Glossary · Reading the business
In short
This is a detailed review of a collection of assets or investments to assess their performance, risk, and suitability. For a business buyer, it might involve evaluating a group of contracts or customer accounts.
While often used by lenders, as a buyer, you might conduct a "portfolio analysis" if the target business has many recurring contracts or accounts, such as a subscription service. This helps you assess the quality and diversity of revenue streams, identifying potential risks or opportunities within the customer base.
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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