Glossary · The loan itself
In short
The total time period, typically in years, over which you are scheduled to repay your SBA loan. A longer term usually means lower monthly payments but more total interest paid over the life of the loan.
SBA 7(a) loans for business acquisitions typically have a 10-year repayment term. For real estate, it can extend to 25 years. Understand how the term affects your debt service coverage ratio and overall cash flow, as it directly impacts affordability and business sustainability.
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.
See which SBA lenders would fund your deal
Tell us the business, the price, and where you are — we'll point you to the lenders most likely to approve a 7(a) like yours and flag what trips up approval.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day