Glossary · Reading the business
In short
These are the payments you, the buyer, make on your personal debts, such as mortgages, car loans, or credit cards. Lenders factor this into your overall repayment capacity.
Your personal debt service directly impacts your global cash flow. The SBA lender will assess if you have enough personal income, combined with the business's cash flow, to cover all personal and business debt. High personal debt service can reduce your perceived ability to support the business, especially in its early years.
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.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day