Glossary · Reading the business
In short
The sum of all expenses required to complete your business acquisition, including the purchase price, working capital, and eligible closing costs. This total determines the size of your SBA loan.
The "Total project costs" include the business purchase price, real estate (if applicable), equipment, necessary working capital, and "Eligible closing costs." The SBA loan funds a portion of these costs, and your equity injection covers the rest. Lenders scrutinize this breakdown to ensure all uses of proceeds are eligible.
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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