Glossary · Reading the business
In short
This means owning less than 50% of a business. It's crucial because an SBA loan requires individuals or entities with 20% or more ownership to personally guarantee the loan.
As a buyer, if you have a partner who will own less than 20%, they generally won't be required to provide a personal guarantee. However, if they own 20% or more, they must sign on as a guarantor. Understand your partners' equity positions.
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.
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.
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