Glossary · Reading the business
In short
This refers to a business's ability to keep running smoothly during and after a significant event, like a change of ownership. As a buyer, you need to ensure the business won't skip a beat after you take over.
For a 7(a) acquisition, your lender and the SBA want to see a clear plan for how the business will maintain its revenue and operations post-closing. This involves assessing key employees, client relationships, and critical systems during due diligence. You must demonstrate you can step into the owner's shoes or have a manager ready.
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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