the maximum time you have to pay back the loan.
For a business acquisition, the maximum maturity for an SBA 7(a) loan is typically 10 years, unless real estate is involved, which can extend it to 25 years. A longer maturity means lower monthly payments, which improves your cash flow after debt service.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
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.
See which SBA lenders would fund your deal
Tell us the business, the price, and where you are — we'll point you to the lenders most likely to approve a 7(a) like yours and flag what trips up approval.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day